The Joys of Running Trackby
AmieeComment by emorgan49: Okay, I can't edit - so I'll just start over again..
Hello from the Critique Club - sorry for the extra long delay. I've been busy.
This is an odd photo. The composition, color and mood all seem to be self effacing. Empty.
Joy of Running? Where's the joy? All I see is the dismal frustration of a long winter (coild be me..it's snowing AGAIN today). Where's the runner? What makes me want to look at this photo? Not much.
You have some interesting composition lines but they all lead OUT of the photo instead of IN. Nothing brings my focus back. The curve of the track is interesting but I follow it out in both directions. The repeating lines of the white bleachers are also interesting but also lead me out. Even the line created by the gaps in the bleacher seats leads out of the frame. When someone looks at a photo their eyes naturally follow these lines and once they have been led out of the picture, the view is done. Click, next picture please. You need to have something to catch my attention and make me look again. A runner would have helped because people are again naturally drawn to people as subjects. Hey even a dog would have caught my eye.
How about the rule of thirds? These are eyecatching points based on the biology of human vision. you have the bend in the track in one critical point but nothing in any other. Yes, it's a gimmick but it works.
Contrast? No contrast, the black and white tones are all in the grey range. light? Shadow? nope, it was a grey day. Perhaps changing the title..Loneliness of Running Track? The sky and houses take up more than half of the image. Did you mean for them to thave hat much importance. They don't contribute to the message in my view.
You have an effective location..nice that it was so empty. But I think you could have done more with it. Don't be shy about your photography. I looked at all your challenge entries and it feels like you are holding back. All are good photographs, technically well done, but a great photo is bolder. You can keep the same bleak mood while making it more visually interesting. Get closer, simplify, get some people in there, play with light more, and try upping the contrast of your post processing.
And the disclaimer: Please remember that I am not an expert, this is only one person's opinion of your work.
