Which one and Why (Page 2): OK there has been enough comments without my impending with TY's, other questions and just taking in what y'all have to say so I can learn. I do a lot of...

fjrwillie Loc: MA

Madman wrote:

Willie, that is not an easy choice.

I don't like the post in #1, I would remove it. I like the leaves and un-identifiable structure on the left of #2 even less, I would remove them. The left and right foreground to me is like a wall preventing me from focusing on the boat.

The question that I have for you is: What is it that you want me to see? Is it the boat in the center or the activity on the river?

So, let me ask you now: "Which one and Why"

OK there has been enough comments without my impending with TY's, other questions and just taking in what y'all have to say so I can learn.

I do a lot of traveling on my motorcycle and take alot pics along the way. A lot of my pictures is what I see and try to convey what I am seeing. What I saw was not just the boat but the other boats in the water, the harbor to the right, the river bending around to the left (way back there). I guess you could say I was trying to capture it all.

My focus is intended to be the sailboat. I struggled with the framing realizing that it was going to encompass a lot, however I thought it was important to get the whole mast in the picture, so the boat was complete. I did take a portrait one, which cured the all encompassing photo.

Now I purposely took the picture with the leaves on the left in #2 because I thought it would help the viewer see what I was seeing as if they were standing there with me. I thought it would also act as a good framing mechanism. Hence there was more thought put into #2 than #1.

I have one picture of this scene where neither the post or the leaves appear, but it looked really stagnant to me. Maybe I should relook at that one based on some of the comments.

The reason I posted is my SO said the leaves were a distraction and the other one was better. I figured most people would agree with her. It was then I decided to post up and get opinions from fellow hogs.

Call me odd, but I kind of like those little things in the foreground like the pole in #1 as long as they don't become the focus. I don't mind the eye looking for other little treasures in the shot.

A lot of my shots are to remind where I have been, so I can tell a story about it on my blog about my travels on the bike. We call them ride reports. Intent of the ride report is to get fellow riders to get out there and go visit places one might normally go to.

I also use the photos to help me decide where I should go back to and spend a little more time.

So which one do I like better, #2.
Willie

Madman Loc: Gulf Coast, Florida USA

fjrwillie wrote:

OK there has been enough comments without my impending with TY's, other questions and just taking in what y'all have to say so I can learn.

I do a lot of traveling on my motorcycle and take alot pics along the way. A lot of my pictures is what I see and try to convey what I am seeing. What I saw was not just the boat but the other boats in the water, the harbor to the right, the river bending around to the left (way back there). I guess you could say I was trying to capture it all.

My focus is intended to be the sailboat. I struggled with the framing realizing that it was going to encompass a lot, however I thought it was important to get the whole mast in the picture, so the boat was complete. I did take a portrait one, which cured the all encompassing photo.

Now I purposely took the picture with the leaves on the left in #2 because I thought it would help the viewer see what I was seeing as if they were standing there with me. I thought it would also act as a good framing mechanism. Hence there was more thought put into #2 than #1.

I have one picture of this scene where neither the post or the leaves appear, but it looked really stagnant to me. Maybe I should relook at that one based on some of the comments.

The reason I posted is my SO said the leaves were a distraction and the other one was better. I figured most people would agree with her. It was then I decided to post up and get opinions from fellow hogs.

Call me odd, but I kind of like those little things in the foreground like the pole in #1 as long as they don't become the focus. I don't mind the eye looking for other little treasures in the shot.

A lot of my shots are to remind where I have been, so I can tell a story about it on my blog about my travels on the bike. We call them ride reports. Intent of the ride report is to get fellow riders to get out there and go visit places one might normally go to.

I also use the photos to help me decide where I should go back to and spend a little more time.

So which one do I like better, #2.
Willie

OK there has been enough comments without my impen... (show quote)

Thanks for your detailed reply - you have confirmed what I thought you were trying to achieve - that being the activity on the river. Knowing that, this is what I would have done.

