Foreground help with this stream shot

[Krusty79]

Well, we have a lot of different opinions here. I agree that the leaves look contrived. I would like to see how the shot would look without the leaves. I think there is enough foreground interest without them. That may address the issue dakwegmo brought up.

[milosh]

Originally Posted by dakwegmo

I think the problem you're having with this shot is that you seem to have two completely different ideas working in the image with nothing to tie them together. The bottom half of the image could work as an image by itself with the leaves, water, and rocks. The branch creates a nice visual flow along the line it follows, and the rocks inside that line pull you in so you're eye is constantly wandering around that part of the image. The problem is that is such a strong visual element that with nothing of equal weight in the background. So the background becomes a distraction. The thing is there is an interesting image working back there, it just can't compete with the one working in the foreground. That's not to say that you couldn't have used a similar background, but in order for it to work you'd need to have something to draw the viewer's eyes into the background: a repeated pattern, a strong graphic element or contrast.

The take away lesson here is to simplify the shot. Work with one idea and eliminate anything that doesn't support the main idea of the shot.I cut the image in half and attached both halves to illustrate what I mean by having two main ideas working in the shot.

Great post!


I also think you would have enough foreground interest without the leaves. They're only creating strong contrast ind interfering with the background.

[Thanatoz]

I do like the tighter crops but the main thing I notice is there seems to be a lean or weird angel to the image... it may be that the trees do all lean slightly but I would make line them up so the y are more vertical. A bit like lining up a horizon.