Shel,
I actually liked Frank's original framing of this picture, and wouldn't wish to change it. It works for me. I think that you, with your superior Photoshop skills, are able to do a lot to improve the "presentation" of the image (if that's a suitable word) to produce an excellent final "print". I can't compete with you on this, and wouldn't dream of trying.
I also think that with your tight cropping you have in both cases produced a punchy image which grabs the attention. I like both. However, I think that when you crop an image (as opposed to trimming) you are changing it rather than just enhancing it. You are in effect making a new image. Simply dodging and burning some areas doesn't create a new image; it's still the same picture, seen at its best.
I'm not making a philosophical point here, or criticising what you've done. I just like Frank's original framing, and in my view all that's needed is to do what you have done, without the cropping.
I also take your point about the importance of balance and symmetry. It might be that HCB could have produced a picture that contained all the information in Frank's picture, but with more poetry. However, Frank did what he did, and for me the picture is more satisfying with all it's elements intact than with some of them removed or reduced in the name of balance. I might think otherwise in the case of a more abstract image, but here I like the contrast between the two performers, and don't want to see element that downplayed.
De gustibus non disputandum est.
John
On Sat, 19 Mar 2005 12:04:47 -0800, Shel Belinkoff <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Why don't you present your version and we can see how it looks. There's a
balance between information, information that's implied, and the overall
balance and symmetry in a photograph itself that sometimes has to be
maintained.
Shel
[Original Message] From: John Forbes
This version certainly gives the picture a lot more more ooomph, but for my taste the crop on the guitarist is too tight. It's that right arm that's making the music, and if we can't see it, the guy becomes rather irrelevant. This is a pity, because although he may not be in focus, to me he's still a vital part of the picture.
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