Reply #3 - January 24, 2008, 12:32:24 PM
Hi Deeya! Thank you for submitting you work- participation is one of the elements which keep this board alive and useful!
The main issue I have with your maritime scene is that of composition- there is no real center of interest. The vessel on the right of the scene- in the fairground is darker that the other boat and that is good because that helps lead the viewers eye into the scene. Problem is, however, once the eye gets there, there is nothing but dark water and some land in the background. If you would have shifted your angle of view so that the structure and masts of the boat in the foreground framed the boat on the far right the eye would stop wandering around looking for a main subject of interest. The equipment at the extreme right of the scene is highlighted and becomes distracting.
When you can't physically move your main subject into place you have to move around and find angles that place the main subject 1/3 down from the top and sides of your frame or composition.
Framing you subject in foreground elements and the 1/3 composition rule are admittedly "old school" or classical theories but nonetheless they work in that they direct the eye to your center of interest and help you make a statement about your subject. Framing the subject also helps add dimensionality to your images- kind of a 3-D effect that is especially useful in landscape and seascape work.
Thanks again and I hope this helps! Ed

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Ed Shapiro
The Hintonburg Studio
Suite 201 78 Hinton Avenue North
Ottawa, Ontario CANADA K1Y 0Z8
613-792-4837 Email:
edshapiro@rogers.com