I need a lesson in landscapes

[windoze]

ok, so i was gonna enter this pic in the current challenge - thinking it was picturesque but noone else seems to think so. that tells me one of two things: 1) im blind or 2) i dont know what im doing. So maybe you photogs can set me straight.....
so where did i go wrong? is it the fact that the light house is in the center? do i need a closer crop? is it too boring? is it all of these ( the pic just sucks ? ).
im still on vacation and will be for awhile so the real post processing ( more chances for me to screw it up ) has to wait till i get home... anyway since ill have many pics similar to this kind of image maybe you can "whip me now till it hurts " so by the time i get home the healing process might have started....


http://windoze.smugmug.com/photos/141984515-M.jpg

troy

[JESTER]

Troy,

Take a look at Andy's thread:

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=3159

Lots of good info there.

[windoze]

Troy,

Take a look at Andy's thread:

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=3159

Lots of good info there.

yep, that "Andy" sure does have some ggod tips!


thanx for the link!!!!


troy

[Marc Muench]

The image is not boring but the way it is portrayed is! Change the size of your subjects by getting closer or changing lenses. Move around the subject if possible and try side light and back light. If you are still on vacation/location just shoot one particular subject from the North South East and West as an exercise.

Enjoy!

[Kapeji]

I would say for this scene the lighthouse would look beetter not centraly positioned, but a third in from either side and a third up, this assymetric position of the focal point is a common technique known since ancient times but is still valid. Like Andy says, rules are there to be ignored, but they are best ignored at the special time, when it works!

[Mike02]

Boring idea. The red dinghy looks very boring, or at least out of place, you need to focus on either the lighthouse, or the dinghy (god that word is funny to spell :P).

If I were you, I would go back and recompose the shot :P.

[ginger_55]

That is not a dinghy. It is a whatchamallit. They are in the water for navigation or something.

The shot actually is not that boring. On the other hand, I don't think it is "challenge worthy" as they say.

Yup you are correct on the center placement. IMO, it does not work here. Plus there is no "hook" to draw interest.............such as great lighting. First you get up at unreal hours, then you skip dinner, all this for the sweet light, the sunsets and whatever other lighting effects might occur.

A storm would help..............especially one with a very threatening diverse sky. You know that would give the lighthouse a reason to exist.

Maybe I should go read Andy's stuff, too. But try to stay away from too much blur if it happens to be mentioned.

However, the tripod is probably not a bad idea if your lighting gets very dramatic.

Smile, now you have a whole new way to spend your vacation: up before dawn. No dinners and out until way after sunset. If it is storming.........a cool time to be out, before or after work best. During tends to be pretty dull. IMO. During the storm you can sit in your car and wait........

Lots of waiting in this game.

ginger

[ginger_55]

You just posted (entered) a very nice, dramatic "picture" following every rule I think I mentioned.

Good gosh, I would have expected some floundering around. I was thinking about entering this time.

Geez!!!!!

Well, very nice photo................................how did you turn around and do that so fast (hook and all)?

ginger (I already knew you were good, but you did ask for help on a center placed lighthouse in good weather. I totally did not give you enough credit.
Wonderful!)

[windoze]

You just posted (entered) a very nice, dramatic "picture" following every rule I think I mentioned.

Good gosh, I would have expected some floundering around. I was thinking about entering this time.

Geez!!!!!

Well, very nice photo................................how did you turn around and do that so fast (hook and all)?

ginger (I already knew you were good, but you did ask for help on a center placed lighthouse in good weather. I totally did not give you enough credit.
Wonderful!)


thanx Ginger!

http://windoze.smugmug.com/photos/143013298-L.jpg

when i made a bigger crop with a few adjustments it just seemed to come together....


troy

[ginger_55]

Yes, much better! I like that little red car with the person by it. Gives the lighthouse scale.

Cool, ginger