Footbridge Composition

[slh]

Do you think that the composition for this shot is ok? What do you think about the low angle and the bridge going from top left towards center? Are the weeds in the foreground too distracting? Should I have made the shadow of the bridge across the reeds in the background a little more part of the subject? I think that if I could've slowed the shutter speed down to smooth out the water would have been better too. (didn't have my tripod) Any other suggestions? Thanks.


Exif data
Camera Sony DSLR-A230
Exposure 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture f/6.3
Focal Length 26 mm
ISO Speed 100
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash Off, Did not fire

[SwissJon]

Unless you were able to put the camera on a tripod and use a remote shutter release, you're unlikely to have got the speed slow enough to lose the ripples, so I think the answer to that question is no. Anyway, I like them.

The weeds are distracting.. Without the bridge they'd have been necessary, but with, they just look accidental to me..

I like the low angle.. Could you have got under the bridge and have it go off symmetrically from either side? If not then I think perhaps you needed to move to the right a little and angle your camera more so there's more detail from the side of the bridge visible.. you should be able to see the other end of the bridge, there appears to be a bit of a curve, so the bridge appears to end in mid air.

I would not suggest that you allow the subject of your photograph to end in the centre, the photo appears bisected and there's little interest on the right hand side, so you've wasted half the frame. You'd be better off cropping this square, the bridge will appear to end in the 1/3 line on the right, which will allow more balance.

It's a nice subject, you should go back and shoot from a different angle..

[sgeary]

I agree with the post above about the angle of the shot...also having the bridge both start and end in the entire frame would make for a more visually pleasing...the right and side of the photo is devoid of anything to draw the eye.

[slh]

Yes, I agree with you both. I cropped square and it looked better but the weeds on the left are way over-powering. I agree that leaving the bridge ending in mid-air, plus in the middle of the photograph is not a good thing, thanks for pointing that out. I'll have to go back out and try again!

Thanks alot guys, points well taken.