Need critique on this particular image, please.

[ajuwono]

Hi fellow PBasers

I'm still quite new to photography. I learn mostly from online tutorial about composing, and photography in general.

I'm setting up a gallery called Pieces of Her.
One particular image receive quite bad comments from my local photography club (most of the members are amateurs like myself), mainly because I covered the main POI (point of interest) which is the belly itself, with shadows.

It was my intention to do so. I want to avoid the image look vulgar, I want to keep it mild. What I did is I arrange pieces of cloths over the light so it partially cover the belly.

Btw, can I do that, or is it against photography rule for not having the main POI as clear as possible?

This is the image ...
http://www.pbase.com/ajuwono/image/34044643

This is sort of experiment for me, so I really need to know your comment.
Is it a really bad photo or just bad concept, or plain bad idea ?

Because I'm particularly fond of this results. One of my photo that I like very much.

Thanks in advance.

http://www.pbase.com/ajuwono

[jc5066]

I'm not going to try to be sensative, I'm just going to tell you what I think.

Its a borring picture. The belly button is supposed to be the point of intrest, but it has no detail. It has nothing of intrest. Kind of an unatactive view of a belly button.

On the plus side, it is a pretty good use of lines.

Maybe try doing the whole stomach and not a belly button. Belly button alone is just a hole. Picture of a belly button with a nice stomach can be very sexy.

Don't give up, keep working on it.

[clickaway]

I could not work out what the photo was all about, and the fabric kept on distracting me, so did nothing for me.

But you like it and so on one level that is reason enough.

Happy shooting!

R

[s9810588]

That's not a bad picture actually. My opinions:
1. You missed the focus. At the moment it is on the jeans while I think it should on the belly button.
2. That red and yellow piece of clothing on the right handside is doing the photo more harm than good. I would have chosen vertical (portrait) format for this shot and exclude that red and yellow cloth.
3. Top left part of the photo looks too empty. A fake small tattoo placed there may enhance the photo. Otherwise, choose different composition so there isn't much empty space there.

My Australia 2 cents which doesn't worth much.
Kris

[ajuwono]

This is the kind of critique that I'm looking for Not just saying that it's bad or good, but with much appreciated reasons.

Thank you.

I'm beginning to see things that went wrong with this picture. Because photography is a very subjective thing, sometime I overlook things that will ruin a good photograph.

I'm a musician by profession, so I use my ear more than my eye ...
These kind of critique certainly a good wake up slap on my eye ...

Thanks a million.

Well, anybody has opinions? Pleeze do

Albert Juwono

[juliewood]

I think that the shadows actually add a very nice mysterious feel, and I like the juxtaposition of textures between the jeans and skin. What I don't like is the piece of cloth on the right - it is out of focus, the color is too bright for the picture's mood, and the lines of it draw the eye off the belly and out of the picture. I would suggest cropping it differently - I would love to see the "revised" version!

Thank you for being brave enough to ask for critique - I know that can be especially hard when you do like the photo a lot yourself! (As you should - it is a nice shot with a lot of potential.)

[neda_atash]

I really like what you were trying to do... but the poi is irrelevant if it's hidden in the shadows, your compostion is ok, I beleive the upper most shadow should've been the top border of the image, also a lil less cloth, a smaller fstop, for better dof... with the correct exposure... looks a lil over... forgive me... but you asked...
Peace

[markperez]

this isn't going to be helpful but I just wanted to say I liked it.

[ajuwono]

Thanks also to Juliewood, neda_atash and markperez.

To neda_atash, please don't ... I really ask for critique. Yours is really helpful. Btw the image did look over, but if I test with level /curve, that part still has detail. I should have adjusted it.

Actually I've been thinking that the problem with this picture aside from dark POI, there are too many lines and colors that distracting viewers from POI. That is also what bothers Julie and Ray (clickaway).

I will remember this point when trying to setup similar shots, and I will in the near future.

I'm honored, this is like one of the most useful post for me in this forum.

Well, I always open for critique, even mild insult
I really want to take better pictures, especially when I browsed the popular galleries section, gosh .... breathaking pics.

[neovolatile]

Albert,

I admit, I like navels. How about a couple different shots just concentrating on them? Try different lighting, of course, warm it up a little, cool it down even further (notice that your lighting makes the skin pretty yellow on my monitor). Go for humor, go for sex. How about some dip with a sprig of celery? Baby oil and a spritz of water? Paint a target on it. Show us a navel for all seasons. Put some slatted light on it to emphasize the curves.

Just shooting off the top of my rather bald head, Albert. By all means, keep shooting and posting.

Regards,
Ellsworth
http://www.pbase.com/neovolatile