Siblings stroll on the beach

[Mumof7]

Exposure 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture f/5.8
Focal Length 21.4 mm
ISO Speed 200

Should I have used the rule of thirds here to make the photo more interesting?

Is it focused properly?

Thanks for looking (BTW, I'm new, so any technical answers need to be simple please )

[zona5101]

It looks like a great shot. As far as the thirds...i dunno if I would change anything. If you move them to the lower third then your beach/mountain horizon is dead center and I think that would be worse. Plus it would mean you would crop out some of the foreground footprints that draw you in to the shot. I don't know that I'd do anything...maybe add a gradient to the sky to reduce some of the haze and make the clouds/sky standout a bit more.

[Mumof7]

Thanks for your reply Yes, I see what you mean about the horizon being in the wrong place if I changed the position of the children. Thanks for your input.

[ncbcymtechie]

I'd lower the angle just a bit because I don't like that the surf collides with their heads (and actually cuts across the head on the right). I'd also maybe edit out (via cloning or patching in post-processing) the odd spot on the middle-right of the image.

However, I love the shot! I love the footprints, the setting, the background... I think you captured a great moment here what with her arm around his shoulder and the taller girl looking over at them and the boy's head ever so slightly downturned. Well done!

[Mumof7]

Thanks for your input I hadn't noticed that the surfline went through her head! Darn, that'll bother me a bit now! Oh well.

I still really like the image. My favourite part is that it wasn't staged - they were being friends . And that beach is one of my favourites. I like the mist coming from the sea - it gives it a soft look. And the sun was setting and giving such a beautiful light.

I will see if I can clone the spot away...

Actually, I have another shot from the same walk which I also love. It has the same problem as this one, in that there is a line going behind his head... What do you think?



Exposure 0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture f/5.0
Focal Length 17.9 mm
ISO Speed 160
Exposure Bias 0 EV

[ncbcymtechie]

That one doesn't bother me as much since there's such a difference in brightness between his hair and the dune. I love that one as well—the sand pouring through his fingers is such a nice touch. And it casts such a cool shadow on his legs!

[sk66]

I'd probably crop down from the left and right (placing them at the upper left 1/3 intersection with leading lines/footsteps) and do a levels adjustment...it's a rare "authentic" moment and a good catch.

[Mumof7]

ncbcymtechie: Thanks for your kind words It's one of my favourite photos of him (one of many, many actually. He is definitely the most photographed of my seven children!!!!)

sk66: Thanks for your comments too. That crop would work well - I'll have to have a play with it. By levels, do you mean the level of the horizon is not straight? Thanks for the encouragement My photographic aim during that holiday was to capture 'relationships' within my family. This one certainly does

[kristenh]

Mum, i really love these- especially the lighting. you chose a great time. the first one, i am very fond of the footsteps in the sand (where were you that hundreds of other folks hadn't already walked there?). agree that it would have been nice not to have the water line run behind the eldest girl's head. ah, well. the second one is lovely- again my favorite thing is the light, but i love the concentration.

early anticipating our own beach vacation in august

Mum of 3!

[sk66]

The horizon seems fine, by levels I mean an exposure levels adjustment. In PS it's Image>Adjustments>Levels ...use the white eyedropper to click on something that should be white (wave crest), with black eyedropper click on something that should be black (footprint shadow), then move midpoint arrow left/right for overall balance. (probably left in this case)