Elephant ear in flowing water

[SteveFromOhio]

At least I think they're called elephant ears...



Exif data
Camera Fujifilm FinePix S1500
Exposure 0.1 sec (1/10)
Aperture f/6.4
Focal Length 5.9 mm
ISO Speed 64
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash Off, Did not fire


This is SOOC. I also realize this isn't straight.

I took a bunch of shots like this yesterday, and they all feel like the composition is lacking... something. I can't put my finger on it. Does it feel that way to you or is it just me?

Thanks.

[SwissJon]

I think the thing that's lacking here is a story..

You've managed to capture the plant, the rule of thirds is being followed, the picture is in focus, and will look better when it's straight, the exposure is correct but really that's where the picture ends.. A technically very good picture that is dry due to lack of story.

When you take a shot, one of the things that isn't obvious is the artistic side of the photograph.. You need to consider not just "how" to take the photograph, but also "why". Why did you choose to take this particular photo? Was it the stream? It's really getting pushed back in the photograph by the plant, and the plant isn't particularly interesting as a subject as it's too far away from the lens to see any fine detail, and the other plants behind it are the same colour, shape and also in focus, so it gets lost, so you have nothing that's particularly drawing the eye.

I would suggest, if you get the chance to take this again, you zoom your lens so that the plant fills the frame, (don't move closer, zoom, it will change the focal length and then allow the backfround to be blurred) and if you can change the aperture on your camera, set it to its widest (the smallest number possible, again, this will blur the background) which will allow the eye the luxury of settling on the leaf.. You might also turn the camera to a vertical position to increase the amount of space the plant can take up in the frame, and orientate yourself so that there are no plants in the background of the same or similar colours.. That way the plant will appear completely separate.

[theeventof]

I've taken shots like this myself and I always feel that there's something missing. Sure it's more or less technically correct, but as SwissJon said there's no focal point.

I have been trying extremely hard to find ways of telling a story with the camera and it takes more than just finding something that your eye thinks is interesting and shooting a picture of that.

Goodluck and definitely go back to this location again if you can and just experiment with different angles and convey the story that you want your viewer to see.

[SteveFromOhio]

Originally Posted by SwissJon

Why did you choose to take this particular photo? Was it the stream? It's really getting pushed back in the photograph by the plant, and the plant isn't particularly interesting as a subject.

Right there is the problem. I meant for the plant to compliment the water, but the way I composed it I made it the focal point. I should have been able to see that myself, but somehow this morning I just couldn't figure it out.

Originally Posted by theeventof

Goodluck and definitely go back to this location again if you can and just experiment with different angles and convey the story that you want your viewer to see.

I went back this afternoon, but it had slowed down to just a trickle. It's supposed to rain all night again (yay) so maybe I can try it again tomorrow.

Thank you both. If it's running tomorrow I'll try something different.

[Krusty79]

My eye is initially attracted to the green foreground plant, but then it wants to follow the creek to ??? So, if you go back, I would recommend taking the flow of the image into account as you compose your shots.