Some Umbrellas

redleash

I shot the first two of these yesterday during an outing on the San Antonio Riverwalk. I remembered the third from a while back and decided to group them together. The last shot was taken at Main Plaza.

C&C always appreciated. As I look at them again, I think the concepts are good but I'm not sure the shots work. Please let me know what you think.

Thanks, Lauren

1.


2.


3.

bfjr

Well I think #1 might of been much better if shot at there faces.

same with the 2nd

3rd just nothing to hold me

Please take all I say with large grains of salt, I only type how I feel about the images

I have no credentials

M38A1

Is #2 the place where they make the guac at your table? (Abuelos?) Where they mash the avacado's, add the fire roasted peppers, squeeze the lime and serve?

I like the fact that there's umbrella's in the boat and behind if I were to go on the title alone. Nice conversion, the lady's walking are a nice touch. Great shades of light/dark. I'd have to agree, if the boat were coming the other direction and we saw folks faces that would be better IMO.

Two and three aren't doing much for me near as much as #1.

redleash

Benjamin - Thanks for your comments. No grains of salt needed, as I was concerned the shots didn't work as I'd intended.

Scott - You are thinking of Boudro's, which is around the bend and across the river. Great guac, the best! This waiter is setting tables at Landry's Seafood.

Here is a shot looking into the faces. I don't like this one but maybe it is on the right track.

4.

Richard

The composition of #1 is more balanced than #4, but #4 tells the story better. TBH, I hadn't noticed that they were on a boat till I saw #4, though it's certainly clear enough once you twig to it. I tend to agree that #1 is the better image.

redleash

Thanks for looking and commenting, Richard. I live just 15 minutes from the Riverwalk, so I can go and reshoot easily. Will do so soon and post results.

M38A1

Ah yes! Boudro's. My friend took me there not long ago. Yummy guac.

As for shot #4, I like the faces much better as the shot becomes IMO more engaging than #1. Yet the composition characteristics of #1 are better for me.

We need to have a SA meetup shoot!

bdcolen

The question is what you were trying to accomplish...

redleash wrote: »

I shot the first two of these yesterday during an outing on the San Antonio Riverwalk. I remembered the third from a while back and decided to group them together. The last shot was taken at Main Plaza.

C&C always appreciated. As I look at them again, I think the concepts are good but I'm not sure the shots work. Please let me know what you think.

Thanks, Lauren

Hi, Lauren - I'm going to take you at your word in terms of wanting honest reaction:
None of these really do anything for me, although I like the light in the additional one you posted. With the first one I wonder what it looked like in color - I know, me asking about color? . I think that if the color is right, and the umbrellas are brightly colored, it might be interesting. The same think hold with that fourth shot. The guy carrying the umbrella strikes me as just...a guy carrying an umbrella; great as part of a story about the spot, but not much by itself. And the two guys sitting at the table don't grab me.
I think with these, as with any other photo, the question is 'what am I trying to show?' And then 'does this show it?' I can see how you were drawn to the umbrellas, but...then what?

Does this make any sense?

B. D.

redleash

Scott - Come on up/down/over anytime you want to shoot! Send me a PM if you want and we can start planning something.

BD - I do indeed want honest feedback, especially regarding shots with people since I rarely do that. The umbrellas were all pretty pale/neutral so the color shots of #1 and #4 are even more boring, I have to say. As for those shots, I was drawn to the fact that there were 3 umbrellas in a row in the boat,when I didn't see even 1 umbrella on any of the other tour boats. I was also trying to capture a typical Riverwalk shot. It just didn't work. #2 was meant to catch one of the few people on the RIverwalk on Sunday morning--but I understand the shot does not convey that at all. #3 was just a couple of guys eating lunch--it was one of my earliest "street" attempts and I included it here simply b/c of the umbrellas. I think all of these required too much background in order to tell any story.

I appreciate all the comments/suggestions. The images may have failed but I have learned a lot in this thread and that's why I post. Thanks, everyone.

And here's a color shot for you, BD. This is the quintessential SA Riverwalk view!