The ever-present sea II: I was a bit dismissive of this shot until I saw a painting of a similar scene with a similar composition (my concerns were similar to those regarding my last...

R.G. Loc: Scotland

I was a bit dismissive of this shot until I saw a painting of a similar scene with a similar composition (my concerns were similar to those regarding my last post in this section).

I would be interested to hear your views on how acceptable you find the (somewhat unusual) composition.

As an aside, this shot was taken from the path that the steps in my last post lead to.

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Frank2013 Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.

R.G. wrote:

I was a bit dismissive of this shot until I saw a painting of a similar scene with a similar composition (my concerns were similar to those regarding my last post in this section).

I would be interested to hear your views on how acceptable you find the (somewhat unusual) composition.

As an aside, this shot was taken from the path that the steps in my last post lead to.

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I find it very acceptable. My eye starts from the foreground shadows and is drawn from element to element all they way out of the harbor as if I were on one of the boats. It appears to be the opposite view of one of your other Portsoy Harbour posts. I like it.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Frank2013 wrote:

I find it very acceptable. My eye starts from the foreground shadows and is drawn from element to element all they way out of the harbor as if I were on one of the boats.

(It appears to be the opposite view of one of your other Portsoy Harbour posts).

I'm glad that (for you at least) that element of the composition works. I haven't tried any cropping on it yet, but my first thoughts were on whether to lose some of the close between the houses or not. Your comments suggest that it acts as a lead-in for the rest of the shot.

I hadn't noticed before, but you're right about the line of view. I took the other shot from on top of the farthest harbour wall just to the left of where the blue car is parked.

Graham Smith Loc: Cambridgeshire UK

R.G. wrote:

I was a bit dismissive of this shot until I saw a painting of a similar scene with a similar composition (my concerns were similar to those regarding my last post in this section).

I would be interested to hear your views on how acceptable you find the (somewhat unusual) composition.

As an aside, this shot was taken from the path that the steps in my last post lead to.

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Very nice R.G. The eye is led through the wynd and onto and through the maze of the harbour walls.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

R.G. wrote:

I was a bit dismissive of this shot until I saw a painting of a similar scene with a similar composition (my concerns were similar to those regarding my last post in this section).

I would be interested to hear your views on how acceptable you find the (somewhat unusual) composition.

As an aside, this shot was taken from the path that the steps in my last post lead to.

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I particularly like the composition that effectively expands my a available view from where I stand through the alley to the Jettys and harbour to the horizon.

Knowing you to be a stickler for level horizons, I must assume the angle of the distant breakewater may be responsible for an illusion of a tilted horizon?
Nope! that's not it. Both are level according to the top of my display. The illusion persists.
Damn!

Just out of curiosity, what is the direction of view?

Coz

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

I would say its an unusual composition but it works just fine and leads the eye into the shot nicely.

jim quist Loc: Missouri

My eyes went straight for the clouds. When I cover up the sky it looks a lot more appealing to me.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Graham, Dave and Billy, thanks for the reassuring comments. My feelings towards this shot are now more positive.

Portsoy is on the south coast of the Moray firth. At this point the coast runs almost exactly east-west. The line of sight isn't exactly to the north - it's more NNE. If it had been more to the north you might have caught a glimpse of the hills of Sutherland on the other side of the Moray firth.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

jim quist wrote:

My eyes went straight for the clouds. When I cover up the sky it looks a lot more appealing to me.

Hmmmm. There's a generous amount of sky, and I would consider a skim, but I wouldn't want to lose all of it. The ever-present sky seems to go with the ever-present sea.

I was actually more concerned about the bottom of the shot, and whether to lose some of the close, but going by the comments it seems to be doing a good job of acting as a lead-in to the rest of the shot.

Thanks for your comments and sharing your perceptions, Jim.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

I think my eyes were drawn right in as well. The only thing that bugs me a bit are the cars. It takes an interesting photo, and makes it look like a snapshot. (no offense) Any thoughts of trying to remove the cars? (in PP, not in person :-) )

R.G. Loc: Scotland

bkyser wrote:

I think my eyes were drawn right in as well. The only thing that bugs me a bit are the cars. It takes an interesting photo, and makes it look like a snapshot. (no offense) Any thoughts of trying to remove the cars? (in PP, not in person :-) )

I'll assume that you're referring to the cars at the mouth of the alley. I can see that there might be some virtue in removing them because they interrupt the movement of the viewer's gaze from the bottom of the frame out into the harbour area.

As unavoidable additions to the overall composition, I don't have a problem with them, probably because I was there and I know that it's normal for cars to be parked there. But I can see that it might be better to clean up the composition by removing them. I'll have a go at getting rid of them, but unless I can do an invisible mend, I'll probably decide that it's not worth compromising the picture.

Thanks for your thought-provoking comments, BK.