I’m fairly sure that I would get the theme of your photo essay even if I hadn’t already seen your proposal. The first image for this week is a good one to start with (but also see the comment at the end here). The way you captured that body language and froze the motion are great, as is the expression on your face (at least I’m assuming that’s you). The additional orange items on the table help tie the less important right side of the photo to the main focal point. The only distracting thing is the black electrical cord on the wall right behind you.
The first one with the dog, with the toy, doesn’t work as well. It looks like the dog might not be fully in focus, and the dog seems completely disinterested. For the final essay, I’d leave that one out.
I’m a bit confused by the photo after that. I’m not quite sure what I’m seeing. That one could also be left out of the final project.
The next one is from a nice perspective, and your focus is good and sharp. I like the beer bottles – looks like you’re having some friends over to watch a game. If you use that first image of the table in the final presentation – I think it’s the best of the table views – you could skip the others of the same scene. The others look much more staged. I like the idea conveyed in that first table shot of it being as though some friends just arrived and tossed their hats on the table as they opened up their beers. Maybe you could add more hats, but in the less-staged way this first one is set up.
The one of the woman cheering is a very good candidate for the final project. The lighting is great, with her face well lit and the bold shadow behind her. And we see the same table and a bottle of beer, so having this one right after the table view sort of expands our understanding of what’s happening, like a story is unfolding.
The next dog image is much better than the one where the other dog has the toy. Here the dog is much more engaging, and is in sharp focus. I saw that you had a similar one in your first project review. I like this one much better because you’re closer to the subject and the dog is looking right at the camera. It’s also a good one to keep in, I think. The way the blanket fills the frame, with the dog sort of peeking out works nicely.
The little girl with the banner is a good one, too. I like how she’s messing with the hat in the one from last week, but the things behind her are a bit more distracting in that one, at least for me. So the one from this week might be the better choice.
I have a small problem right at the end of this week’s pictures. Up to now (at least this week), everything has been Browns-related. But then in the last image for this week, you shift to Cavs. I like that photo a lot, but would suggest that maybe you redo it in Browns gear rather than Cavs. I get that you’ve given this one a really somber tone, and I get why. Could you do the same shot with Browns stuff and just have it be a commentary on their general (lack of) success in recent years? The way the rest of the essay is a celebration of the Browns could still make a lot of sense with that final shot of disappointment.
The “story” would unfold nicely that way – enthusiastic fans, friends gathered to watch the game, disappointment at the end. Or you could even open with the shot of the table, setting the stage, go through the other images, then the disappointed shot, and finish with the happy and enthusiastic one you have here at the start. Just another football fan being crushed by a bad game, then ready to be hopeful again next week.
I love that you’ve included (I’m guessing) family members and the dog. It’s turned out much better and more interesting than just memorabilia would have. It shows why you care about these items in the first place. The varying points of view give it some added visual interest, too. Your final project should be quite good.
Wesley –
ReplyDeleteI’m fairly sure that I would get the theme of your photo essay even if I hadn’t already seen your proposal.
The first image for this week is a good one to start with (but also see the comment at the end here). The way you captured that body language and froze the motion are great, as is the expression on your face (at least I’m assuming that’s you). The additional orange items on the table help tie the less important right side of the photo to the main focal point. The only distracting thing is the black electrical cord on the wall right behind you.
The first one with the dog, with the toy, doesn’t work as well. It looks like the dog might not be fully in focus, and the dog seems completely disinterested. For the final essay, I’d leave that one out.
I’m a bit confused by the photo after that. I’m not quite sure what I’m seeing. That one could also be left out of the final project.
The next one is from a nice perspective, and your focus is good and sharp. I like the beer bottles – looks like you’re having some friends over to watch a game. If you use that first image of the table in the final presentation – I think it’s the best of the table views – you could skip the others of the same scene. The others look much more staged. I like the idea conveyed in that first table shot of it being as though some friends just arrived and tossed their hats on the table as they opened up their beers. Maybe you could add more hats, but in the less-staged way this first one is set up.
The one of the woman cheering is a very good candidate for the final project. The lighting is great, with her face well lit and the bold shadow behind her. And we see the same table and a bottle of beer, so having this one right after the table view sort of expands our understanding of what’s happening, like a story is unfolding.
The next dog image is much better than the one where the other dog has the toy. Here the dog is much more engaging, and is in sharp focus. I saw that you had a similar one in your first project review. I like this one much better because you’re closer to the subject and the dog is looking right at the camera. It’s also a good one to keep in, I think. The way the blanket fills the frame, with the dog sort of peeking out works nicely.
The little girl with the banner is a good one, too. I like how she’s messing with the hat in the one from last week, but the things behind her are a bit more distracting in that one, at least for me. So the one from this week might be the better choice.
I have a small problem right at the end of this week’s pictures. Up to now (at least this week), everything has been Browns-related. But then in the last image for this week, you shift to Cavs. I like that photo a lot, but would suggest that maybe you redo it in Browns gear rather than Cavs. I get that you’ve given this one a really somber tone, and I get why. Could you do the same shot with Browns stuff and just have it be a commentary on their general (lack of) success in recent years? The way the rest of the essay is a celebration of the Browns could still make a lot of sense with that final shot of disappointment.
The “story” would unfold nicely that way – enthusiastic fans, friends gathered to watch the game, disappointment at the end. Or you could even open with the shot of the table, setting the stage, go through the other images, then the disappointed shot, and finish with the happy and enthusiastic one you have here at the start. Just another football fan being crushed by a bad game, then ready to be hopeful again next week.
I love that you’ve included (I’m guessing) family members and the dog. It’s turned out much better and more interesting than just memorabilia would have. It shows why you care about these items in the first place. The varying points of view give it some added visual interest, too. Your final project should be quite good.