Victory

[Iguanasan]

Was back to the chess tables at the Public Gardens and this time I remembered some chess pieces.

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[JAS_Photo]

I like this shot and the angle of view and composition are very good. I think it is what you were trying to achieve. I could see this as an art piece framed on a wall, except for the background. I find it way too dark. I think if the background tones were about the same as the chess board and the "black" pieces remained dark the image would have more punch. I can also see this converted to B&W to give it an overall harmony. Just my opinion (Of which almost no one agrees :shrug:) .

[Wicked Dark]

I do agree about the bg, it's dark and seems out of place. I'd try positioning myself on the opposite side and seeing if I could get all of the game space behind the pieces. If that doesn't work I'd see if I could get a less distracting bg or one that is more harmonious - maybe another one of the chess tables if there's one in reach.

Otherwise it's a well framed and exposed image. Sharp where it needs to be and I like the contrast between the wooden pieces and the stone board. Good texture. B&W would also be good with a different bg.

[Bambi]

I don't mind the dark bg, I think it makes the pieces stand out. (so there you go :)). However, if you did want to, you could probably lighten up the background in this picture.

I remember the first shot of this without the pieces. I like this much better. It tells a story but is simple in composition. Well done.

[Iguanasan]

Thanks, everyone. The light was a little tricky that morning as the sun was popping in and out of heavy cloud cover so while the board was in the sun the ground behind was somewhat darker. I have a few more angles from that day but this was one of my favourites.

[Matt K.]

I, too, think it is a cool shot. I wonder if you could have had more of the board in the foreground, thus cutting back on the dark background? From a perspective view this would have been very interesting to have the checkerboard 'taper' to the back and have the pieces really dominat the scene.

[Iguanasan]

Thanks, Matt. How about this one?

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[Wicked Dark]

I think it's a step in the right direction although the OOF piece in the middleground bugs me for some reason.

[Iguanasan]

I think it's a step in the right direction although the OOF piece in the middleground bugs me for some reason.

Yeah, me too which is why I didn't post it first ;) I thought it might add depth but honestly, it just didn't work :(

[Matt K.]

Thanks, Matt. How about this one?

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Yes, this is how i would have approached it as well. Light woks great in that shot as well, only thing is DOF ... what f stop did you use?

[Marko]

I'm actually okay with the dark BG in shot 1 and like others have said - nice and sharp and good comp. For me this is a case where off camera flash would have worked very well to light the chess pieces which I find dark.

Shot 2 is a stronger image imo based on comp and lighting, but I agree that blurry bishop in the midground is a distraction. For this particular shot It would likely have been best to focus just beyond the blurry bishop. :twocents: