A Song of Autumnby
Purple_GirlComment: As promised, here's my comment :)
For what is worth, I gave this one a 6.
I think it would have benefitted from underexposing a bit to keep texture on the leaves and grass, if the idea was to suggest a relation between musician and autumn. But perhaps there are not enough leaves or other autumn related elements close to the subject to stress the concept. Aprroaching the guy and convincing him to sit under an oak tree and pose for a real portrait maybe would have been a good idea.
In general, I did not find the composition and choice of angle particularly evocative.
I read your description above and, living in the UK too, I think I understand the feeling of excitment occasional glimpses of sun can generate this time of the year. But the photo does not convey that too well.
Possibly an angle showing more of the musician, perhaps frontal, would have worked better. Or perhaps a framing including some brighter area on the left-top corner, so the musician would appear to be gazing into the light.
Just out of curiousity, which focal length was this one taken at? The perspective looks a bit flat and the depth of field is shallow, which increases subject/background separation but weakens the leaves/subject relationship, at least with this type of bokeh. Maybe a case for getting closer to your subject?
I'm not sure if the above helps at all, sorry if it doesn't.
Also, consider that we all tend being more interested with slightly unusual sights. Angle and colour of the light, type and colour of the grass, the very subject, I could not avoid being sure this was taken in the UK and feelign it was, at least from this angle and perspective, a pretty usual sight.
Photographer found comment helpful.
