West Coast Tasmania- Is this Image too Busy: My chief art critic (Sherry, my wife) thinks this image is too busy. Any opinions out there? BTW- This image is a very mild HDR.

greymule Loc: Colorado

My chief art critic (Sherry, my wife) thinks this image is too busy. Any opinions out there?

BTW- This image is a very mild HDR.

(Download)

TraceyG Loc: SW, Fl.

I don't think so. THere is a lot to look at, but I think it works. Very nice!

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

I side with Sherry. You could crop off the bottom 20% of the photo and still have a compelling image.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

I agree with Tracey, a lot to look at, but that's the norm with an overview. You don't really have a foreground element here, unless you're really closing in with a wide angle. I think your shot is fine as is!

donrent Loc: Punta Gorda , Fl

Possibly....
But I bet if you post the same WITHOUT the HDR it would calm down a bit...

slickrtc

I would say she is right on. What you should have done is get closer to one of those clumps of grass and place it in either the right 1/3 or left 1/3 of the pic use a f22 so it is all in focus and then take the pic. The photo is nice but you have nothing to draw the eye or imagination into the photo. Most of the time you need something that pulls you into the photo. That is what is lacking in the current pic.

Heirloom Tomato Loc: Oregon

I'm going to call those tufts of grass Tribbles, ala Star Trek, because that's what they look like to me.

I would crop this just at the bottom of the green bushes at the left side of the frame. That will make the right side bottom of frame include all of the beach. The beach will end in the photo's lower right hand corner. That way you still get to keep some Tribbles but it doesn't look so busy. I quickly tried it that way and I think it pulls the shot together. Very nice shot, by the way!

MissStephie Loc: West Virginia

it is busy BUT it's really pretty too :)

Racin17 Loc: Western Pa

For me the clumps draw me into the photo and keep me looking all the way through the shot.

greymule Loc: Colorado

Racin17 wrote:

For me the clumps draw me into the photo and keep me looking all the way through the shot.

Thanks everyone for looking and providing your opinions.

I liked the clumps of grass in the foreground, but closer would have been better. For me, closer is almost always better. I fill my frames like I fill my glasses of beer- to the top.

I agree with slick, and I think that is why it looks "busy": There is nothing upon which the eye can rest.

Here is a bit of a crop out of the foreground.

(Download)

geclevel Loc: Springville, Utah

greymule wrote:

My chief art critic (Sherry, my wife) thinks this image is too busy. Any opinions out there?

BTW- This image is a very mild HDR.

When shooting landscape images I have read the recommendation is to have the horizon line on one of the "thirds" line. I agree with the 20% crop from the bottom post. It is a nice image as posted, however, I believe with the horizon on one of the "thirds" line will produce a photo taken to the next level.

greymule Loc: Colorado

geclevel wrote:

When shooting landscape images I have read the recommendation is to have the horizon line on one of the "thirds" line. I agree with the 20% crop from the bottom post. It is a nice image as posted, however, I believe with the horizon on one of the "thirds" line will produce a photo taken to the next level.

Not quite thirds. But the eye now at least can rest a bit upon the driftwood to the left.

jeanbug35 Loc: Jonesboro AR

I don't think so. I like it.

Marilyng Loc: Lorain,Oh.

greymule wrote:

My chief art critic (Sherry, my wife) thinks this image is too busy. Any opinions out there?

BTW- This image is a very mild HDR.

I think it's amazing just the way it is. :thumbup:

Ugly Jake Loc: Sub-Rural Vermont

geclevel wrote:

When shooting landscape images I have read the recommendation is to have the horizon line on one of the "thirds" line. I agree with the 20% crop from the bottom post. It is a nice image as posted, however, I believe with the horizon on one of the "thirds" line will produce a photo taken to the next level.

Ditto - I don't think it's busy - I think it's the horizon too near the middle that causes the "Somethings not quite right" sensation.