This photo is here for critique. Please only comment constructively and with suggestions on how to improve it.
Comments

Its always difficult at these types of military displays as so very often you compete with hoards of people and, as you say, the military photographers who obviously gain the best positions for capturing the action. Overall you have achieved good dof with the shot and managed to frame the leader quite nicely. The buildings offer some distraction, as with the army photographer too. Had time permitted I might have tried for a shallower dof focusing on perhaps one individual to blur some of the background but I can appreciate you wanted to capture the whole of the procession. Overall an image that captures the mood.
Linda.
Linda.
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Morning Frank,
You did mingle and get in close, didn't you
Frank I opened the image in RAW and recovered a bit of detail then when I opened the image into PS I applied "Overlay" which I think may have been to much. It seems (to my eye) to have gained a slight HDR look, not something I was after.
I don't know if it's a bird or spot of some sort in the sky, start with the drummer and go straight up just above the roof the it's on your left.
Take care
Martin
You did mingle and get in close, didn't you

Frank I opened the image in RAW and recovered a bit of detail then when I opened the image into PS I applied "Overlay" which I think may have been to much. It seems (to my eye) to have gained a slight HDR look, not something I was after.
I don't know if it's a bird or spot of some sort in the sky, start with the drummer and go straight up just above the roof the it's on your left.
Take care
Martin

I think a lot of photographers try and get everything into a shot, in this image, it's all of the band. Look at the army photographer and what he's up to. He's getting maybe an individual or maybe several others. This then is more personal, rather than having everyone in a shot. If you take an image at a wedding with everyone in the shot, compared to maybe 2 to 6 people I think it has more impact with the smaller group. Look at the photo journalist and their shots. The ones they take of a large crowd, say a demonstration, it only portays a large crown. But when the photographer gets in close and takes a shot of several individuals, it becomes more real. It tells a story of the individuals and maybe show anger or delight. They say every picture tells a story. Hope this of some help, if not sorry for rambling.
Happy snapping
Stephen
Happy snapping
Stephen