Millennium bridge/St Paul's at night

[IMpalace]

Hi all,

Only my second photo on here..

Photo taken by St Paul's cathedral the other night.

Taken with: Canon 1000D
Lens: Canon IS 55mm-250mm

EXIF Data:
ISO: 100
Exposure time:15 seconds
F11

Questions:

1) Would you make any compositional changes to the photo?
2) What is your eye lead to? Are the trail lights of the boat an interesting addition or an irritating distraction in the photo?

All comments positive and negative appreciated

Thanks!
IMpalace

[IABoomer]

I like this. The details, the colors, the exposure all work well for me. The lines of the bridge draw me right to the dome. I didn't notice the light trails from the boat at first. Having said that, I find them a little distracting. The shot otherwise appears to be a moment frozen in time, but that one moving element ruins the illusion, IMHO.

If I went back to take another shot at this, I might get a bit lower to the water and shoot less sky. I think the soft water along with the reflected light is a stronger element to this image than the sparse clouds in the dark night sky.

[Mulski]

I realy like this shot - great contrast and colours. I've been across this bridge numerous times and really like the way you have captured the bridge to draw your eye onto St.Pauls.

Okay, I'm not a professional, so take my following comments with this in mind.

I'm not keen on the lights from the river boat, I do find them very distracting and whilst difficult due to traffic, I'd have been tempted to wait until the water was ripple free like you've captured it under and to the right of the bridge, as it would have given the shot a calm but vibrant feeling, if you know what I mean.

Notwithstanding this still love the shot, well done.

Cheers

[IMpalace]

Originally Posted by IABoomer

I like this. The details, the colors, the exposure all work well for me. The lines of the bridge draw me right to the dome. I didn't notice the light trails from the boat at first. Having said that, I find them a little distracting. The shot otherwise appears to be a moment frozen in time, but that one moving element ruins the illusion, IMHO.

If I went back to take another shot at this, I might get a bit lower to the water and shoot less sky. I think the soft water along with the reflected light is a stronger element to this image than the sparse clouds in the dark night sky.

Thanks very much for the response

The bridge does to it quite naturally, but my cropping and positioning of the camera selected was with the thought of the bridge drawing you to the dome, so very pleased to hear that.

I can definitely see the value in taking the shot from lower down and now you mention it I would love to try and get a show from that angle. Thinking back to the location I have a feeling this may not be possible due to the fence in the way (my gorilla pod was wrapped around the top of the fence).

The sky is one of the things that I don't like about the image as it isn't particularly interesting in my opinion, but is necessary crop wise to keep the top of the bridge in.

Thanks again for the critique, much appreciated!

[IMpalace]

Originally Posted by Mulski

I realy like this shot - great contrast and colours. I've been across this bridge numerous times and really like the way you have captured the bridge to draw your eye onto St.Pauls.

Okay, I'm not a professional, so take my following comments with this in mind.

I'm not keen on the lights from the river boat, I do find them very distracting and whilst difficult due to traffic, I'd have been tempted to wait until the water was ripple free like you've captured it under and to the right of the bridge, as it would have given the shot a calm but vibrant feeling, if you know what I mean.

Notwithstanding this still love the shot, well done.

Cheers

Thanks very much for the comment. I am also in no way a professional so of course all feedback is welcome

I do actually have a very similar shot taken without the river boat lights and with a ripple free river (taken from the right side of the bridge). I just couldn't decide whether I preferred the addition of the river boat lights as I find the other image to be slightly less interesting/plain without it.

Two opinions saying so seems to suggest it does come off as a little distracting.

Again thanks very much for the critique!

[flytyer57]

First thing I would do is straighten that picture so the water line is more horizontal.

The light of the bridge draws my eye out of the picture. If you can darken the right side of the bridge it might help drawing the eye to the dome.

At first the lights from the boat were distracting, but not too overpowering. I wouldn't worry too much about them, although I would, as suggested, try to take a shot with no boats and smooth/glassy water.