I’m working on a book (using a pre-Canva version of Affinity Publisher 2). On one of the spreads I have a “Leading Actor” image along with some text on the left facing page. And four smaller “Supporting Actor” images arranged in a 2x2 grid on the right facing page. This image is one of these supporting actors.
As I was working on this book, it occurred to me that not all images in the book need to be standalone leading actors. They can also add value by being a member of a group of supporting actors.
Feedback Requests
Besides general feedback on the image, I’m also interested in comments from NPN members who have already created a book (or are currently working on a book) on what criteria they use to classify an image as a “leading actor” or a “supporting actor”. That is to say, what properties of an image make it a good leading actor. What properties of an image make it a good supporting actor.
Pertinent Technical Details
1/30 sec at f/13, ISO 400, 120 mm, tripod mounted.
While I’ve never done a “book”, Franz, I’d say that the main criterion for the Leading Actor is Impact. The supporting actors have to add to whatever message you’re trying to get across and should be good photographs in themselves, just not having the impact to draw attention from the lead.
This is a nice image of frost on leaves. I’d like to see more depth of field, but with that background, it would probably be a disaster, so this is probably as good as you could get without resorting to focus stacking.
An interesting pair of questions - and interesting book concept. Impact, certainly. Other factors depend on the type of leading actor. I mean, you could show a gorgeous butterfly as your lead, with different stages of its life cycle as the supporters. Or a superb mother leopard, supported by 4 romping cubs. Or indeed a beautiful cub supported by admiring adults. I’d try to make sure the lead was the most successful shot (you decide the criteria for that; I’d include emotional effect). In a grand landscape you could blow up 4 details (a cottage, a tree, a cliff and the sun, for example), i.e have supporters already included in the original. I’d try to avoid having the supporters outshine the lead (though that does happen in Hollywood sometimes!) - unless you can actually build a chain of images where one of the supporters on one page becomes the lead ( the same photo) on the next page, tho’ it would be a challenge to extend this chain very far. Anyway, my 2 cents.
