Impatient with composition and effect

[silverbirch]

Feeling a bit frustrated with my efforts! Was wandering along the Napier waterfront today and spotted this old wooden rotting structure, which I assume may be an old pier. It has been very overcast and also actually being able to get around the structure was difficult. I've got this which I've lightly processed using a fake HDR technique to try compensate for the grey day.
Canon 600D
aperture value mode
f/16
shutter 1/30
focal length 74mm
iso 200

Any ideas about composition and processing welcomed - thanks.

[Krusty79]

The image looks a little light to me for being shot on a grey day. I'm not clear on what you wanted to show in this image. The texture of the wood? If so, I think you need to zoom in more. I don't know where you wanted to direct the viewer's eye. Right now, it goes to the closest post and stops. I don't really see anything else in the image to hold my attention. Maybe if you composed it so we can see along the row of posts, it would add some depth to the image, but I still think you need a focal point.

[silverbirch]

Yes I'm interested in the texture and appearance of the old timber. Will go back and try again. It was an awkward site as large rough rocks, and I'm not as agile as I once was :-) Thanks for your comments.

[Corey Thompson]

My suggestion would be to do a black and white conversion, then perhaps increase the contrast, and run a high pass filter for sharpening to bring out the textures.

[silverbirch]

Thanks for those suggestions Corey - while I want to go back and get photos in golden hour, I have had a play with increasing contrast and the high pass filter. I'll put it up, but I can see it has some halo effect, as it's rather over processed, but it has given me ideas for future images. I've also cropped it, and wonder if it's better, worse or not worth commenting on the crop. Many thanks.

[dblightsey]

Actually really like this last one. Love the texture and the lone nail. Nice shot

[silverbirch]

Thank you :-) I'm pleased with it now when I go back to it too. It was a crop from the original shot, and I still need to go back one evening and clamber over the rocks for better shot. Appreciate your aprreciation though :-)

[SumPics]

With the crop my eye is drawn to the lone spike. I think the image is still too light, and with the crop there is some detail loss. I think this particular scene has promise and look forward to your updated shot after you return and reshoot.

[silverbirch]

Originally Posted by SumPics

With the crop my eye is drawn to the lone spike. I think the image is still too light, and with the crop there is some detail loss. I think this particular scene has promise and look forward to your updated shot after you return and reshoot.

Thanks - just need some decent weather and a nice evening now for me to try again :-)

[baajero]

This thread is actually an amazing tutorial thanks everyone. I imagine the second picture will ook amazing once you take it. But maybe try to get in some vegitation in the shot just to add some life to the second picture... just a little bit not too much... to give that... "nature taking over" message