12-26-2016, 09:27 AM
Hi Ice Rider,
I like the idea behind this image a lot. There is a clear story, interesting characters and a different setting to most images like this one. That being said there are some issues with the image that are not allowing it to be as effective as it can be.
First, the drama of this confrontation is affected by the placement of the viewer and subsequently the composition. I think that simply adjusting the cropping of the image will help to increase the drama with very little effort. Moving the viewer closer to the action will increase the feeling of being involved in the story. The visual tension created by moving the characters closer to the image boundaries will also make the confrontation itself seem more tense as well.
Secondly, the value distribution of the image tends toward middle and dark values with a very small portion of lighter value. This flattens the space and also works to make the image less dramatic. Lightening the background and darkening the foreground to more evenly distribute the values will go a long way toward increasing the realism and the drama by accentuating the silhouettes of the characters. Increasing the value range will also allow you to add details without compromising the overall effect of the composition.
Third, (and this is related to the value distribution) the direction of the light and indication of form is not well defined. These two things are drawing problems. Proportion and anatomy also fall within the realm of drawing issues, but I hesitate to comment on those issues because often they are stylistic choices. I assume that the characters were lit from a diffused source from above, but it is difficult to tell based on the image. If they were lit from above, then the upward-facing planes of the form would be much lighter and the downward facing planes would be darker and shadows would be more diffused.
I made a small graphic to show you some of the things I mentioned. It is important to note that I didn't re-draw anything in your image. I merely re-cropped the image, adjusted the values (with curves), used color balance to unify the colors, and used the dodge/burn tools to accentuate the lighting from above. I used a median filter on the image to help show that the power of the image is not in its details, but in the overall effect of the shapes (ie. the composition). I hope this helps in some way. Keep up the good work.
I like the idea behind this image a lot. There is a clear story, interesting characters and a different setting to most images like this one. That being said there are some issues with the image that are not allowing it to be as effective as it can be.
First, the drama of this confrontation is affected by the placement of the viewer and subsequently the composition. I think that simply adjusting the cropping of the image will help to increase the drama with very little effort. Moving the viewer closer to the action will increase the feeling of being involved in the story. The visual tension created by moving the characters closer to the image boundaries will also make the confrontation itself seem more tense as well.
Secondly, the value distribution of the image tends toward middle and dark values with a very small portion of lighter value. This flattens the space and also works to make the image less dramatic. Lightening the background and darkening the foreground to more evenly distribute the values will go a long way toward increasing the realism and the drama by accentuating the silhouettes of the characters. Increasing the value range will also allow you to add details without compromising the overall effect of the composition.
Third, (and this is related to the value distribution) the direction of the light and indication of form is not well defined. These two things are drawing problems. Proportion and anatomy also fall within the realm of drawing issues, but I hesitate to comment on those issues because often they are stylistic choices. I assume that the characters were lit from a diffused source from above, but it is difficult to tell based on the image. If they were lit from above, then the upward-facing planes of the form would be much lighter and the downward facing planes would be darker and shadows would be more diffused.
I made a small graphic to show you some of the things I mentioned. It is important to note that I didn't re-draw anything in your image. I merely re-cropped the image, adjusted the values (with curves), used color balance to unify the colors, and used the dodge/burn tools to accentuate the lighting from above. I used a median filter on the image to help show that the power of the image is not in its details, but in the overall effect of the shapes (ie. the composition). I hope this helps in some way. Keep up the good work.
-Sketchbook-
"... for drawing is a thinking person's art." - Walt Stanchfield.
"... for drawing is a thinking person's art." - Walt Stanchfield.