Storms don't keep us in

[Kaye Leggett]

Following on from my earlier storm photos - this was a little later in the day on a wide beach - kids playing in the spume. This little girl just captured the scene for me. I would have liked her to be to further to right, but hey ho, things don't always work out. Hope you like it, any C&C appreciated

[wlou]

Good shot Kaye. The fact that the child is closer to us help understand the strength of the wind and allows us to see her expression. I nice quick capture of on a day at the beach.

[bnnrcn]

Hi Kaye,I like it.IMO,some cropping from the bottom might improve the composition

[Geoff F]

Hi Kaye,I like it.IMO,some cropping from the bottom might improve the composition

That was my thought as well. And possibly the same amount from the right side will appear to move the child to the right.

Not a lot though, say 20% reduction at most.

[Shadowman]

Very nice.

[shreds]

It really does give you the impression of the strength of the wind on that beach, somewhere most of us only visit on balmy sunny windless summer days!

[Kaye Leggett]

Thanks for the comments. I have tried the further crop and agree it works, albeit back in photo ratio rather than a 3:5 which was how I had it before - seemed to work better.

[AndrewMcD]

I find it interesting how much the crop changes the story. The first version is about the storm while the second version is more about the child. I've learned something here! Either way, well done.

[AB26]

Kaye,

I am no expert but I do look at what the experts do.

In an image with anything or anybody moving in a direction it is always better to compose in such a way that the subject is moving “into” the image rather than “out of” the image. Placing the little one further back to within the right ⅓ of the image will have her moving “into” the image.

This edit is to explain. If you have any objection I will remove it. It is not an improvement, only an illustration.

[bnnrcn]

Andre, I'm not an expert either and I'm trying to learn too.I agree with your opinion about moving objects in a photo but for this particular scene I think Kaye's crop works better,because although it is cropped ,the scene still keeps the storm effect heavily and the child has actually just passed the half way.

Kaye,

I am no expert but I do look at what the experts do.

In an image with anything or anybody moving in a direction it is always better to compose in such a way that the subject is moving “into” the image rather than “out of” the image. Placing the little one further back to within the right ⅓ of the image will have her moving “into” the image.

This edit is to explain. If you have any objection I will remove it. It is not an improvement, only an illustration.

[dabhand]

Kaye - I think your cropped version works very well - it puts the 'foam' and her leaning in context, perhaps the 'rules' say she should be entering the scene but in this instance I believe her position ehances the image by alluding to the fact she may easily be blown backwards - to me, without the background it is just a young child running along a rather dirty bit of sand.

The only small change I would suggest would be to level off the horizon with a small rotation ccw - use the water level under the headland as your guide.

steve

[Wavelength]

Very nice; i too was thinking about including more space in front of the little one;and it worked well

[Kaye Leggett]

Thanks you all for your thoughts. Andre - yes, this is what I have learn't/been taught but in this instance I agree with Binnur and Steve because you lose too much of the storm with your crop and yes she becomes a little girl without the context. But don't remove you version - I don't object at all - all thoughts gratefully received.
Steve, keeping the camera level was a fun task -I will straighten as you suggest - thanks for pointing this out

I have learn't loads from this exercise - the weather was dramatic and whilst taking shots I had the thought that I should be taking video to capture the movement and noise. In the stills this is lost. I thought I was taking pictures of waves etc. but what I have ended up with is something completely different, but nevertheless pleasing.

[shreds]

Kaye,

Whilst rules are useful starting points, slavish adherence too them does not necessarily make a better picture.

Your crop works very well, ok, you could lose a marginal amount more of the bland sky above the cliffs but not a lot. Sometimes it is necessary to look at the whole picture plus the aim of what you are trying to represent.

Once you know where the rules lie, then breaking them once in a while is allowed! Even the best photographers do it occasionally.