Hey Mr Bassman

[John 2]

Unashamedly selected for his red shirt. As always, C&C welcome.

Nikon D7000
18mm-200mm Nikkor @200mm
1/800th sec @ f5.6 ISO400

[Colin Southern]

Unashamedly selected for his red shirt. As always, C&C welcome.

Nikon D7000
18mm-200mm Nikkor @200mm
1/800th sec @ f5.6 ISO400

Looks good John.

From a different perspective, I think it would also look good (and not be too difficult to do) if you blacked out the gent to camera right so that the bass guitarist "appeared solo".

[Colin Southern]

Here's a quick & dirty example of what I meant - hope you don't mind.

[IzzieK]

Maybe it is the way I think...but I like them both on the same frame, Colin...maybe the solo should be on a different angle? The extra black space on the right bothers me a bit. And I like the frame John did for the shot too...just make that shadow softer than it is now...

My opinion may vary from yours.

[Daisy Mae]

You have captured some beautiful light and shade there john..

[John 2]

Colin, Isabel and Sharon, thanks for your feedback. Colin I certainly don't dislike your version but I think that I would change the crop to lose some of the RHS (see below). However, my original idea (right or wrong) was to provide some context. Solo artist are portrayed in isolation but that's not usually the case for a bass player and there are people that will pick up on that. On the few occasions that I have shown this image, I have already had comments about the fact that he is playing a five string bass rather than the more normal four string bass. Aficionados seem to be quite interested in this level of detail.

[Downrigger]

my original idea (right or wrong) was to provide some context.

Right on. I like the (?) lead in the image as almost an echo of the subject - a reverb if you will, and I think you treated the second player skillfully to create that effect. Very nice.

[IzzieK]

I like the second treatment better...and your story remains with the first one too. I love them both.

[FrankMi]

Hi John, although I like both of your images for different reasons, I feel the second one is more powerful as it doesn't have the shadowy distraction so your attention gets riveted to his left hand. I can hear the "Hey, Mr. Bassman" chords playing in my head! Lovely image, well captioned, particularly for those of us who know the tune.

[Colin Southern]

Colin, Isabel and Sharon, thanks for your feedback. Colin I certainly don't dislike your version but I think that I would change the crop to lose some of the RHS (see below). However, my original idea (right or wrong) was to provide some context. Solo artist are portrayed in isolation but that's not usually the case for a bass player and there are people that will pick up on that. On the few occasions that I have shown this image, I have already had comments about the fact that he is playing a five string bass rather than the more normal four string bass. Aficionados seem to be quite interested in this level of detail.

Hi John,

No worries

There's no right or wrong for this type of thing. I sometimes like to use negative space and in this case it gave a lead out line from the guitar neck to the top corner, but your crop is great too (I think I prefer it too).

Negative space can be an acquired taste - it would work better if the light was coming from that direction. Most important thing is to get away from close crops to give the subject space to look into, which you've still done well.

[John 2]

Thanks Mark, thanks Isabel.
Thanks Frank. I suspect those of us that "...know the tune" are dwindling fast.
Thanks Colin. I'm with you all the way. Negative space is a valuable comp tool and generally under utilised.