Ansonia building at sunset; wondering about the composition

[dmartinc]

Camera Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Exposure 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture f/6.3
Focal Length 34 mm
ISO Speed 400
Exposure Bias 0 EV

I'm wondering about the composition here, especially : is there too much dead area on the left side? O does that direct the eye toward the sunlit sections of the building. Are the tree branches a distraction or a nice balance to the building? Thanks for looking.

[GonyeaGalleries]

First of all, I love the warm lighting and exposure in this image. As for the composition, yes I think you were trying to create a symmetrical "V" in the overall shape of the building + branches, and for most shots, balance is a good thing.

But, IMHO, it seems that the branches are being used to fill up sky space in an image that appears too left-weighted. They seem to divert the eye away from the building subject without really adding to it. Now, when the branches are removed, you have this big negative space of 60% bald sky. The sunlit parts of the building don't really sit on the thirds, and if I were to compose the image I would:

1) Try a different angle such as to get more of the building in the frame, and make the big building highlight (major attraction to the eye) sit on a power-point (intersection of two 1/3 lines dividing the image), and put the smaller highlight in another power point perhaps diagonally opposite from it. For extra dynamic tension, you could tilt the image deliberately to make those highlights fall into place.

2) Put more of the building on the left in view as a sort of framing device. Just enough to serve that purpose, define the space, but not enough to draw attention away from the subject. Since the building on the right is in shadow, that should be no problem.

3) Shoot the image in such a way that you retain that "V" shape, but using the buildings on both sides of the street, rather than a branch on the right.

4) Use the branches as a foreground element that leads to the subject and creates an enhanced sense of depth.

I hope this was helpful feedback, but never let the "rules" compromise your style. They are just general guidelines.

Good luck,

Art

[dmartinc]

Thanks. Very helpful. One obstacle to taking the photo from a different angle was the tree itself which obscured the sunlit building and the buildings on the other side of the street it I moved to almost any other position. Moving farther back I lost the areas of the building that were the focus of the picture. Sometimes these narrow city streets are greatly limiting. Some cropping might help to achieve the results you mentioned. Thanks again.