TWO OLD SWEDES

David, the composition would have worked better with the two FG figures,(especially the funny fat one with the folkloric clothes..) if you have moved with the camera a bit to the R, so the tree trunk was not distracting as it is now.

The diagonal bench leads the eye into the scene( I think you could keep it as well), but is stopped by the tree, I think that moving to the R would have opened the composition.

You are probably quite right. I was not happy with the way I had to shoot this, but I was standing on a raised platform and had no way to move either right or left. I decided to put it up because I did like the light and the outfits. Thanks.

Contrarian that I am, I have to say I like the picture just as it is. If it were more conventionally composed it would not have the slightly eccentric charm that is its most compelling feature. It's becauseof the oddness of the composition together with its rather off-set color that I feel that here is a picture that displays a unique authenticity.

Thanks. As always, it's all in the eye of the beholder. I'm not sure what you meant by your statement about the color. On my monitor it looks pretty straight forward. There is late afternoon sun washing over parts of them, which gives a yellowish cast. Is that what you refer to, or am I missing something?

The colors (on my monitor, that is) remind me of something out of a 1950's magazine, perhaps because of the late afternoon light and the fact that most of the scene is either in the shade or lit at an oblique angle by a sun low in the sky.

A very appealing composition. It makes me wonder about what they are looking at. Are they criticizing or complimenting? Their expressions are quite a contrast compared to the one of the lady in the right who seems to be smiling and having a good time. To me this picture also speaks of tradition, family and how to hold on to those things that give us our identity.

Thanks for the view and comment. They are watching a presentation on old Swedish traditions, clothing and customs at a festival in my town called, "The Swedish Festival." It is all about what small town America used to be like, and maybe still is in some places. Yeah, it's terribly corny, but I find it fun and interesting for awhile to go back to what life was like when I was growing up. Cheers