Playing in the water.

I'm trying to get better at this. What would YOU have done better? What do you think?

I'd crop out the gulls and shoes--they distract attention from the really good part of the photo. Try it and see how much more punch this will have.

Yes, agree with the above...

it does distract...lauren

I hadn't thought about cropping out the top. If I crop out below the shoes would it be too close to the top of the child's head? Also, if I crop out that much of the top of the photo, does it look kind of funny with him so near the top and all this sand on the bottom side of the photo?

 

Chad

You'll need to crop both dimensions to maintain the proportions so you'll be taking some off the top AND the right side. I think the crop on the right should get rid of the shoes before you get too close to the kids head. You could take a little off the bottom--but not much! We need to see the pool of wet sand: it's what he's all about that that moment.

While I was at it, I increased brightness, and contrast slightly and sharpened it just a bit.

That does look a LOT better. Thanks again. This has been one of my most productive photo critiques ever. I just wish I could get this much direction on ALL my photos.

 

Thanks again!

My pleasure. I'm a real advocate of tight crops even when there aren't distracting elements (like the gulls & shoes.) Sometimes it's just an expanse of sky or featureless water that just drains the image of impact.

 

Although I sometimes refer to myself in comments as "Dave-the-butcher," there are situations where you have to give the subject "breathing room" (see Gordon Bowbrick's comment here http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=6752962 ) or where the background adds something important to the image (see http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=6762334 )

 

I should also add that you shouldn't mistake me for a real photographic authority. I'm pretty new at this myself--it's just that, after thirty years in higher education, I know how to *sound* authoritative ;>) For some reason, though, I seem to have pretty good instincts when it comes to this part of the craft--just don't ask me about white balance or tonal keys or layers.