this ones been killing me..

[Snarcher]

When I took it, it seemed like the perfect photo.. but there is just some reason that it doesnt work for me... i dont know? mabey teh cloudless sky?? what should i have done differntly?

http://hanleyster.smugmug.com/photos/107982883-L.jpg

[Ann McRae]

I think the sky is too bland/boring/empty and that there is not enough room to the right of the boat. So I think that a landscape orientation, rather than portrait orientation, would have been better. Less sky, nore space beyond the boat.
ann

[JimFuglestad]

Snarcher...

I'd say the light's just not right. What time of day was this?

As Ann said, there's a bit too much sky and the sky isn't super dramatic...

Technically it's fine, but when it comes down to it I think it's mainly a compositional thing.

Jim

Oh... something beyond your control... but to me, the distance between the boat and the castle is a disconnect. Can't explain that one too well... but I feel the boat should be docked right up to the castle.

[Snarcher]

I know! I should have had my gf topless IN the boat!! doh!

[Gary Glass]

The light is very flat and face on the castle, so there almost no shadow detail. The sky is dull, but could be cropped out. However, you're not going to get any detail onto that wall. Landscapes at midday are usually going to look like this.

[VisualXpressions]

besides too much sky and the time of day lack of shadow... I think the biggest problem with the image is like Jim said, a disconnect between boat and castle... 2 main subjects in one shot that don't relate to each other... I think they would both make great photo subjects by themselves but not together...

Winston

[JimFuglestad]

2 main subjects in one shot that don't relate to each other... I think they would both make great photo subjects by themselves but not together...



From now on I'm going to have Winston articulate all my critiques. That's exactly how I wanted to put it. Thanks.

[Snarcher]

:dunno:wink:D

http://hanleyster.smugmug.com/photos/137036054-M.jpg



















http://hanleyster.smugmug.com/photos/137036086-M.jpg

[Bendr]

Exactly!:thumb

[VisualXpressions]

nice exicution of the castle... I like the stream and bridge in the fore ground, or is it a moat? was this a re-shoot or the same shoot different shot? looks like the same time of day? any way would love to see more detail in the stone work... I can think of 1000 different ways and thing to shoot on this monolith from the past... as for the boat... needs work... whenever I see a boat to shoot I try and capture her curves, even if it's a dingy, start from the bow looking aft, 12:00, 1:00, and so on, lower your perspective, is there a body of water to see in the background? etc... anway I believe I'm rambleing... the castle is great, and a great subject, hope you have the opportunity to go back often...:D

Winston

[Snarcher]

same day, differnt picture, as for the boat alone, i just took teh original picture and cropped out everything else..

its not a moat, just a stream, wouldnt do too good for a maot, you can leap across it lol

it is actually right on the caost of wales..

the writer dylan thomas's house is right around the other side of the caslle!

[DRabbit]

When I took it, it seemed like the perfect photo.. but there is just some reason that it doesnt work for me... i dont know? mabey teh cloudless sky?? what should i have done differntly?
It's mostly a composition thing, and I'm not sure where you would have had to stand to get it just right. Less sky would have been good, and of course, clouds would have added more texture.

With what you've got you could do a square crop and some creative cloning (did these quick - if it's not okay let me know and I'll take them down)...

http://www.dangrabbit.com/photography/albums/Shares/castle.jpg

and a b&w treatment might be cool...

http://www.dangrabbit.com/photography/albums/Shares/castle_bw.jpg

I did these in very little time just to give you the idea...