Thank you for your comments and critism!
Definately some valid points there flying_whizzab. On Number 1, the lighting is defiantely an issue in the 1st photo: the hair is too illumnated and the flash in the mirror is just horrible. See if I can do something about that in photoshop. Ideally I'd get a whole lighting rig set up but that's just Not happening.
Composition wise, I think I will slice a smidgen off the right of the picture (it looks out of balance with the shelves to the left). I think ideally the picture should have focused More on the paraphanalia on the shelves (to the left) or Less. Right now it seems unintentional and distracting. Cropping the left of the picture does chop of her arm though and this isn't a compromise that I can make really.
-- nell8090 -- I do agree with you, the composition of the Number 2 could be improved. Just as with the 1st, the bedroom furniture (dresser in this case) is pretty unneccesary and potentially distracting. And again, frustratingly, cropping it would chop off her back.
Although Number 2 is not perfect I think would leave the carpet in. I wanted to make the subject look Alien to, and Lost, within the scene. At the same time, I wanted to really let the audience feel as if they are within the room. I wanted to make the audience feel compelled to help this poor, vulnerable girl but unable to, and distant from her. In essance, the viewer should empathise with her, feel the same distress and essentially become the subject: another lost, alienated creature, unable to help anyone, or be helped by anyone.
I feel reluctant to tell people what I'm trying to do with the pictures. If they were perfect, no-one would need to ask me and that's what we've got to aim for. In a sense though, I would prefer if people not only "came up" with their own interpretation, but valued it above what everyone else sees in the picture. e.g. flying_whizzabs idea that the girl is rejecting a symbol of herself, is truly fantastic, and (nicely) it's close to my interpretation. I'd rather that the viewer simply accept what they see and enjoy it for that. I should be a curator
--In short, I'm fed up of being told what pictures are "really" about
Perhaps, as the comments seem to have emphasised, I might try cropping the ceiling -as it only serves to frame the picture- while adding more carpet. Maybe. I'll experiement with the pictures.
Although I can't take the picture again (unless I get another opportunity) it's really useful to know how I could improve it if I were to do it again. Thanks a lot.
Thanks again for all ur comments. It's really helpful, interesting and useful.
Keep them coming !!
-B. Lowman
