Strip Mall

[visualreality]

Click on image for Exif. Please post your comments, suggestions...

[Saralonde]

That's a beautiful sky in the back and it's a very sharp pic.There seems to be a lot going on in this shot; not sure where to look first. You might want to recompose and think what you want the focal point to be.

[visualreality]

Originally Posted by Saralonde

That's a beautiful sky in the back and it's a very sharp pic.There seems to be a lot going on in this shot; not sure where to look first. You might want to recompose and think what you want the focal point to be.

Thank You! What do you think can be a focal point in this situation? I am still having issues with respect to getting a good composition.

[Saralonde]

Sometimes the entire area can be a focal point in landscape photography. That works best when the composition in relatively simple, say a forest of autumn leaves. In the case of this image, if you want a broad shot, the sunset could be a focal point, perhaps with something in the foreground sillouetted against it. If you are more interested in the strip mall being the subject, try getting closer and isolating one area: a sign, the play of the street lamp lighting on the snow, a shop window. B&W could also help you downplay some of the business. A different perspective or angle could also work. Generally keeping it simple works best.

[wulf]

Keeping it simple is good. So is keeping it straight. Although there are times when a dramatic tilt can bring a photo to life this one is slightly off true (the right hand side is lower than the left) which I think detracts (and easy to fix in post-processing).

Wulf

[visualreality]

Originally Posted by wulf

Keeping it simple is good. So is keeping it straight. Although there are times when a dramatic tilt can bring a photo to life this one is slightly off true (the right hand side is lower than the left) which I think detracts (and easy to fix in post-processing).

Wulf

Wow.. I didnt even notice that right side is lower. Great eye Wulf. Thanks for your comments.

[wulf]

I will tell you the trick I use when I think a line is out of true. I scroll the page in my browser and use the top or bottom of the viewing area to measure; compared to those perfectly level lines it is easy to judge the orientation of the picture elements (making the browser narrow allows me to check the verticals against the left and right sides if necessary).

Most image editing software will have tools to draw boxes or drag out vertical and horizontal guides and it is always worth checking your pictures to see how they match up. You don't always have to choose to keep things straight but, if you are going to frame the picture at an angle, have a good reason and do it boldly.

Wulf