Trumpet Lessons
by alanfreed

Comment by fridjo:
good action in this shot!

Trumpet Lessons
by alanfreed

Comment by balancedfox:
Using a prop can be a great idea. Unfortunately this one covers up her mouth, which would have made it a better portrait in my eyes.

Obama Says: "Vote Based on the Photography, Not Your Politics!"
by alanfreed

Comment by GeneralE:
"Why does this water cost more than gasoline?"

Obama Says: "Vote Based on the Photography, Not Your Politics!"
by alanfreed

Comment by SDW:
I did not vote on your picture but if I had I would have voted a 6. The main reason is the crop, IMO I don't think cropping or positioning the bottom of the photograph right below the belt line was a good idea. It should of been a little higher and also would have given a little more space above the head.

Even though the right half of the photograph has a good red tone it's overcome by the distraction of the black space that tilts upward at the bottom of the photograph. I know the bottle has nice reflections of light and color but not enough to justify leaving it in the photograph.

IMO I feel the photograph would have been much more appealing if taken or cropped vertically about the same distance from on the right as on the left.

As far as politics skewing the votes in this photograph I feel like that may have happened but not only in low votes but in high votes as well. Your photograph did not deserve the 8-one's but I also find it hard to believe it deserves 6-ten's. I feel no one should vote down or up an image based on their political views but we know some will. In this case it looks like it almost evened out.

Obama Says: "Vote Based on the Photography, Not Your Politics!"
by alanfreed

Comment by Spork99:
I think 5.99 is about what this deserved.

It's certainly well exposed and sharp, the shallow DOF helping to isolate Mr. Obama from the background.

Unfortunately, his water bottle gets the same treatment. Also, I don't think anyone mentioned this, but for a campaign news shot, he's totally removed from that context. There's no flags, no cheering crowd of supporters, nothing to suggest that this is not a pre-campaign speech by a relatively unknown Senator Obama at a hometown community center. I also think you could lose the entire right half of the image, cropping to vertical and have a stronger image.

Message edited by author 2008-09-08 14:29:03.

Obama Says: "Vote Based on the Photography, Not Your Politics!"
by alanfreed

Comment by David Ey:
MY GOD MAN, IS OBAMA BLACK?

Obama Says: "Vote Based on the Photography, Not Your Politics!"
by alanfreed

Comment by david_c:
Funny...eight 1's on what could be an official campaign photo. If only you could have had an American flag waving in the background.

Obama Says: "Vote Based on the Photography, Not Your Politics!"
by alanfreed

Comment by Blackbox:
Whatever - at least I didn't give you one of those totally unfair 1's. In fact, I scored it much higher but after all, it's not about my personal observations is it?

Obama Says: "Vote Based on the Photography, Not Your Politics!"
by alanfreed

Comment by eqsite:
Bottled water is so wasteful -- how could you promote it in this fashion -- I'm giving this a 1!

Obama Says: "Vote Based on the Photography, Not Your Politics!"
by alanfreed

Comment by Melethia:
Wonderfully crisp photojournalism shot - great job minimizing the background and highlighting your subject.