The Tower

[madcrow]

The interesting composition in your photo is good evidence that you underestimate yourself.



I wonder if that's because you so strongly envision an image that it's difficult to change that vision. If so, be glad about it, as envisioning the image before releasing the shutter is a key development in any photographer's progress.

Mike, thanks again for your very kind comments. I do apologise for miss reading your earlier post.
Maurice.

[madcrow]

Maurice, you are being too hard on yourself. There are perhaps two aspects to consider and let me say immediately that these views are personal and may not be universally accepted.

I read with interest recent posts that resulted from an individual raging against the blind adherence to the "Rule of Thirds" together with the resultant protests over whether it was indeed a rule and the much quoted belief that "breaking" the rules also produced good images. Quite true of course but in my personal opinion, this misses the point.

The human brain is a curious organism. When it views the world through a pair of eyes, it is free to roam and satisfy itself. As soon as you put a frame around a scene, it is not but it becomes curious about what it cannot see. The art of composition is not a knowledge of and applying a set of rules but in focussing , by whatever means, the viewers attention on whatever it is you want the viewer to see. That also means avoiding enhancing the viewers curiosity over what it can't see e.g. peripheral characters looking out of the frame at something not in view or highlights taking your eye away from the main subject. Rather than rules, the Rule of Thirds, the Golden triangle, the Fibonacci Spiral and their like are merely easily understood examples of how that might be achieved. They are not rules in the strictest sense, more techniques that might be better described as "Rules of Thumb". Moreover, they are not exhaustive which is why we often see excellent images that don't conform to any of them but never the less retain the viewers interest where it is intended it should be. The intent as to the viewers interest then leads on to a parallel consideration. If the intent is to focus on say the Tower (using your image as an example) then removing the clutter and simplifying the scene helps. If however, the intent is to show how a subject exists in a busy environment, then what otherwise might be seen as clutter becomes a necessary component of the composition and it should be retained. So having achieved a retained interest within the frame, the included content needs to be appropriate as well.

Spouting theory is all very well but I guess the real question is how to put it into practice. It's my view that it has to start with being able to determine in your own mind what you want your photographs to convey, that is, what you want the viewer to focus on. It's been described as developing a "seeing eye". It comes more naturally to some than others. My other half has no interest in photography but can spot compositional flaws quite readily. It can be learned however, and for me the best way has been to look at lots of good photography. Not to copy or analyse (life is too short) but just to absorb what appeals to you. In that way you will learn to recognise subjects and compositions that appeal to you in the real world. In parallel, get out and use your camera. This forum, compared to many that I've viewed, is a particularly good place to be for all of that because it hosts a high standard of photography and has a tradition of presenting and accepting critique without aggression creeping in.

It seems to me that you are already on that journey. You saw the Tower and that particular viewpoint when many would have passed by and you saw it creatively as a silhouette. Moreover, you admit ".... I love going out with my camera and taking photos". That's why I say you are being too hard on yourself. Remember, comments aren't always critique. Sometimes they are just alternative views. However, both are opportunities for learning no matter where we are in our photography. I have learned a great deal being here and being a member of a club than I ever have from books.

Hope this helps and as I said it's a personal view.

John, thanks for your long, very informative and comprehensive reply. I love my camara, I will continue to shot and post my images. I can see by the replies that members care, encourage others to improve and get better, this can only be good.
Thanks again, Maurice.

[madcrow]

Maurice, if you want a good laugh go take a look at my first 2 or 3 thousand posts. I was horrible. We all learn and we all hit plateaus. You and I have one common point. One we share with every one here. We love seeing the world through our camera.

If you keep clicking, posting, feeling and thinking you will get to where you want to be.

Brian, thanks for your kind comments. I have every intention of clicking and posting.
Maurice.

[madcrow]

There you go Maurice, Brian has said in one sentence what I needed a book to get across.

John, thanks.
Maurice.

[madcrow]

I like the image Maurice. I do think it is creative but a couple details would improve it's appeal to a wider range of viewers. It just takes a while to see the little things that work best. just have fun shooting and do a lot of experimenting. Cheers Mark,

Mark, thanks for your nice comments.
Maurice.

[madcrow]

Hi Maurice. I just want to say that Mike never wants to hurt anyone in this forum and he has always been very helpful in his comments. Though , he is the reason why I have an avatar now, because he called me 'he' when I was new in the forum. And he blushed and apologised when I said was a woman

Besides, when I read his comment , I looked for a dust spot on your image but I never thought that he was calling your image dirty spot. Apparently he was talking about the dirty spot on his monitor

I find your second edit much better and John2's conversion is also nice, take care

Binnur, I know, I was wrong in what I thought. Mike has always been fair with his comments. I should have known better.
Thanks for your comments, much appreciated.
Maurice.