Sue sent me this photo to talk about and as usual I like to copy exactly what fellow photographers had to say. It is often the case where others have experienced the same situation or might have a similar question about one of their photos. Here’s what sue had to say:
Medusa?
“Hi, I was thinking this has to be the best head of Medusa Hair in a long time. I wanted to get close and see what it would look like””.
Sue
Ok Sue, first of all I agree with you that it has been a long time since Medusa was around in Greek mythology.
Getting what I refer to as “up close and personal” was a good way to bring out the differences between the green and white “Lines”. I say lines because when you “see past your first impression”, that’s what they are. In my online class with the BPSOP, and in my “Stretching Your Frame of Mind” workshops I conduct around the planet, I talk about Line. It’s the most important of all the elements of visual design, for without Line, none of the other elements would exist. As a matter of fact, nothing in this world would exist…you and I, planes, trains, automobiles, etc. all have an outLine.
Having said that, this is a study of green and white lines and so if I had been standing there I would have suggested to things to you: The first would have been to take out the dead (brown) blades of the green lines. They really aren’t adding anything and to me they take away from the pretty green ones.
So many of my students just don’t think about things like that. The main reason is because they’re out “taking pictures” instead of “making pictures”. It’s ok to change the way things look in your frame, if it will help it look better. Taking out the dead blades of the green grass is what I mean by “making pictures”.
The second thing I would have mentioned to you is that the bottom half of your photo looks more interesting than the top half. The top half is not as clean, graphic, and is somewhat distracting. Look at how simple the relationship between the white and green Lines and how much better the viewer’s eye can flow.
BTW, I would have suggested that you not show the area in the top right or left corners as they take away from the center of interest. Either “use it or lose it”. Next time, be sure to check the four corners to see things like that and be able to decide what to do in your next adjustments.
Thanks for the submission Sue and did you know that Medusa was beheaded? I’ll bet that left a mark!!!
Visit my website at: www.joebaraban.com and follow me on Instagram: www.instagram.com/barabanjoe. BE SURE TO CHECK OUT my NEW workshop schedule at the top of this blog. Come shoot with me sometime.
JoeB
