Canoes

[Abhi]

Hi,

Looking for critque/feedback on composition & post-processing or on any other aspects that can help improve the photo. Thanks for looking.



Exif:
Tv - 1/100
Av - F/7.1
Focal length - 42 mm
ISO - 400

[lerabu]

Hi!

I like the composition.

What I would do is the following, but this is just personal preference, and art as you know, is a subjective matter

1. Crop tighter towards the bottom boat so that there isn't that much water towards the bottom of the photo, but keep the same ratio of the frames of the photo
2. It appears to have been an overcast day, I would try increasing luminance or saturation / vibrance slightly to make the image slightly more vidi. That's just personal preference though because I like more vivid images. What you could do also is make a new layer from the background, set the opacity to 30-50%, overlay blend mode, desaturate slightly and then with an eraser set to that fluffy icon (not hard edges) erase the layer so that the more vibrant boats come out from the bottom (background) layer

.

Just a few ideas, the actual composition and postporcessing should be made so that it feels right to you. It really depends what effect you wish to achieve

It is a great shot regardless of any "improvements" that can be made

[sk66]

Nice pic...
To me it's a bit out of "balance". The large "dark area" of the water is a bit heavy for the lighter area of the subject boats. I think a bit more boats would have helped but I can see why you cropped there...

Only other thing is the pic is a bit green overall, the boats have a green tinge to them...

[SwissJon]

As everyone else has commented.. There's too much empty space. It's subjective about how much is too much, but I'd like to see about 2/3rds boat. 1/3rd water.

[Sterling]

I'm going to go against the grain and say that I quite like the use of negative space here. If the water was just a solid dark field I wouldn't like it as much, but the cloud reflections give it just enough interest.

[SwissJon]

Originally Posted by Sterling

I'm going to go against the grain and say that I quite like the use of negative space here. If the water was just a solid dark field I wouldn't like it as much, but the cloud reflections give it just enough interest.

And that is the beauty of photography.. There's no right or wrong (Exept leaving the lens cap on) just personal preferences!

[graciousness]

I've been looking at this photo for a while and couldn't decide what it is that bothers me a little, although it's such a gorgeous photo and I envy you for the good eye and technicality with this shot

I think the first thing that came to my head when I looked at this photo is that the boats seem to be almost too still on the water, as if the boats came from another photo and photoshopped to be placed on this still water background. I know that's not the case at all, but I can't pin point technically why it feels that way to me. Maybe the photo is too sharp and the shadows of the boat do not blend in with the water. Or maybe it's the contrast. The water almost seems too sharp, but I don't know if that's the case of editing or it's just taken that way naturally. The whole image almost seems unreal because everything is so sharp and calm...no movement at all. There's no soft blurring and gradual fading shadows at the edges of the boats at all, and that's why the boats just seem to really literally "float" on the water instead of naturally sitting on the water or its environment.

Does this make any sense at all??

Also, I can't tell the depth of the water because it's so green and the shadows are all over the place, not indicating any gradual shallow to deepening parts of the water. There should have been some darkness underneath the boats, specially, as you can tell the boats are docked and some soft shadows should have been cast on the water from the boats despite of the overcast.

I know. I'm nitpicking at something I don't even have any technical ideas on what I'm trying to say. I apologise...I'm a learning beginner.

It would be interesting to see the unedited version of the photo.....I have a feeling that it would be a softer version and may see those soft edges and shadows that I feel amiss on this edited one.

[Abhi]

Thanx all for your feedback : )

Originally Posted by lerabu

Hi!
Crop tighter towards the bottom boat so that there isn't that much water towards the bottom of the photo, but keep the same ratio of the frames of the photo

Hi : ) ..thanx for your encouraging words. I do like ur crop suggestion, that way the boats are also more prominent in the frame than previously and also showing the expanse of water which was my original idea.

Originally Posted by graciousness

It would be interesting to see the unedited version of the photo.....I have a feeling that it would be a softer version and may see those soft edges and shadows that I feel amiss on this edited one.

Thank you for ur compliments : ) . You can view another version of the photo here: Canoes | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Its not sooc but one with minimal post processing. I guess I went a bit overboard with the pp and made the water too dark which probably gives that unrealistic feeling to it. Also, if u look closely, the boats are wrecked and actually not floating on the water but are partially submerged.

Here's another version, lighter n cropped....better?!

[jentenna]

Hmm. I like both versions, but I'm with Sterling... I didn't think there was too much negative space in the original. I think it works, because it adds to the general feeling that these boats have sort have been forgotten and left to decay. The ripples and reflections from the sky also add interest and texture.

I like the lightness of the second edit, but prefer the original crop. Just my very humble opinion though.

[mikesieber]

After looking at both, I prefer the original. For me, the colors are well balanced and the focus on the boats is very sharp. I like the contrast between the bright, warm colors in the boats and the cool color of the water. Also, for me, there is just enough reflection/detail in the water to add a bit of visual interest in that negative space.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I really like the original shot, but both are very good.