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I would appreciate feedback on the image below (best viewed larger by clicking on the image). I'm thinking of entering it into the Sydney Life photo competition so it needs to work as an image as large as 2.3 x 3.5 metres.

Does the image appeal to you or does it belong in the garbage bin?

Peter
I like it
What I like is the movement of the people in the centre and that the foreground is wet which give this interest aswell and I like the balance between top and bottom
The feet in the right of the frame I not to sure about especially the one dark foot I which makes me look up to see the rest of the body. I like the feel of it shot and scene.

big tick from me. love the motion. love the symmetry. love the light.
i think a bit of a chop off the top would improve it. imo, there is a little, (tiny bit), too much dead space up there.)

Tick here. Like Rooz, I would like it with a bit off the top.

Peter
There are no rules in the competition about post processing. That is, you can go to town and do what you like. I would find another element to place into the top third of your image. Because of the large print size you can't afford to throw away pixels and with a touch of creativity you could add even more intrigue to the image.

Peter,

I would crop from both the top and the bottom, turning this into a pano style image. Once you've done that the three sections will combine to give this image the feel of a triptych, without it it actually being one.

Peter, I tend to agree with Gary but I would take more off the top then the bottom, Leave the reflections in.

phillipb wrote:Peter, I tend to agree with Gary but I would take more off the top then the bottom, Leave the reflections in.

Great image

....... yep..... pano style crop to remove some black and create more interest

gstark wrote:Peter,

I would crop from both the top and the bottom, turning this into a pano style image. Once you've done that the three sections will combine to give this image the feel of a triptych, without it it actually being one.

This.

Too much dead space in the top third. Retain the light reflections in the bottom third but trim a little of the dead space there as well.

Other than that, nice shot.

Thats a fine image Peter! I am sitting on the fence in terms of the cropping - if you were to crop my preference would be to only take a small amount off the top.

Additionally, consider getting it nice and square - the horizontal level seems slightly off

Thank you all for taking the time to provide feedback. My original inclination was to crop it pano style in the manner suggested by a number of you, but the way I read the rules for the comp it needs to have the "standard" aspect ratio which would preclude that. I guess I need to go play with the shot a bit more.

pete have you thought about chopping a slither off the top and adding it to the bottom, (since its black anyway). that will maintain the aspect ratio and imo will balance the image a little better.

Peter - I like this with the mild PPing you've done on it already but agree that a crop top and bottom would add to this image significantly.

Rooz - if you prefer your head on top of your shoudlers, connected to your body, NEVER call Stubbsy 'Pete'

Geoff wrote:Rooz - if you prefer your head on top of your shoudlers, connected to your body, NEVER call Stubbsy 'Pete'

I was thinking the same thing - I almost shook with fear for Rooz when I read that!

I'd leave the pic as is Peter - even with my preference for pano crops I like this in a 'standard' aspect ratio. I think the black space adds to the intrigue of the situation - "what did they go to see? - where are they going now?"

I finally had time to play with the image taking into account the feedback here and below is the finished product (a 3 image composite). Trouble is I've been so busy it's now too late to enter the competition so I'll save it for next year.

Peter
I believe submissions close 20th July 2009. You have plenty of time.

That's really the trick isn't it- making the extraordinary out of the ordinary. Who would think of taking a picture of the cloak room of the Opera House. General wisdom holds that you shoot the sails, but the cloakroom and a lot of know how ends up with a fantastic shot whereas the sails would just get a yawn. Great shot and greater out of the box thinking.

Mental note to self- expand your mind...

Matt. K wrote:Peter
I believe submissions close 20th July 2009. You have plenty of time.

Nope submissions close next Tuesday 7th July.

Peter
So.......you have 2 days to get it done. No sweat.

Peter,

I think this is a fantastic image. I really like it and would not change a thing. I would leave the black space too as it provides a contrast between the dead space (top and bottom) and the bustling middle.

Well done!

Alex

Depending on how the winning image would be used... that space at the top might be ideal for a title, heading or text or something like that.
That said... I quite like the space around the image... helps draw the viewer into the brighter areas of the centre of the image.
With the columns now vertical I think it's much stronger...

Nice work on the PP also.