Kiss Me Here

A very nice image with universal appeal.  Good tonal range, good use of space, nice lead-in lines and a circularity of elements which keeps the eye returning to the dramatic and emotional areas.  I am uploading my preference for this image for your consideration.  Had you taken two steps to your left you would have captured my preference in the camera which is to have clean separation of the couple and the background.  I hope this helps.  Good luck.

John - you get the award of the 'most over-the-top-awesome' feedback and comment... I can't believe you took the time to adjust the image! I agree- that composition is much more preferable (how did you manage to do that in PS by the way - the bench/couple moving I get, but did you have to 'create' the rest of the rock that they are blocking?

Anyway, i was/am torn on doing the same (or attempting it) - this was not a posed shot, and I don't know this couple. I was actually set-up on a tripod to try to run to the bench and get a shot of me - and while I was framing, this couple just walked into frame, struck this pose, and was off - was lucky to get this one off, but didn't have the time or wits to hop left to move the composition angle. 

Agree it makes for a much stronger image though... cheers for the feedback and work! (and if you do see this - I really wouldn't mind knowing how you did that in PS!) Thanks again, John - cheers.

Yes, I had to make up some of the rock info with the clone tool.  First, I did a generous seletion around the couple which included all of the bench and some of the grass to the left.  I copied that to a layer and use the move tool to position them to the right.  I turned off that layer and used the clone tool to remove the couple from their original location cloning sea and rock as necessary.  On the layer I erased around the couple's heads and areas necessary to get a blend started with the background.  After flattening the image I refined any remaining areas.  Candids, like you took, are often improved afterwards in photoshop.  I am glad I could be of help.

The background is often overlooked when we take the photo but is quite noticeable when we view it after the fact. The separation of the subject from the background really helps direct your attention there. One other thing I'll mention. When shooting any image with water it's important to make sure the horizon is level, here it's sloping down quite a bit to the left. I took a quick run at it too. Moved them to the right. Straightened the horizon. Did some dodge and burn on the couple and sharpened them up a bit to separate them from the background more and help draw the eye to them. The eye is naturally drawn to the sharpest part of an image.

Cheers

Greg

Gregory - thank you also for taking a stab at this in PS... and John, for the additional explanation of how you did this. I will certainly take a stab at doing the same on my own - absolutely agree that the reworked composition makes the image much stronger (and Gregory, I like the dodging/burning on the couple a lot - definitely draws the focus there more). Cheers to you both!