Referring to picture number two, I would have taken a few steps forward and to my left, positioning myself next to or in front of that structure on the left eliminating it but including more of the dock instead and all of the river, the sailboat and the trees on the right. (sorry for the run-on sentence)

The great thing about digital photography is the ability to take lots of photos, edit them and chose what you like best without having to spend a fortune on film and processing. I am not in any way saying that my way is better or more correct than yours, just my taste is a bit different.

davidheald1942 Loc: Mars (the planet)

very good choice

fjrwillie wrote:

OK there has been enough comments without my impending with TY's, other questions and just taking in what y'all have to say so I can learn.

I do a lot of traveling on my motorcycle and take alot pics along the way. A lot of my pictures is what I see and try to convey what I am seeing. What I saw was not just the boat but the other boats in the water, the harbor to the right, the river bending around to the left (way back there). I guess you could say I was trying to capture it all.

My focus is intended to be the sailboat. I struggled with the framing realizing that it was going to encompass a lot, however I thought it was important to get the whole mast in the picture, so the boat was complete. I did take a portrait one, which cured the all encompassing photo.

Now I purposely took the picture with the leaves on the left in #2 because I thought it would help the viewer see what I was seeing as if they were standing there with me. I thought it would also act as a good framing mechanism. Hence there was more thought put into #2 than #1.

I have one picture of this scene where neither the post or the leaves appear, but it looked really stagnant to me. Maybe I should relook at that one based on some of the comments.

The reason I posted is my SO said the leaves were a distraction and the other one was better. I figured most people would agree with her. It was then I decided to post up and get opinions from fellow hogs.

Call me odd, but I kind of like those little things in the foreground like the pole in #1 as long as they don't become the focus. I don't mind the eye looking for other little treasures in the shot.

A lot of my shots are to remind where I have been, so I can tell a story about it on my blog about my travels on the bike. We call them ride reports. Intent of the ride report is to get fellow riders to get out there and go visit places one might normally go to.

I also use the photos to help me decide where I should go back to and spend a little more time.

So which one do I like better, #2.
Willie

OK there has been enough comments without my impen... (show quote)

srfotog Loc: Northeast Pennsylvania

Number 2 for me. I would definitely crop all that clutter on the left side. I like that the boat isn't dead center and the pole on the right in number 1 is missing.

fjrwillie wrote:

I took 2 pictures essentially identical but shifted the view ever so slightly which one is more pleasing ?? If you choose one, could you tell me why.

General comments work too.

Willie

Meives Loc: FORT LAUDERDALE

[quote=fjrwillie]Rule of thirds. 1 has wood on right, not the subject. 2 has pier on left, not the subject. David

MarjorieB

Of the two you posted, #2 is definitely the better composition, though each has its problems. What I'm wondering is: since there were problem areas on both sides, what with the post and the building, and considering that the sailboat is a good deal taller than it is wide, why didn't you go for a portrait shot right off?

fjrwillie Loc: MA

MarjorieB wrote:

Of the two you posted, #2 is definitely the better composition, though each has its problems. What I'm wondering is: since there were problem areas on both sides, what with the post and the building, and considering that the sailboat is a good deal taller than it is wide, why didn't you go for a portrait shot right off?

I do have a portrait version of this scene. However I generally take a shot in landscape because each year I do 2 calendars for my customers (that amounts to me and my SO :lol: ). 1 is scenic and 1 is motorcycle travel related. Toward December we then select the best photos to make a calendar with. The calendars are 17 X 11 and really don't lend to portrait shots

Willie

The Portrait One

(Download)

Jim Carter Loc: Momence, Il.

#1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Penny MG Loc: Fresno, Texas

fjrwillie wrote:

OK there has been enough comments without my impending with TY's, other questions and just taking in what y'all have to say so I can learn.

I do a lot of traveling on my motorcycle and take alot pics along the way. A lot of my pictures is what I see and try to convey what I am seeing. What I saw was not just the boat but the other boats in the water, the harbor to the right, the river bending around to the left (way back there). I guess you could say I was trying to capture it all.

