“How to make it better”
Janet from Ohio sent in her photo of a woman fishing (I’m guessing fishing for Catfish) and as usual I like to have everyone read what she had to say. The reason is that so many of my fellow photographers have had similar situations, and have asked themselves the same thing. Here’s what Janet had to say:
“Hi Joe,
I was out shooting last night and getting ready to go home when I saw this woman with an orange/red jacket. She was fishing even though it looks more like she’s deep in thought. I thought the color of her jacket and the bucket would be a nice echo of the sunset. Even though I like the last sentence, I actually just thought the color would look great in a photo.
I am proud to report that I walked up to her and asked if she would mind if I took her picture. My first try was sad. The middle of the bridge was coming out of her head! So I tried again. As I looked through the view finder, I did make sure that everything in the picture was what I wanted in the picture.
I like almost everything about this photo. I like the negative space around the bridge, the colors – sunset, jacket etc., the reflection of the bridge and the lights from the other side. The one thing I don’t like is the white thing that looks like a bucket in the foreground. Actually it’s part of the dock and isn’t movable. I did little post processing. I lowered the highlights a little to increase the color in the sky.
So, what could I have done better?”
Janet (from Holland, Ohio)
The firs thing I want to commend you on is the fact that you approached her and asked to take her picture. In my online class with the BPSOP, and also in my “Stretching Your Frame of Mind” workshops, I’ve had so many photographers tell me that they have a hard time asking people to do something for them. It can be something as simple as asking them to move over a little to help the composition, or to ask to take their picture.
I call it “getting over the hump”, and after you do it once, it becomes easier and easier. Not only will you get a yes most of the time, but you’ll walk away smiling after making a new friend that’s also smiling. Btw, always offer to email them your photo.
FYI, she’s both deep in thought and fishing. Since fishing is one of my loves, I can tell you that it’s is a form of meditation…any silent thought is a way to meditate. I can assure you that her reverie will end in an instant the moment she feels the pull on her line!
That said, if you wanted to show her fishing, then you have to ‘show her fishing’. You know she was, but you’re not going to be around to tell the viewer what she’s doing. Show the fishing rod!!! One way to see that is to use my fifteen point protection plan: http://joebaraban.com/blog/dont-forget-to-take-your-fifteen-point-protection-plan/
Your image is underexposed. If you want to learn exposure and when to underexposed and when to overexpose, bracket. Put your bracketed photos on your monitor and look at them. Compare the different exposures then decide on the best one…the one that shows your image in the ‘best light’. Above all, don’t fix it in Lightroom or Photoshop. That won’t make you a stronger photographer!!
Visit my website at: www.joebaraban.com, and follow me on Instagram: www.instagram.com/barabanjoe. Check out my workshop schedule at the top of this blog. Come shoot with me sometime.
JoeB
