Coleus and Clouds

[AndrewMcD]

This one is from Longwood Gardens in Kennet Square, Pennsylvania; quite a famous garden. They have provided some wonderful colorful arrangements. Have I provided and appropriate composition. I like the clouds of coleus on the ground and the clouds in the sky.

[IzzieK]

Too much of the coleus foreground. Methinks you should crop the coleus a bit to show more of the sky to make an impact. Not too big of a crop..just enough to balance the whole scenario. But what do I know...I love the clouds and I'd love to see more of it, maybe add more to the top? Just thinking out loud here...

[Shadowman]

I agree with Izzie, you actually have two subjects within this image.

[bnnrcn]

Hi Andrew I agree with the comments above, the composition looks too crowded this way.

[Geoff F]

An alternative would be to crop the clouds just above the tallest tree. But either way I think you need to decide which is the most important. At the moment both elements are 'fighting for my attention'.

[AndrewMcD]

Many of my compositions elicit the responses I'm getting with this one. The lack of primary subject, competing elements, or overcrowded composition is a constant challenge for me. I do appreciate the feedback . In this one I saw the clouds in the sky echoing rather than competing with the coleus but clearly others don't see it quite the same way. I've had the same difficulty with other compositions where I might see multiple elements creating an overall scene but ultimately others see it as too crowded or confusing. I recognize that this ability to refine the subject of an image is important to producing pleasing images and it's something I need to figure out how to train myself to be better at doing. Any suggestions to help me to learn to be better at this would be appreciated. Perhaps some exercises in composition suggestions?
Thanks for the help,
Andrew

[marlunn]

Hmm, well for me I can 'see' myself crouched down to see the picture as it is - the question I suppose is what do YOU want it to be. Often I find my pictures come in two flavours and I try to explain which it falls into, images that elicit memories or create thoughts of ‘being there’ and images that are to create a picture that defines a concept or creates a concept to others of what I saw and am trying to communicate. Both are fully valid once you decide which it is. In this case I can see myself there - but I agree with the others, as a creation to convey a concept of the view / image for others it needs more work to emphasise the aspect that is the dominant part that is it conveying to those that were not there. But, again I say that I can see myself there looking at that and wanting to capture it as I see it. An aspect of my photography I am trying to refine.

[Geoff F]

One very simple trick that I use for deciding on crops and other composition issues is to hold a couple of pieces of card against the screen to instantly see the result of any potential changes.

Some people insist of following strict rules, like the rule of thirds. But for me, my world wasn't 'designed' by strict composition rules so I only use this as a rough guideline.

[bnnrcn]

Hi again Andrew If you are into landscape photography, I can recommend you the book below. Glenn NK suggested it in one of the threads that I started to ask for advice for books in the past and I bought it. It is very nice and helpful. Thanks again Glenn You can see a lot of photos there to be inspired and it helps you to broaden your vision about composition. But please don't be surprised to see the very strong colors of the images in the book , this is Tim Fitzharris's style and you get used to it after a while. I actually love his style.

http://www.amazon.com/National-Audub.../dp/1554079934


I also watch a lot of landscape images in some websites to improve my vision.

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ is one of them.

Many of my compositions elicit the responses I'm getting with this one. The lack of primary subject, competing elements, or overcrowded composition is a constant challenge for me. I do appreciate the feedback . In this one I saw the clouds in the sky echoing rather than competing with the coleus but clearly others don't see it quite the same way. I've had the same difficulty with other compositions where I might see multiple elements creating an overall scene but ultimately others see it as too crowded or confusing. I recognize that this ability to refine the subject of an image is important to producing pleasing images and it's something I need to figure out how to train myself to be better at doing. Any suggestions to help me to learn to be better at this would be appreciated. Perhaps some exercises in composition suggestions?
Thanks for the help,
Andrew

[ST1]

Andrew my thoughts on the composition as shown, I agree about losing a little from the foreground. In addition to that suggestion IMO had you rotated a little to the right so that you included all of that half tree that exists at the right of the frame you would have a stronger image, if possible keeping the taller dark tree at the left hand edge of the frame. I would also consider removing the white sign at the mid right.

Binnurs suggestion wrt looking at websites that have landscape images to seek some vision is a good tip, free too, if you discount the time you spend doing so .

I visit a local professional photographers studio as my first call for inspiration LINK

For clarity I have no commercial linkage to the photography site I linked to above, but...I do have some of his work displayed alongside some of mine at home.

[AndrewMcD]

Hi again Andrew If you are into landscape photography, I can recommend you the book below. Glenn NK suggested it in one of the threads that I started to ask for advice for books in the past and I bought it. It is very nice and helpful. Thanks again Glenn You can see a lot of photos there to be inspired and it helps you to broaden your vision about composition. But please don't be surprised to see the very strong colors of the images in the book , this is Tim Fitzharris's style and you get used to it after a while. I actually love his style.

http://www.amazon.com/National-Audub.../dp/1554079934


I also watch a lot of landscape images in some websites to improve my vision.

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ is one of them.

Thanks Binnur, I have ordered the book and will spend some time at the website.

[AndrewMcD]

Hmm, well for me I can 'see' myself crouched down to see the picture as it is - the question I suppose is what do YOU want it to be. Often I find my pictures come in two flavours and I try to explain which it falls into, images that elicit memories or create thoughts of ‘being there’ and images that are to create a picture that defines a concept or creates a concept to others of what I saw and am trying to communicate. Both are fully valid once you decide which it is. In this case I can see myself there - but I agree with the others, as a creation to convey a concept of the view / image for others it needs more work to emphasise the aspect that is the dominant part that is it conveying to those that were not there. But, again I say that I can see myself there looking at that and wanting to capture it as I see it. An aspect of my photography I am trying to refine.

Good food for thought..........now if I can just wrap my head around this in practice!

[AndrewMcD]

Andrew my thoughts on the composition as shown, I agree about losing a little from the foreground. In addition to that suggestion IMO had you rotated a little to the right so that you included all of that half tree that exists at the right of the frame you would have a stronger image, if possible keeping the taller dark tree at the left hand edge of the frame. I would also consider removing the white sign at the mid right.

Binnurs suggestion wrt looking at websites that have landscape images to seek some vision is a good tip, free too, if you discount the time you spend doing so .

I visit a local professional photographers studio as my first call for inspiration LINK

For clarity I have no commercial linkage to the photography site I linked to above, but...I do have some of his work displayed alongside some of mine at home.

Thank you for the link, I'll spend some time there.