-- Nigel Smith (nlandgl@unite.com.au), April 16, 2001

Answers

The one primary reponse for me is "Neat, a father with his son on a fishing trip," which makes this an adequately strong "where/what" kind of photo. But the photo's strength really stops there for me. The relationship between father and son isn't boldly portrayed. I think being closer (to avoid unnecessary background) and showing facial expressions and eyes better would have made this a stronger photograph. I'm not really "suspended." I'm not anxious for some kind of resolution, as I might be if there were a huge fish on, contorting the boy's fishing pole to the shape of a spaghetti noodle. I suppose a good fishing photograph doesn't necessarily have to portray "action" per se because sometimes the best fishing day is one with no action. But this photograph doesn't portray any sense of a "lack" of action, or maybe "relaxation" is a better angle. I'm not left wondering something like what will happen next, or what was it that just occured.

-- Tony Rowlett (rowlett@alaska.net), April 17, 2001.

Tony, the your critique tells me you did get some of my intent with this photo, the fact that you doesn't do anything for you is another matter :)

I was trying to show the subtle relationships between Dad (keeping an eye on his son, making sure he's doing things right), the boy (attention solely on his line) and mum (reading a book, not paying attention but seemingly pleased to be there). I did play with some severe cropping but decided to keep the environment in. This was the only frame in 3 that the boy and dad's faces were visible. I had already wandered back and forth a couple of times at this stage and mum had been giving me uncomforatble sideways glances while I stood waiting for a "moment". A more stealthy camera might have allowed me to get closer and a bit more to the right to isolate them a bit more (not sure on this point, as I like some environment in the pic sometimes)

My fishing motto... any fish is a bonus...

Thanks for your critical analysis.. excellent feedback for me, really appreciated.

-- Nigel Smith (nlandgl@unite.com.au), April 17, 2001.

I find it difficult to negatively criticize other people's work, even though I know that wise recipients of such criticism will normally happily receive it as useful. I'm glad we are who we are on this forum and not others on some other forums of the past! :-)

-- Tony Rowlett (rowlett@alaska.net), April 17, 2001.

Nigel, i agree that there is some emotional weight in this scene. a couple of things interest me... each subject has a different chair and height and the shadows kind of frame the space they are sitting in. i like the diagonals although they are almost too strong and the people aren't quite echoing any of them. for these reasons i would have tried some other view options (if i can be so bold) one would be a shot from standing position behind with them (square to their backs) with a wide angle lens (21mm) or even a silloute into the light from a low position something like sons head height. the tension (not being a fisherman mind you) could then come from the fishers stare out to the sea as they seem to do as if they will see the fish and some humour from the small med large thing.

-- charles curry-hyde (charles@chho.com.au), April 18, 2001.

I think it would have been nicer with less depth of field and a tighter crop around the fisher"men". A large aperture 80-200 shot at f2.8 or f3.5 at the long end would have been good. Just enough to throw the bars and the other people out of focus.

-- ed (ekang@cse.nd.edu), April 20, 2001.

fishermen

I see two fishermen but also a lot of extraneous, or superflous, unrelated elements in this image. These all place the fishermen in some relationship, ei. the pier, but distract my eye too much. One technique that you might try is to burn down all the other elements in this image but brighten the two fishermen. This focuses the eye on the subject of the image but still gives enough elements to keep the story together. Painters use this technique all the time. Light against dark and dark against light. It can help focus the fathers eyes on his son. Give it a try and please post the outcome. I think you'll like the results and I'd like to see them. James

-- james (james_mickelson@hotmail.com), April 23, 2001.

I have been lurking here for a little while and thought I would post for the first time tonight. I am no expert, but I think that the photo is lovely. There is a sweet innocence to the boy in the star- covered cap. It makes me wonder what is going through his mind -- what instructions has Dad given him to make him a better fisherman.

I also have a "little boy fishing" photo that I thought I'd share. I am a novice, but this is one that I personally enjoy. Thank you for your time.

-- Danielle Schouten (yandel@juno.com), April 30, 2001.

if you simply crop the image so it shows only the boy and his father fishing off of a pier. hold your hand over the right side of the image and it instantly becomes a worthy image.simplify simplify simplify

-- mike desjarlais (chasbo@bellatlantic.net), May 02, 2001.