Splendor In The Grassby
RoosterComment: This is why I gave this shot a 10:
Technically:
I can't agree with dsidwell on the harsh lighting comment. Maybe it's a monitor calibration difference, but I think the colors and tones are perfectly balanced. There is no clipping anywhere, the skin tone seems to be very accurate, which I find is the hardest thing about photographing people. The lighting is choosen perfectly and gives a sunny-day feeling to the picture, while the background prevents it to be a regular outdoors candid shot. The background draws no attention, being noise free, with a slight radial gradient which seems to be centered directly behind Rooster's sister. I like the way it was chosen to be almost black, but not quite; this gives it the neutrality of a flat black background, but without making the picture seem like a cheap studio shot (like mine usually come out). The danger here is that I'm sure 1/3 of the people have higher contrasted monitors and totally missed out on the gradiated background. Anyway, the softness of the background goes very well with the softness of the jacket. This velvety material is well chosen, as it gives of a comfortable mood, a warm feeling, which compliments the chilling-in-the-grass-and-hanging-out-on-a-warm-day atmosphere. Also, I love the way it accentuates the folds in the jacket without causing harsh highlights, as glossier material would.
Now, compositionally:
The grass in the picture is crucial. It's specifies the location and viewpoint of the shot uniquely by its foreground; something I don't recall anyone doing yet (I'm probably wrong on this one, but I can't think of any such picture off the top of my head). On a technical note, the DOF is perfect, as it leaves the grass very soft, with a sharp focus on the face and hand, while softening up the right part of the jacket. This leaves focus only on the central part of the picture, specifally the eye, which is exactly where we should be looking; as she's looking at us. Personnaly, I don't find the grass distracting at all, the DOF takes care of it for me.
Let me make a point about "flipping the picture" before proceeding. This is where I think Rooster went wrong about showing the "right side up" picture. To me, the challenge entry is right side up, while the other is upside down. A picture is right side up as the photograph chooses it to be and decides to present it. It just so happens that Rooster took the picture with the camera aligned with gravity; she very well could have taken it while standing on her head, and then the original would have looked like the challenge entry.
Anyway, getting back to the grass. Combined with the fact that the picture is what-others-call-upside-down, the grass makes me feel as if I'm there lying next to Rooster's sister (sorry if I'm getting a little to intimate). I don't feel like a 3rd person viewer, looking through the photographer's camera, as with most pictures. The way this shot was composed draws me into the scene and makes me feel like I'm there lying opposite to her (as in, our feet pointing in opposite directions) and comfortably sunken into the grass. Another thing is how she's tilted just at the limit of her eye disappearing behind her glasses. This is exactly how I'd picture chilling in the grass with someone: staring up at the sky, relaxing and talking, and once in a while just turning enough to glance at the person next to you (to see their reaction to your comment or something). The hand on the forehead is yet another factor which adds to the relaxing atmosphere. All these things make the picture seem very natural and inviting, as opposed to most picture which are there to SHOW you something.
That's the impact the composition has for me, and I can't think of a better way of achieving this sort of intimacy in a picture. Any standard composition would simply make this a regular "Oh look, she took a picture of her sister lying in the grass" type of picture.
Rooster, don't let the average voter let you down. Most of these people are infected by the stock photography syndrome (as 98% of photography we see, at least in North America, is advertisement). They don't see the artistic merit of your picture because it doesn't follow standard guidelines. There thrown off by your compositionally unconventional picture before they could even get drawn into it like I did. This could be partially blamed by bulk voting, where immediate impressions are the only thing going for you. Nevertheless, I personally think this is your best work and that you should have this one hanging on the wall along with any other family pitures.
Keep up the good work!!!
Aleks
Photographer found comment helpful.
