Photo Analysis: In the Church

Photo by: @eugeniahanganu

Composition

• Positive: The subject is placed really well in the frame—slightly off-center, which makes the shot feel balanced and intentional. The foreground bokeh adds some nice depth and makes the image feel layered and rich.

• Negative: The bokeh is almost too much. It takes up a big chunk of the frame and can pull attention away from the subject. Some could say less could’ve been more here, however I personally like it.

Lighting

• Positive: The lighting is lovely—soft and warm, and it falls on the subject’s face just right, making them the clear focus. The subtle light in the background adds some dimension and shows off a hint of the setting.

• Negative: The background is a bit too dark, though. You lose some of the details that could’ve made the scene feel more complete. A bit more light back there could help tell the story better.

Mood and Storytelling

• Positive: This photo tells a story, no question. The subject’s posture—kind of reflective, maybe even reverent—works perfectly with the setting. The warm tones and soft focus add to that quiet, introspective vibe.

• Negative: The storytelling feels a little incomplete. What’s the red object they’re holding? It seems important, but we don’t get enough clues about it or the overall scene to fully connect the dots.

Depth and Layers

• Positive: The image has great layers—the foreground bokeh, the subject, and the background architecture all work together to create a sense of depth. It feels dynamic rather than flat.

• Negative: The layers aren’t amazingly balanced. The bokeh dominates a bit too much, and the background fades away. That throws off the harmony between the layers.

Colors

• Positive: The warm tones (reds and oranges) are super eye-catching and match the mood of the scene. It feels inviting and emotional.

• Negative: There’s a lot of warmth. It borders on overpowering. Balancing it with a bit of cooler tones or desaturating the reds slightly might’ve helped keep it from feeling overwhelming, however again personally I don’t mind.

Subject Placement

• Positive: The subject is framed well in the overall shot, and their face is sharp and well-lit. Their posture feels natural and fits the mood of the scene.

• Negative: Where they’re looking kind of leads your eyes out of the frame instead of pulling you deeper into the scene.