Which Photo Is Best?

[T_Dog]

I have been taking photos for a while, but still trying to figure out what makes a good composition and why. Take a look at the photos below of the same subject, and let me know which one you like best, and most importantly, WHY.

Photo A

Photo B

Photo C

Photo D

Photo E

[Greenside]

Foe me, they all have some drawbacks...

A) The background is too cluttered which could have been improved by using a shallower depth of field (smaller f number or portrait mode) -it's not clear if she's the important element in the shot. If she is, then the fact that there are no details in her eyes and mouth are major minuses for me.

B ) My choice for best. It's clearly a portrait, the b/g clutter is minimised by the crop but it prompts me to wonder if she's an attractive or interesting enough subject in this pose with her mouth open! Her eyes are now visible and there is some detail in her mouth.

C) Same issues as for (A)

D ) Looking down on her this way the shadows become a distraction.

E) The angle is better but the shadows aren't.

Just my thoughts, others will disagree!

[noise]

Foe me, they all have some drawbacks... Just my thoughts, others will disagree!

Greenside articulated my impressions better than I could have. And my first thought echoed Greenside's first comment (I think) about "what is the important element in the shot"? I thought these were tourist shots (I am here with a camera, there she is, everything is colorful, take a picture).

[T_Dog]

Thanks for that! It helps!

[Kan Win]

For me it is "A", why?

It is a full photo with both portrait and landscape included nice depth of field.

Is this Mrs. Santa BTW "T_Dog" as she is doing Ho-Ho with her mouth in each photo.

Yours truly,

Kan Win

[OxfordWill]

C because I feel I learn more about the subject from it (posture, humour, caught in a real moment, whatever) compared to the others which feel more bland to me.

[baahjun]

my 2 satang, next time take a lower point of view, you'll get rid of the distractions in the background and the shadows and a bigger aperture (f1.4 - f4) remember to focus on the eyes

[jasreeve17]

I agree with Kan Win (who has been known to take decent snaps himself).

In picture A; her face looks to have the most character of all the photos, plus the background is interesting and varied too - the background actually adds perspective (not photo science, but photogenic), whilst 'placing' her. The background and foreground are balanced, one doesn't have to be more powerful than the other (though undoubtedlt the woman is the centrepiece).

Greenside probably has infinitely more knowledge than my meagre self in this area, but his reasoning for B being best doesn't equate, for me. If she is not an interesting enough subject by herself then it makes sense to add other elements into the frame to spice it up; as per A.

I hasten to add that I'm a crap photographer.

[jasreeve17]

C because I feel I learn more about the subject from it (posture, humour, caught in a real moment, whatever) compared to the others which feel more bland to me.

Yep, I can see that too, B'd be my second choice.

[Kan Win]

I agree with Kan Win (who has been known to take decent snaps himself). Correct, only snaps not a Pro.

I hasten to add that I'm a crap photographer.

If you say so, post your photos and let us decide if that is true"jasreeve17"

Yours truly,

Kan Win

[T_Dog]

For me it is "A", why?

It is a full photo with both portrait and landscape included nice depth of field.

Is this Mrs. Santa BTW "T_Dog" as she is doing Ho-Ho with her mouth in each photo.

Yours truly,

Kan Win

Thanks to all for the positive comments and suggestions! And no, I don't think this is Mrs. Santa! I took these photos last year up in Mae Taeng at Wat Ban Den in Northern Thailand. Was there the day before and there were four hill tribes performing at the Wat fund-raiser. It was amazing, and I did not have my camera. Went back the next morning and these ladies were cleaning up the grounds. Amazingly friendly and joyful, and it was a nice morning walking around the wat. Wanted the advice here for future photography and to decide which one to print and mount, as they are all meaningful to me and have their own story. These are indeed tourist shots, and we are all tourists in some fashion!

[zzdocxx]

I like A best, same reason as the guys above state.

[Bizz]

C because I feel I learn more about the subject from it (posture, humour, caught in a real moment, whatever) compared to the others which feel more bland to me.

Same caught in a real moment. The photo has somthing to say.It shows feeling

[jukapot]

Print and mount the picture you like best. Don't ask me which to print. If in doubt print several and decide later.

It is probably me, but oversaturated photos hurt my eyes, all the pictures are unacceptable

because of the oversaturated reds.

A has a distracting background.

B I like the tight framing but the beetle juice stained toothless mouth is horrlble to loook at, Thank goodness I don't chew beetle nuts or I would look like that.

C again the background is distracting to me,

D&E Your shadow is a no no

Don't mind my criticism, I don't like Ansel Adams either.

[jasreeve17]

I agree with Kan Win (who has been known to take decent snaps himself). Correct, only snaps not a Pro.

I hasten to add that I'm a crap photographer.

If you say so, post your photos and let us decide if that is true"jasreeve17"

Yours truly,

Kan Win

Told you so!!!