Harbor Overlook

Hi... I'm new to this site..  and ready to improve.  I'm really interested in any comments you have for this picture. 

Attachments
This post contains 1 attachment, but as a guest you cannot view attachments. Signing up at PhotoArtsForum will allow you to view attachments and post your own messages. If you already are a member at PhotoArtsForum please login.
Logged


Welcome Deeya
Thanks for sharing your image.  The first thing I notice is that it needs more punch.  I would bump up the contrast and saturation.  The nice thing about images like this that don't include people is that you can get a little over the top with the colors without worrying about making skin tones orange and it will still look natural. 
The composition isn't perfect.  My focus is a little torn between the what is going on in the right and the left hand parts of the frame.  Let's see what the others here have to say about that since I can't come up with a solution to crop it better.  Maybe it is just my opinion and it is fine as is.
 
Logged


By the way, can you tell us where this was taken?  I always like knowing a little background about the image, if possible.
Logged


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 Good Luck POST AGAIN SOON!

Logged

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

Thanks for all of the comments...   I had thought that the water created a line that led the viewer into the picture but I can see now (after reading your comments) how the picture might seem more split than leading...   

Ed...I will go back and shoot again and shift the spot where I am taking the picture from... (might not be able to get far enough over though... will just have to see)...   It really helps getting some feedback that gives me an idea of what to try...


Ginny...I'm going to play with the saturation and contrast to see what happens...  I think I am tentative doing that simply because I worry about overdoing...  maybe I need to overdo and then pull back from that...  (and remind myself this is not life and death... nothing bad will happen if I over saturate right??)  Smiley

The picture was taken in Ocean Springs MS ... I was standing on the bridge between the inner and outer harbors.  It's a fun place to shoot if you are ever in that area.  Smiley
Logged


By the way...  y'all made a mistake by giving great constructive feedback.. I'll be back with more pictures...  I really want to get better at this... Smiley
Logged


By the way...  y'all made a mistake by giving great constructive feedback.. I'll be back with more pictures...  I really want to get better at this... Smiley

I hope so!  I personally have learned a lot on forums like this about how to make my images better.  Try playing in photoshop with the saturation and contrast.  Always save an original version of you picture.  You may discover you like some crazy and over the top effects or you may not.
Logged


By the way...  y'all made a mistake by giving great constructive feedback.. I'll be back with more pictures...  I really want to get better at this... Smiley

That's the idea, isn't it?   Cheesy Grin
Logged


Looking at your exif data it looks like you used a really wide open aperature.  Try something smaller next time if you want more to be in focus.  Landscapes usually benefit from this although you can use a shallow depth of field for artistic reasons.
Logged


Top of Page