Ducks under the bridge

[MorningStar]

Taken at my local park



Camera Nikon D3100
Exposure 0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture f/22.0
Focal Length 70 mm
Focal Length 71.3 mm
ISO Speed 200
Shot in Manuel

Thoughts on the crop? I could crop it a bit less on the left, if need be. Also, are the ducks too dark? I kind of like how they aren't the focus, but you can tell their ducks. And of course, any other thoughts are appreciated.

[JFSanders]

Morningstar, (real name?)

Even in landscape we have to have a main subject. What is yours in this photo? The ducks, bridge, waterfall, stream? The answer to this will affect the composition of the photograph. Right now you have a tourist snapshot. Nice one to be sure but it doesn't work for me. The angles are uninteresting and adding to the left won't help. The ducks are a good subject but aren't large enough in the frame to give the eye anything other than they are ducks. The bridge is too high in the frame to give a pleasing composition. The waterfall and stream are ok but they don't have impact.

Sorry to be so negative. But I think you asked so that you could improve.

Jim (real name)

[MorningStar]

Hey, I don't mind it. Thanks for giving me the opinion.

I understand the comments. What is the focus? I'm going to say the bridge. It was big when I looked up, to put in bluntly. But, having said, I understand how everything else muddles it a bit.

Thanks Jim.

[JFSanders]

How many different perspectives did you look from before you chose this one? Could you get higher or left or right of the bridge?

Jim

[MorningStar]

To be honest, I was following the ducks. Kinda just turned around and that's what I saw. So for sure, there's other locations I could have shot from. I was just tracking down the ducks.

Thanks Jim..Next time I'll look over my shoulder.

[Krusty79]

I agree that your shot needs a focal point. I think you could have gotten down lower and put the ducks in the foreground and used the waterfall back there for your background. If the ducks are still dark, you can bracket your shots and/or shoot RAW and blend your exposures later in PP. If you have a polarizer, it might eliminate some of the glare off the water. I don't think the bridge is helping your composition.

I would try to keep in mind how you want to direct your viewer's eye towards your subject and compose the shot to eliminate distracting elements.