Is the Background Too Busy?

WhatSheSaw

This was a real challenge for me - not experienced with portraiture and having trouble finding models. Fortunately, my friend, the alpaca farmer (and spinner and felter), agreed to let me photograph her. This is in her booth at the local farmer's market.

Maybe a closer crop?

Spinning Wheel

WhatSheSaw

Here are a couple of other options.

#2 - different crop


#3 - BW

ghinson

I like the first one best. You ask if the background is too busy. I'd almost say that it is not busy enough. Looking at the background alone (excluding the wheel), it's a little hard to tell what it is she does. So if there were more supplies, cloth, products, colors, etc., it would be more obvious.

WhatSheSaw

How about this?

ghinson

What if you crop it just to the left border of the shelf of yarn in the background, but then try to de-emphasize or darken the L foreground (gravel?)?

Just a thought.

All of them nicely represent the subject here.

DsrtVW

The background provides the environment to the subject. I think I like the first one best for compisition. The wider angle does add more but it is not needed to add to what she is about, it takes the focus away from the subject.

sherstone

WhatSheSaw wrote:

How about this?

I like The light better in this one but the crop of the first one. ghinson's suggestion of de-emphasizing the gravel is a good one.

HoofClix

I think you are pretty much hitting the nail on the head with your idea.

Strive to avoid the "everyman's angle," or that angle that is just what the regular passerby would see. If you are able to reshoot, you could de-empasize the gravel by sitting on the floor, lowering your angle to the level of the wheel's axle. Include the same span as you do in your post 4, including the legs of the spinning wheel as well as the stuff closer to the ceiling that you cut out of the picture. There is more defining stuff up there!

richtersl

I also like #1 for composition. I wonder how that would look in B&W?

WhatSheSaw

Thanks for all of your comments. I went back to the market today to see about a reshoot from a different angle, but my friend was not there today. I can probably get one next week or the week after, but not in time for this challenge.


I took Ghinson's suggestion and cropped by the yarn at the back and took the gravel down a bit.




Then I tried B&W for this crop.




Here is B&W on the first crop.




Here is the initial crop with different adjustments in the gravel and overall lighting.

sherstone

B&W loses the color of the environment and actually creates a "busier" image.
I think your last color image with the original crop works the best.

Phil Tompson

I believe that the wide angle color is the best. I feel that when you crop just a small area, it makes it look cluttered.

WhatSheSaw

Thanks for your comment, Phil and Sherstone! I like getting specific advice that I can apply .