On Reading - Haddon Hill (+revised)

[Huw_Thomas]

Revised Version

Revision 2 (latest)

What changed: Sky gone , It is more intimate - probably does make you concentrate more on the interaction between the two individuals, not sure I would have done this change without the prompt - thx

Revision 1

What changed: Stone changed- few minor tweaks. Ps do I need any sky - shall I crop from the top?

Added after receiving feedback from the community.

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Original Version

Critique Style: Standard

The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below.

Feedback Focus: Artistic + Technical

About This Image

This is my tribute to great photographers who have done projects on “On Reading”.
If any are unfamiliar to you they are well worth investigating with google search (other search engines are also available :-D)

Andre Kertesz was the first who throughout his career took photos of people reading wherever he saw them.

André Kertesz: On Reading - Literal Magazine

David Hurn - a wonderful Magnum street photographer from South Wales produced a book of the same name as a tribute to Kertesz

Couldn’t put it down: David Hurn’s photographs of people reading – in pictures

Finally the wonderful ex National Geographic photographer Steve McCurry produced his book tribute to Andre Kertesz last year, with as you expect wonderfully varied “on reading” photographs from all over the world:

Striking photos of readers around the world

Anyway this was taken on Exmoor, Somerset UK - about 10 miles from my home.
I love the photograph it for its glorious moorland views, its humanity, and evidence of interpersonal relationships, love, friendship, understanding and shared leisure times.

I hope this comes through to the viewer who can see this in the image

Feedback Requested

Comments, technical or otherwise appreciated, as always.

[Dennis_Plank]

As an avid reader, this really appeals tome, Huw. I’ll have to look at your references to the other projects. I think it’s just the angle you were at, but my mind keeps wanting to give that monument a touch of clockwise rotation, though doing so would skew the horizon line horribly. Other than that, I like the image as presented.

Note: Since the main subject of this image is the monument and people, a non-nature tag would probably have been more appropriate than landscape, though it’s perfectly permissible to add as many as you feel are suitable. I’ll add that tag as soon as I post this critique.

P.S. that bright stone at the bottom suddenly started drawing my eye and won’t let go.

[system]

The original poster added a revised version of their image.

[Huw_Thomas]

Thanks @Dennis_Plank feel free to play with tags if inappropriate.
Enjoy the links - they are fantastic - Kertesz is a master and the others are awesome

The monument is a “Trig point” stones put at the highest point of the hill or peak - very widespread in the UK and instantly recognisable. The couple were at the top of their local world with views all around.

[Han_Schutten]

To react on your PS: I don’t think that the image needs the sky. To me, the scene becomes more intimate without it, so I prefer an image without a visible horizon.

[system]

The original poster added a revised version of their image.

[David_Haynes]

@Huw_Thomas

I love the photograph it for its glorious moorland views, its humanity, and evidence of interpersonal relationships, love, friendship, understanding and shared leisure times.

I hope this comes through to the viewer who can see this in the image

It sure does. In spades. It looks like a great place to go to simply contemplate. With no grass growing there it also seems like it gets used a lot by other hikers. I am an avid reader (I read about 1 book a week) so this image has me thinking what a great place this would be to clear the head and turn some pages. I wish I were there now.
This also makes me wonder if you took the picture or if you are in the picture? I’m assuming you took the picture but it makes me wonder.
Thanks for the links. I can’t wait to read them all.

[Huw_Thomas]

Thanks @David_Haynes

I did take the picture but without disturbing them - I am always on the look out for pictures that express human interactions and emotions.

They were so at peace, reading and chilling in each others company

Regards

huw

[Huw_Thomas]

Thanks @Han_Schutten - tweaked as suggested

[Dennis_Plank]

I like the second rework a lot, Huw. A very nice improvement on an image that was excellent to begin with.

[Glenys_Passier]

Love the revised image Huw! Without the sky (which didn’t add much) it’s so much more intimate. The couple look so comfortable together. Was it windy or cold?

[Huw_Thomas]

Thanks @Dennis_Plank and @Glenys_Passier
Comments much appreciated, it was pleasantly warm. From David Hurns book