end of the pier...

[Art]

Hi all, this pic was taken en Venice beach CA, it was cold!!!

Can you please critic composition?

Thanks Art

Exif

Canon XS
focal length 75mm
f 4.5
exposure 1/320 seg

[Marianne*]

Beautiful sky! And on that note, I would drop the horizon down (isn't that the classic 1/3 rule? or however it's called) to get more sky in and less water.

[lostinthewoods]

Wow great photo! It's funny, I was just there taking photos today! Mine didn't come out nearly as good as this one though.

[sk66]

Nice pic.

IMO you have two "competing" subjects. the very "dark" pier, and the very "bright" sun. Both are of about equal size/weight. They are separated by some distance so the eye doesn't settle, but in the end the sun wins (because it's brighter).

So, was the picture about the pier setting at sunset? If so, taken from further to the left making the pier the predominant feature/weight would have worked better. If it was about the sunset/colors I probably would have not included the pier at all.

[Art]

Originally Posted by Marianne*

Beautiful sky! And on that note, I would drop the horizon down (isn't that the classic 1/3 rule? or however it's called) to get more sky in and less water.

Thanks for your comments
BTW it is called Rule of thirds
Art

[Art]

Originally Posted by lostinthewoods

Wow great photo! It's funny, I was just there taking photos today! Mine didn't come out nearly as good as this one though.

Thanks for your comments, were you on vacation?
Art

[Art]

Originally Posted by sk66

Nice pic.

IMO you have two "competing" subjects. the very "dark" pier, and the very "bright" sun. Both are of about equal size/weight. They are separated by some distance so the eye doesn't settle, but in the end the sun wins (because it's brighter).

So, was the picture about the pier setting at sunset? If so, taken from further to the left making the pier the predominant feature/weight would have worked better. If it was about the sunset/colors I probably would have not included the pier at all.

Thanks for your comments, my intention was option one
Art

[vainqueur]

I think dps got an interesting article on how to use negative space. Perhaps shifting a bit to the left and increasing the exposure to create some cotton water?

[lostinthewoods]

Originally Posted by Art

Thanks for your comments, were you on vacation?
Art

No, I am a truck driver and was in the area. I'd love to vacation in the area though!

[Barry Jackson]

Good shot Art.

I think instead of getting rid of some of the water, I would get rid of some of the sky.

I might move the bird to between the pier and the sunset. That way you have a wandering line from the pier to the sunset. Make sure the bird is the highest point.