Does this photo work?
Aug 9, 2016 19:37:30 #
I took this shot with a specific purpose in mind. I manually focused on the rocks, and purposely used a narrow DOF (F5.6). I took this shot aperture priority, with the SONY A7II, ISO 640, 184mm, 1/200. My intention was to draw the eye to the rocks. It looked great in camera. When I enlarged it on my computer, the foreground (intentionally not in focus) seems to be a distraction to me. My question--is the blurred foreground a distraction, or does this photo work? Thanks for all of your critiques.
Aug 9, 2016 19:51:53 #
only because of the brightness in the crashing wave and in the water on the beach mind if I give it a go?
Aug 9, 2016 19:53:23 #
I wish I had looked at your photo prior to reading the text, having done so my eyes went straight to the wave first.
I think the foreground does demand the most attention, but that may be do to it's brightness and implied energy.
Edit: Oops, I see ingroller beat me to it.
I think the foreground does demand the most attention, but that may be do to it's brightness and implied energy.
Edit: Oops, I see ingroller beat me to it.
Aug 9, 2016 19:54:07 #
You're right about one part ...... the eye will focus on something sharp and ignore what is blurred. However, it is ALSO true, and maybe moreso, that the eye is drawn to something bright and stays away from what is dark. Your rocks are too dark, while the white waves command all the attention. This could be fixed in PP by working on the tonal values, making the water darker and less distinct, while sharpening the rocks, and brightening them up so they would pop from the background.
Aug 9, 2016 19:54:50 #
My personal feeling is that it works as you intended. I don't feel that the OOF surf detracts and at least for me, it is not much of a distraction. I based this on the downloaded image.
Aug 9, 2016 20:07:10 #
lngroller wrote:
only because of the brightness in the crashing wave and in the water on the beach mind if I give it a go?
please do
Aug 9, 2016 20:09:16 #
Hope you don't mind... just a quick edit a bit sloppy but this draws your eyes to the rocks first I believe. Edit; still just a bit to bright on the crest of the front wave... but you get the idea
Aug 9, 2016 20:12:38 #
Your eye will always be drawn to the area of highest contrast. a trick I learned long ago if a print turn it upside down and flip it over so you can't see the image. now quickly flip it over and upside down where does your eye go to? upside down because your brain will take just a bit longer to recognize what it's looking at. by that time your eyes have already been drawn to the center of attn (should be your main subject)
Aug 9, 2016 20:13:47 #
Thank you all for commenting and giving your opinions. I am going to play with the brightness of the crashing waves and see if that takes away from what I perceive is a distraction.
Aug 9, 2016 20:16:31 #
lngroller wrote:
Hope you don't mind... just a quick edit a bit sloppy but this draws your eyes to the rocks first I believe. Edit; still just a bit to bright on the crest of the front wave... but you get the idea
Yes, I totally agree. thank you so much.
Aug 9, 2016 20:19:50 #
Aug 9, 2016 20:29:08 #
lngroller wrote:
Dodge the highlights on the rocks to make them brighter as well see if you like that
I did exactly that. Using the adjustment brush in lightroom, I decreased the exposure on the waves, and increased the exposure (slightly because I didn't want to blow out portions of it). Looks much better.
Aug 9, 2016 20:30:32 #
Aug 9, 2016 20:42:44 #
Gene E. Balch
Loc: Washington DC Area
Well, I'll weigh in here, since I'm a newbie and just trying to pick up a few tips. I think your photo is great. It led my eyes to the rocks right away. However, if I was taking that photo I would crank up the aperture to about f8 and try for greater DOF, trying to get the wave and everything in focus. I see the shutter at 200 and the ISO pretty high, but I would still take several shots trying for full focus.
GBal
GBal
Aug 9, 2016 20:49:17 #
rizer wrote:
I took this shot with a specific purpose in mind. ... (show quote)
I'm going with Bob Yankle more or less here with his analysis.
Further more, yes the rocks look interesting themselves, but if it were my shot, shot as it is, I'd crop the entire bottom half of the image out. Seascapes unlike flowers are typically sharp for focus throughout, but may certainly have motion blur. You might have tried a slow shutter speed (1/15 to 1/8 s; use a tripod if necessary) yet higher f-stop (8-11-16 depending lens and where you focus) to have de-emphasized the waves, leaving the rocks sharp. Out of focus and motion blur look very different (to most of us). You can try something like this again sometime. Other replyers gave you good ideas for salvaging this image.
I like your idea or intent. Your are thinking of various ways to make an image look. Just for most of us, the technique or execution needs a little work. You'll likely get it or get close to what you want next time.
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