Old and New

[MarieV]

Fuji X-Pro 1 - 18-55mm lens
France

[Shadowman]

Nice capture, something about weathered wood that brings out a composition.

[Manfred M]

A nice, simple and pleasing image Marie.

I do find all the material along the left edge of the image a bit distracting and wonder if a slight crop to remove most if it might not simplify and focus this shot a bit more.

[DanK]

This is a nice combination of colors and textures. I agree with Manfred. When I first looked at the image, my eye was immediately drawn to the well-illuminated, high-contrast area on the far left and therefore away from what I assume is the subject of the photo.

[MarieV]

Thank you John and this image was taken in a French village where the houses date back to the 16th and 17th century so this gate I am sure is extremely old.

[MarieV]

Thank you Manfred and Dan and, I agree, the area to the left is distracting and your crop looks better. I had already cropped the image and thought by including part of the archway would show that it was originally an entrance gate.

[Manfred M]

Thank you Manfred and Dan and, I agree, the area to the left is distracting and your crop looks better. I had already cropped the image and thought by including part of the archway would show that it was originally an entrance gate.

Maire -I can understand wanting to include the archway as you saw the entire scene. The rest of us have no such memory (which can be an advantage) and we only look at what you have shown in the image. From that vantage point we can see what does and does not work. The wooden planks, pivot and metal supports already tell me that we are looking at an old gate.

Without the distraction of the brighter areas on the left, our eyes will tend to spend time exploring the elements that are important to this scene.

[Digital]

Marie, very nice photo.



Bruce

[FootLoose]

Nice subject, Marie, well spotted.

[MrB]

I like your composition, Marie, as the archway helps to give the image a more 3D look than in the crop. You might consider darkening the left (and the bottom) of the frame, and perhaps also reducing the blue tones in the woodwork.

Cheers.
Philip

[MarieV]

Thank you Philip - I also like the archway and your edit by darkening the left has made that area less distracting. My PP skills are pretty limited so appreciate your input.