My focus is intended to be the sailboat. I struggled with the framing realizing that it was going to encompass a lot, however I thought it was important to get the whole mast in the picture, so the boat was complete. I did take a portrait one, which cured the all encompassing photo.

Now I purposely took the picture with the leaves on the left in #2 because I thought it would help the viewer see what I was seeing as if they were standing there with me. I thought it would also act as a good framing mechanism. Hence there was more thought put into #2 than #1.

I have one picture of this scene where neither the post or the leaves appear, but it looked really stagnant to me. Maybe I should relook at that one based on some of the comments.

The reason I posted is my SO said the leaves were a distraction and the other one was better. I figured most people would agree with her. It was then I decided to post up and get opinions from fellow hogs.

Call me odd, but I kind of like those little things in the foreground like the pole in #1 as long as they don't become the focus. I don't mind the eye looking for other little treasures in the shot.

A lot of my shots are to remind where I have been, so I can tell a story about it on my blog about my travels on the bike. We call them ride reports. Intent of the ride report is to get fellow riders to get out there and go visit places one might normally go to.

I also use the photos to help me decide where I should go back to and spend a little more time.

So which one do I like better, #2.
Willie

OK there has been enough comments without my impen... (show quote)

I love to ride too. Please tell me where this is in the event that I ever make it close to there on my bike!

Penny MG Loc: Fresno, Texas

fjrwillie wrote:

I do have a portrait version of this scene. However I generally take a shot in landscape because each year I do 2 calendars for my customers (that amounts to me and my SO :lol: ). 1 is scenic and 1 is motorcycle travel related. Toward December we then select the best photos to make a calendar with. The calendars are 17 X 11 and really don't lend to portrait shots

Willie

Very nice!

fjrwillie Loc: MA

Penny MG wrote:

I love to ride too. Please tell me where this is in the event that I ever make it close to there on my bike!

Right Here

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=41.394822,-72.426422&hl=en&num=1&t=h&z=19

Willie

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

fjrwillie wrote:

I took 2 pictures essentially identical but shifted the view ever so slightly which one is more pleasing ?? If you choose one, could you tell me why.

General comments work too.

Willie

Since the boat is the main subject, would like to see a tighter crop from both sides and therefore make this a vertical composition

architect Loc: Chattanooga

fjrwillie wrote:

I do a lot of traveling on my motorcycle and take... (show quote)

If this is your intended use of the images, then what you are doing is fine... "trying to capture it all." But if your goal is to create a well composed image, it is best, in my opinion, to eliminate elements that do not support the main subject. In this case the pole in No. 1 is distracting, and the framing elements on the left in No. 2 is too complex and is also distracting even though it is a nice framing element. Below is one possible composition based on No. 2. The suggestion above about stepping forward a bit and including more of the pier is a good one.

Madman Loc: Gulf Coast, Florida USA

fjrwillie wrote:

I took 2 pictures essentially identical but shifted the view ever so slightly which one is more pleasing ?? If you choose one, could you tell me why.

General comments work too.

Willie

I was perusing your Flickr site and I found another picture that you took of this scene that I think is better than either of the two examples you've shown. May I suggest that you post your image DSC8739 and again ask for comments.

fjrwillie Loc: MA

Madman wrote:

I was perusing your Flickr site and I found another picture that you took of this scene that I think is better than either of the two examples you've shown. May I suggest that you post your image DSC8739 and again ask for comments.

You have found the one that I said maybe I should relook at.

This is off the flickr site and has been reduced in size from the original for space by about 50%. At home is the full resolution one, however I post per your suggestion.

Thanks for looking thru the photos. Did you happen to visit the blog site which is part of my sig ??

Comments welcomed of course. I appreciate the time folks have taken so far for things to think about when I am composing a shot.

Willie

#3 No Leaves, No Poles, Just the boat

(Download)