N-Drew Productions wrote:
i actually really like this shot

Thanks! I was beginning to think I'd have to critique it myself.

W.G. Rowland wrote:
I do to.. I could see this in an ad somewhere..

Thanks W!

W.G. Rowland wrote:
I do to.. I could see this in an ad somewhere..

Seconded.

Rose-Marie wrote:

Seconded.

Grazie.

MMDesign wrote:
It was pretty dark. I was pretty inebriated. I missed my focus. The film was processed poorly and enhanced the grain considerably. etc.. But this is the first image I scanned from the first roll of film through my Leica.

I think the grain gives it a nice character, but if you hate it so much and you think it turned out so poorly, why are you showing it?

Low Tek Photography wrote:

I think the grain gives it a nice character, but if you hate it so much and you think it turned out so poorly, why are you showing it?

Because this is the first image I scanned from the first roll of film through my Leica. And, I didn't say I hated it. I implied that it could have been better.

bubbaclicks wrote:
it would look cool even a bit grainier, but i like it too, It has a sense of time and place... for me critical to a good location shot... nice work for being wasted on the job...LOL


have a shoot this afternoon, let's see what happens

Thanks. It is a pretty cool location... from what I can remember.

Images by Jeff Kennedy wrote:
I like the light and tones but there's really no center of interest.

Is that really a bad thing though?

MMDesign wrote:

Is that really a bad thing though?

If you want the viewer to be engaged it is.  The problem is your focus is so shallow that it forces the eye to go where?  Nowhere.  The sharp stuff tells us no story.   If it is a picture of the bar in general then you need to allow our eyes to move around and explore the various vignettes occuring.  Like I said the tones and light are good.  The composition and timing don't seem well thought out (could be the alcohol you consumed ;-) ).  Perhaps you'll have another frame on that roll with a story.

MMDesign wrote:
Because this is the first image I scanned from the first roll of film through my Leica. And, I didn't say I hated it. I implied that it could have been better.

Oh okay then. That's a great first image. =]

Usually the first shot I take with a new camera is my messy desk. Grats on the Leica

Images by Jeff Kennedy wrote:

If you want the viewer to be engaged it is.  The problem is your focus is so shallow that it forces the eye to go where?  Nowhere.  The sharp stuff tells us no story.   If it is a picture of the bar in general then you need to allow our eyes to move around and explore the various vignettes occuring.  Like I said the tones and light are good.  The composition and timing don't seem well thought out (could be the alcohol you consumed ;-) ).  Perhaps you'll have another frame on that roll with a story.

Good points all. I was approaching it from a photojournalistic slant. I think I was channeling Bresson after he'd spent a few hours hanging with Brassai. The girl, being centered should lead one down the line of characters. Maybe she doesn't though and maybe this is just one of those cases where someone (me), can't see the forest for the trees.

Thanks for the input.

Low Tek Photography wrote:

Oh okay then. That's a great first image. =]

Usually the first shot I take with a new camera is my messy desk. Grats on the Leica

Thanks!

MMDesign wrote:

Good points all. I was approaching it from a photojournalistic slant. I think I was channeling Bresson after he'd spent a few hours hanging with Brassai. The girl, being centered should lead one down the line of characters. Maybe she doesn't though and maybe this is just one of those cases where someone (me), can't see the forest for the trees.

Thanks for the input.

It has that potential.  I think you're making the same mistake we all do as photographers.  That's seeing what you wanted the photograph to be and not what it actually is.  Compositionally you're on the right track for what you describe.  The problem is that as we follow the bar around the focus trails off and it forces our eyes back to the empty bar that is in focus.

Images by Jeff Kennedy wrote:
It has that potential.  I think you're making the same mistake we all do as photographers.  That's seeing what you wanted the photograph to be and not what it actually is.  Compositionally you're on the right track for what you describe.  The problem is that as we follow the bar around the focus trails off and it forces our eyes back to the empty bar that is in focus.

Ah! That's where the viewer is supposed to see him or herself! Yeah, that's it! That's what I was thinking... no, seriously.