Jeep

[HurricaneBob01]

Please be as critical as possible.

[markgozz]

Hi Bob

To be honest it would be very helpful if you told us what you like or dislike about this shot or what you are trying to convey with it because as a stand alone image it doesn't tell me anything , is it the composition the subject matter or the technical aspects of the shot that you want advice on .

Mark

[HurricaneBob01]

Mark,

I like the composition of the shot, but I feel like it's missing something. I was trying to convey solitude, but I don't think it gets there. Also, the image looks a little flat to me.

Thanks!

[amk1977]

Interesting idea Bob and its a positive thing that you are getting creative with your photography. The problem with this shot is that I don't think the location is particularly conducive to what you are trying to communicate. If the Jeep was in a barren landscape, like a desert or tundra, then there would be precious little else surrounding the vehicle to detract your eye from it, so you would communicate solitude/isolation much more easily.

The other way you would do this with a subject, even in a busy location, would be to use a wide aperture lens with a shallow depth of field, to separate your subject from the backdrop. A good location is essential, as is the type of light. A lot of car photography is shot during "the golden hour" because the ambient light is so attractive. Go to a great location at noon and you might walk away with some ok shots. Shoot there an hour before sunset and you'll walk away with great photos (weather permitting of course lol).

[HurricaneBob01]

Thanks, amk. I definitely see what you're saying about the barren landscapes.

I took this photo on a rainy day where my wife and I decided to go for a drive. We found this park and were driving around - we felt completely isolated, but in a good way: no phone service, no emails, etc.

I wish we'd had better lighting when I took the shot, but that's just when we happened to be there. I will definitely be going back to that place again though.

Is there anything that you would change about the composition of the shot?

These are the photos from that day - feel free to critique any that you find interesting or think I could have improved. I'm always looking for constructive criticism.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...3&l=4ecc7eb961

[markgozz]

I totally concur with amk and to add one other idea to try , the composition dose look fine but to help with the feeling of solitude why not try shooting from either a very low or very high angle ( if you can ) . The low angle should work in the same sort of way as the narrow DOF does , it will give you close up foreground detail that would be thrown out of focus and give the feeling of more distance to the Jeep which would be given a more prominent position as you look up to it .

Good luck

Mark

[HurricaneBob01]

Mark,

Thank you for the input. It actually would've made for a really interesting photo had I climbed a tree - I would have done it if the though had occurred to me.


One other thing I really like about this photo is the palm in the bottom right - to me, it seems to make the Jeep feel small and lost in the woods.