River in flow

[Wylde007]

i took this photo yesterday, just wondered how i could make it better composition wise as i may go back next week, the branch on the right hand side may be off putting, but when i zoomed in to get rid of it i lost depth to my photo.

constructive criticism is always welcome..

f/11
Exposure time 0.8 Sec
Exposure bias - 1.3 step
ISO 100




take care!

[dcclark]

Welcome (maybe a bit late) to DPS!

First, let me say that I like the colors in the trees. I also like the long-ish exposure effect on the water -- I can make out some streams of water which give a nice sense of motion.

However, having said that, there is one main problem with this photo. There's nothing there to keep my eye in the frame! The water is nice -- the motion leads me right in to the frame -- but then there's nothing for my eye to stay on, so my eye leave the frame again. It's a very pretty scene, but you need some sort of subject. For example, a particularly nice rock formation, a close-up leaf (I see one in the very front right), reflections of the trees in the water -- something like that is needed to hold the attention.

I know how this goes -- I spend a lot of time outside and find lots of very pretty scenes like this. The trick is that photos really need a strong subject. When you or I are there, we can feel in awe of the beautiful scene surrounding us, but it's hard to bring that feeling across in a flat, small photo.

[navcom]

Hi!

On the technical side, you pretty much have it nailed. Good exposure settings...good aperture, perfect ISO, right shutter speed. The light is nice and soft as well.

On the composition side, it is a bit boring. Not to say it isn't a pretty scene, just not intriguing to the viewer. There isn't anything in particular that makes the scene interesting or that draws you in.

What you need to do is figure out what you want the center of interest to be. Before I take any picture, I was taught to always ask yourself, "what am I taking a picture of"? What draws my attention to this scene? What do I want to emphasize? What can I eliminate from the viewfinder to better emphasize my center of interest? What can I add to the composition to better emphasize my center of interest?

You have some really cool elements in your scene. Great colors and soft light, wonderful flowing water. Lots of rocks with that silky water flowing around them. Unfortunately it's all in bits and pieces.

Some ideas that might work... Maybe try to get closer to a particular rock? Maybe turn to portrait orientation and include a rock with flowing water framed on the top with those pretty trees? I see that wonderful s-shaped flow in the lower right part of the scene. You could work wonders in that area! Think in terms of lines and shapes. Also, don't be afraid to get low and close to something to get the right angle.

Here's one of mine from some time ago....



I did pretty much the same composition as you did when I first showed up on this scene. As I worked the comp, I got closer and closer to the rocks until I found an angle that I thought worked. I ended up switching lenses three times...starting with a 16mm and ending with a 75mm. I tried to use the foreground rock as an "anchor" to the flowing water behind it. Any wider of a view and it appeared dis-jointed.

Hope that helps!

[Wylde007]

Guys thanks, i understand exactly what you mean i was trying to get what i seen onto photo and this shows my lack of experience it was such a beautiful view so i tried my best to capture it, i did however capture close ups too like your example.

many thanks

Simon

[ijbrewst]

Originally Posted by Wylde007

i took this photo yesterday, just wondered how i could make it better composition

I find this appealing with the river perspective focusing the eyes on the trees at the back. I would crop off some of the bottom, to help this focus, like this: (I also lightened the yellow tree a bit, to help the eye. A brighter exposure over all might lift the picture?)



Ian

[Wylde007]

Ian thanks!! the crop gives more balance to the photo now i will experiment later today, i also like the tree idea food for thought cheers!