Iconic skateboard
by boothefam

Comment by PGerst:
** Hello from the Critique Club **

I normally break my comments down into composition and technical components. For this photo, I want to concentrate this critique around the composition.

Composition
The main problem with this photo is that it appears random, without any prior thought to how the photo will be composed. Often, this is related to as a snapshot. In reading your description, my thoughts seem correct. Let me describe what I mean by snapshot a little more. In your description, you mention specifically "neighborhood kids" and "break from skate transport". When looking at the photo, I don't get the sense of a neighborhood or even that they were skating. Essentially, this photo is taken out of a larger context, perhaps you saw these kids skating and saw them take a rest. The photo, out of context, is a snapshot, a simple capture of time without the relative space around it. If not for the skateboard, which is a minor element, I would not know what these kids were interested in.

Generally, I speak about composition in terms of lines, shapes, contour, color, etc. In this case, I'll discuss space. The photo is divided in the middle. The right photo shows a kid ordering what my guess is an ice cream or similar. On the left, you have another kid, doing something. There is nothing in the middle. This empty space divides the photo leaving the viewer unsure of where they should look.

In terms of the challenge, street photography, there is little to portray a street, except for a reflection of a parked car.

The idea of the photo is just, and there are many ways that a shot like this can be improved. For example, make the skateboard and kids more of a major element. Focus on them together more, with the skate board. The boys could be resting against a tree or a mailbox on a sidewalk with their ice cream, drink, or even nothing at all. A low angle shot with the skateboard in front of them, possibly a little blur on the kids would bring a story to the photo.

Let the photo tell the story, not a description.

If you would like to discuss this more, please let me know.

Iconic skateboard
by boothefam

Comment by kolasi:
skaters are people too! glad you took a shot of them in a non skating environment

Leeks near kitchen window
by boothefam

Comment by GregoryB:
Nice focus on the flower head. I'd like to see this cropped a little more to remove the burnout in the bottom LH corner. Nice tones.

Iconic skateboard
by boothefam

Comment by RianBotes:
You have two pics here. Guy on right, busy talking to somebody cut off. Yellow reflection ads but would have zoomed in on this part of pic with the guy talking. Not much to the guy on left. Skateboard theme would be lost but overall better pic. Blue cast in pic also needs to be warmed up for this

Iconic skateboard
by boothefam

Comment by AP:
wish we saw more faces and/or had something to hold down the middle section of the composition

Leeks near kitchen window
by boothefam

Comment by ThingFish:
Beautiful lighting and presentation.

Leeks near kitchen window
by boothefam

Comment by sunita:
Beautiful shot! The matching colors on the curtain work very well.

Leeks near kitchen window
by boothefam

Comment by moriadelacroix:
I personally think this would have been much better if you cropped just the flower and left out the curtain. Other than that, beautiful flower.

Leeks near kitchen window
by boothefam

Comment by KarenNfld:
Oh so pretty!! I actually like the border on this.

Leeks near kitchen window
by boothefam

Comment by macrothing:
5 - Nice color scheme, wish the flower head was a little more dominant to see more detail, seems to be getting lost a little in this composition. Good flower choice.