Beach Runner

[Donald]

This is a fine composition Donald, and nothing needs to be changed.

It is, however, the picture's "story" that is still something of a mystery. Why would the girl run straight at the sea?... wearing headphones?... wearing socks and shoes?... why only "one direction" - why not run along the beach?... is she meeting someone not in view?... where did she go?

Just curious!

Philip

Thanks Philip. What this very helpfully does is remind us that when we take a photograph we are at the scene and we know the context and we know what was there that is not being seen in the image. Those of us who were not there have only this square (or rectangle) to look at.

What I meant when I wrote about having only one direction to go in is that both she and I are at the beginning of the beach. Immediately on my right is the Old Course Golf Course of St Andrews and a few yards further, the town itself. So she couldn't run to the right. Also, just to the left, out of shot, are the start of the line of large sand dunes that form the back of the beach. The beach swings round to the left and that is exactly where she was headed. A few moments after this she was out of my sight.

I suppose it's a human trait (I know I have it) to want to know what is happening outside the frame that we can't see, rather than focus on the content of the frame as an entity in itself. The lesson for all of us that emerges from this, is the need to consider that when we present an image, are we telling enough of the story or are we going to confuse people by not including enough of the scene to tell that story.

As to her footwear - well, she'd have to explain that. She seemed to be a very serious athlete. She engaged in a very strenuous looking warm-up session of stretching etc, before she stepped onto the beach and started running.

[WJT]

I agree that the sharp focus on the girl makes her the subject and the rocks the background. Works well for me although I would prefer she had a touch more space from the left hand border.

[MrB]

Thank you, Donald.

It was a mystery why she was heading straight into the sea, but after your description of the scene, her apparent impending folly is explained, as is her choice of footwear.

Philip

(P.S. It wasn't a Reggie Perrin experience then! )

[jeeperman]

Very nice work Donald. I like it as is.