Alyssa Schukar
The Daily Nebraskan
Junior
The University of Nebraska - Lincoln
This week’s critique is a product of the camera of Alyssa Schukar. Like last week’s Frisbee photo, this image has no caption information. So, once again, I will have to do some guessing. This appears to be from an arena or school stairwell as a pair of high school students works on their body paint letters in preparation for a pep rally or game. I’m unsure of why their arms are outstretched but since I doubt that they are about to hug each other, I’ll deduce that they are letting the paint dry. (Caption information can go a long way in determining a photograph’s success so if you are planning on sending in a picture for review, please include a full caption in the file info box.)
As for this image, I love it. It has a boatload of things working in its favor. The light is wonderful, the composition is intricate and layered and there is a moment. In order to have a good photo, there needs to be only one of three elements- good light, good composition or a good moment. This photo in my eyes has all three so it’s a great photo.
Besides the moment between the shirtless boys, I enjoy the way that the stairwell railings lead the eye up the diagonal line to the boy watching from the shadows. The hallway lights at the top give the photo added depth. The splash of red from the C, the hand and the hat on the left brighten up an otherwise monochromatic image.
On the downside, I might crop a bit off of each side. The half of a boy jutting out from the left and the right detracts from the image’s appeal.
Ms. Schukar should be very proud of this image. I thoroughly enjoyed this peak into the life of the average American student.
