Too busy?

[afrikaner07]

Hi Everyone,
I took these two photos recently, do you think they are too busy? or does it add to the photo?


Click on the link to see a larger version and on black...looks much better that way.
http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/onblac...667&size=large


Click on the link to see a larger version and on black...looks much better that way.
http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/onblac...367&size=large

I personally like them, but I don't really follow the conventional guidelines...mostly because I don't know them ;) Thank you as always for your exceptional input. It is always appreciated.

Cheers,
Johan

[barP]

very busy.

wp.

[Bella]

Very busy indeed. I'm not even sure what you were trying to take a picture of . . what your intended subject one. It's a little easier to guess it was the yellow flowers in the first shot, but no idea about the second.

-Cindy

[toverman]

I agree they are too busy. Even the yellow flowers get a bit lost in the first.

The colors are pretty, though. Where did you shoot them?

[canoflan]

Think about these things in this order and it will really help you determine the composition, etc...:

1) What is the subject?
2) How do you emphasize it (i.e. color, lighting, framing, leading lines, etc...) in terms of drawing the viewer toward it without question? Competing elements will create a really weak photograph.
3) How to make it yours with your twist on it?

Remember, your eye goes to the lightest part of the photo first, highest contrast first, sharpest part first, is lead by lines, most saturated, etc.... Use these to focus the viewer.

The photos may have had pretty colors, but they appear weak because there are too many competing elements. If the idea is to get all those elements as the subject, then you need to use lighting and other compositional techniques for emphasis since simply making these the only thing in the picture is leaving the viewer uninterested.

Please continue to ask questions and we will continue to help. We are all learning here.

Oh, one last thing. You determine whether the photo is worth anything, therefore, when it is all settled, if you like it, it doesn't matter what anyone says. I personally have many photos I think are portfolio quality (and you always show your best work in your portfolio), but even my wife isn't a fan of those photos (and she is my biggest fan, and harshest critic); therefore, I choose at the end of the day what I put on a wall or in my portfolio. I have one picture that she wasn't interested in, but my neighbor said I could sell very easily due to the nature of the photo (wildlife); I like it and went ahead and had a canvas print made and it is now framed in on my wall in my studio at home because I decided it was worth of it. Please keep this in mind.

Keep working on it.
Pat

[afrikaner07]

=D Thank you all for your comments. They are always very much appreciated. The photo was taken on the Texas Tech Campus in a garden outside the lab I work at. I knew the second one was far too busy, but I still liked it. Thank you Pat for all your advice along with your opinion on the photo. Its very constructive, and very useful as well. I have to slow myself down because I just get in a mode and start snapping away (oh the joys of digital) without considering all the things you mentioned. And definitely agree with you on your last paragraph. Thank you all so much =D

[123canon]

love the colors but it makes me dizzy! way to busy

[FedererPhoto]

Not to pile on, but yes, too busy. Shrink the DoF and it might help. In my opinion, a lot of times a great photo is made via what you decide to leave OUT, rather than what's included in.