Composition critique - tugboat & bridge

[Rajah Sulayman]

I haven't done any post on these at all; right now I'm looking for feedback on which composition people prefer. I pared down about a dozen frames to these two, but I'm stumped on which I like more.

In the shot with the boat under the bridge, I like that its proximity "groups" it with the bridge. It makes it feel more a part of the scene but it also cramps it a little. The waterline is a smidge high, but that's fixable. What I don't like about the shot is that the bottom of the bridge butts up against the frame.

In the other shot, meanwhile, the bridge disappears into the distance, which I really like. I also like that the boat cleared the bridge, because it distributes the weight a little more evenly. I had a few shots with the boat further along, but I didn't like them as much.

Right now I'm leaning toward the shot where the boat clears the bridge, but there's still something about the other image that keeps bringing me back to it.

What do you guys think?

EDIT: A good friend pointed out something I hadn't noticed, which is that the boat being in the distance and more obscured (in the first photo) gives it a creepier, more ethereal feel. Which I realize is what kept drawing me back to it.

[marcfrye]

Originally Posted by rajah sulayman

I haven't done any post on these at all; right now I'm looking for feedback on which composition people prefer. I pared down about a dozen frames to these two, but I'm stumped on which I like more.

In the shot with the boat under the bridge, I like that its proximity "groups" it with the bridge. It makes it feel more a part of the scene but it also cramps it a little. The waterline is a smidge high, but that's fixable. What I don't like about the shot is that the bottom of the bridge butts up against the frame.

In the other shot, meanwhile, the bridge disappears into the distance, which I really like. I also like that the boat cleared the bridge, because it distributes the weight a little more evenly. I had a few shots with the boat further along, but I didn't like them as much.

Right now I'm leaning toward the shot where the boat clears the bridge, but there's still something about the other image that keeps bringing me back to it.

What do you guys think?

If I have these 2 to choose from then I like number 2. I would prefer that the bridge upright was in the top left third and the boat was in the bottom right third. I assume that you have that shot in the group as the boat moved a little more to the right.

[Rajah Sulayman]

Originally Posted by marcfrye

If I have these 2 to choose from then I like number 2. I would prefer that the bridge upright was in the top left third and the boat was in the bottom right third. I assume that you have that shot in the group as the boat moved a little more to the right.

Something like this? I actually had to crop it down pretty heavily; all of my shots have the upright in dead center because I was trying to get as much of the bridge as I could.

[windrider86]

I like the one with the boat under the bridge but if both were just slightly more visible

[Rajah Sulayman]

Thanks for the move, I must have missed the comparison subforum.

[Rajah Sulayman]

Alternatively, if I go square things balance out a bit better without having to force the issue with a heavy-handed crop.