I really like this shot. Several different dynamics going on here, a relaxed hug, a laughing conversation, a serious conversation and one just watching the music. Some good wine, good cheese and a good time.
Phil, thanks much, your comments, as always, are quite accurate. My thought process in making this shot was to keep everything in focus so the friends could be shown in contrast to their surroundings, as I felt that seeing how they fit in to those surroundings was a key point in understanding the dynamics of what was happening within the group. That being said, I now stand corrected and see that adjusting the aperture to lock them in would have allowed the viewer to see what I am trying to convey without the distraction of "nothing in particular" going on in the background. Thanks as always for your taking the time to review.
HI, Tom - I like the responses too, but there is too much going on here. Your subjects are merging into the background. Simplify --you are making a picture of strongly expressive subject matter, but the image itself is not expressive because you have not managed to isolate those subject via vantage point, selective focus, and frame.