Critique please: Seaside park

[erich6]

I know there are some issues with this shot but would like to get your impressions both good and bad. Thanks!

Erich

http://hbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/26517626-L.jpg (http://hbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/newexif.mg?ImageID=26517626)
Click on image for EXIF

[johno]

Erich, I am no professional... Just the novice guy, so understand I may only muddy the waters more. Here are my thoughts.

Subjects. The photo seems to be very busy. I am not sure what to focus on. The sail boats and the peddle boats together form a V which points to a tree. However, I know that the tree is not the main focus. The other dominating object is the building to the left. The idea of land and water is not well established.

The things I like in the photo are the rows of boats. Perhaps you could take a picture in reverse. By that I mean stand by the boats and shoot in the direction you took this picture.

I like the flag flying above. Could you move further to the right so the backdrop of the flag is blue sky?

It's a workable picture... Maybe a shot lower, closer to the water.

And finally, I love the duck... They are the only bird I seem to be able to take pics of. :rofl

peace.
johno~

[adrian_k]

I'm with Johno. There's two shot in one there and both could work.
If there was a subject/focal point at the crux of the 'V' it would work well.

I like the row of dinghies, I would crop about 1/3 of the way in from the left, just to the left of the tree.

Again, I agree with Johno about the ducks, but if you crop and leave the ducks there, there will be alot of emtpy water in low left.
Good colours & sharpness tho'

Erich, I am no professional... Just the novice guy, so understand I may only muddy the waters more. Here are my thoughts.

Subjects. The photo seems to be very busy. I am not sure what to focus on. The sail boats and the peddle boats together form a V which points to a tree. However, I know that the tree is not the main focus. The other dominating object is the building to the left. The idea of land and water is not well established.

The things I like in the photo are the rows of boats. Perhaps you could take a picture in reverse. By that I mean stand by the boats and shoot in the direction you took this picture.

I like the flag flying above. Could you move further to the right so the backdrop of the flag is blue sky?

It's a workable picture... Maybe a shot lower, closer to the water.

And finally, I love the duck... They are the only bird I seem to be able to take pics of. :rofl

peace.
johno~

[lynnma]

Hi Erich,

I too noticed the "V" with nothing in it. Also I could'nt settle anyway, my eyes were dancing all over the place. There does'nt seem to be one thing in particular grabbing my attention but many things. The flag, the duck, the boats, the kyaks, the person..I think there may be too many elements going on. I have posted very "busy" shots just cos I liked 'em so maybe thats what you had in mind for this one. Nice detail in the water and reflection. Thanks for sharing.
Lynn

[erich6]

Thank you all for the great critiques!

johno: You may be a "novice" but your feedback was stated like a pro. Yes, this image suffers from poor perspective. I should have moved to the right and back a bit and that would have made this much better. Ducks are great...nice and slow!

adrian: Yes! I should have waited for the person to be at the crux of the V. Then again, the background is so busy it might not have worked anyway. This was definitely a case where I didn't evaluate the effect of the background on the subject.

Lynn: It is a busy image. I tried changing the perspective and cropping in Photoshop but I ended up getting rid of elements I do like. Anyway, I like the picture as a snapshot even if it isn't a good image. I posted it because I knew there were problems with it and I had already made some notes to myself but wanted to take advantage of the sage advice of other dgrinners!

Erich :D

[Angelo]

hey Erich - just offering a :thumb for effort. I can't add anything more to the great advice you've already received.

[erich6]

hey Erich - just offering a :thumb for effort. I can't add anything more to the great advice you've already received.
Thanks Angelo. I'm really enjoying the whole photographic, self-critique, peer critique, and self-improvement process more and more. This is a great hobby.

Erich