My Ongoing Problem

[AndrewMcD]

After showing this image to a friend she commented that it was unclear which was the subject, the tree or the ship. Similar comments have been made about my photographs in the past. I went to the location hoping to photograph a ship but couldn't get close enough for the image I had in mind. The tree was pretty, the ship was there and this is what I saw. This was done with a 10x Big Stopper filter resulting in a 52 second exposure. I went for the long exposure as I thought it might lend an interesting look to tree, sky and water. It's an effect I have been playing with. In the end I like the photo despite some ambiguity regarding the subject. I'm pleased with the look the long exposure renders. Any comments and criticisms are appreciated.....particularly regarding how you see the subject of the photo and what I might have done differently.....perhaps changed position and left the ship out of the photo completely?




This second image is the same afternoon. The subject, the bridges, I think is quite clear! I am learning. Again I'm playing with the long exposure look, this one being 35 seconds. Comments and criticisms always appreciated.

[Geoff F]

I suppose with the first image you have an incomplete tree partially hiding the boat so perhaps both are competing against each other.

Just a thought. Crop a little from the left side and top so the tree appears less dominant and guides the viewer towards the ship?

The second image looks OK but the sky is a little on the bland side; but you can't change that and magic up some nice fluffy clouds on demand.

But I am thinking about cropping a little from the top and going even more panoramic to concentrate on the bridges and river.

Exposure and focus etc are all good.

[Shadowman]

You should use the second image to analyze the first, what did you do when composing that makes the bridge the subject? Then look at the first image and ask yourself the same question.

[Wavelength]

O...i hate that ship there....such a beautiful tree!!!

#2 is very nice

[Craigie]

I like the symmetry you have achieved with the two bridges in #2.

[Mike Buckley]

The second image is so interesting because of the two juxtapositions: light, plain blue sky vs darker plain blue water and bridge with straight lines vs bridge with curved line. Nicely done!

I'm guessing that the main issue with the first image has to do with your approach. You went to the area hoping to photograph the ship so you made darn sure that you left with a photo of it. Instead, when you realized that you couldn't find a strong composition of the ship, you would have been better off photographing something else to ensure no ambiguity about the subject. The area is surely worth a return visit to do exactly that, whether using a long exposure or not.

[Craigie]

I am a bit confused Andrew, in #1 you said the exposure was 52 seconds, was there no wind to blow the leaves on the tree.
It just seems a long exposure for nothing to move in the image.

[bnnrcn]

The tree is so nice in #1 that I think I would prefer a different shooting angle and eliminate the boat. #2 is a nice composition and I agree with Geoff about cropping the image from the top a bit

[Geoff F]

My thinking about an alternative crop is along these lines.



To me, if you are photographing a tree you need to show all of it; otherwise it is more of a prop or lead in item to another main subject.

[Wavelength]

Geoff reinterpreted the image making the ship the subject; now i like the ship without hating the tree there