Image Critique Archive
January 2010
Sometimes you get lucky
Does luck play a part in making an image?
Its true that most great images are the result of knowing your subject matter, of taking the time and trouble to return to the same spot time after time until the conditions are just right. That flock of geese taking flight in superb light requires a lot of patience, knowledge of the birds habits, knowing the type of weather and time of day that is likely to produce the right conditions. However, there are also those occasions when you arrive at a location for a shoot and something suprising happens that just adds that special something to the image.
As you know from viewing this site I predominantly shoot landscape images based in and around the welsh and english countryside. Take this shot of a sunrise in Rhos on Sea, North Wales. When I arrived at the harbour to capture the sunrise I was searching for something to put a point of focus into the foreground. I knew I wanted a boat, after all it is a harbour, but didn't know which one I would be able to capture in the just the right position. The orange colored boat was lying on the shore pointing out towards the sun and I felt it also led the eye into the scene. It was just lying there waiting for the sky to do its magic and all I had to do when I arrived was set up my camera, compose and make the image.
However, when I went to the same spot the next day, guess what, the boat was tied up to the harbour wall and no longer available for the image! If I hadn't got up early and driven down to the harbour I would have missed the opportunity.
Looking objectively at the image I think that the exposure should have been a little better as overall the image appears a little too dark. There is a bit too much space to the left of the last boat on the left of the image and that area doesn't add anything to the image, however if I crop that out and try and keep the original proportions of the image the small boat in the foreground becomes even larger in proportion to the rest of the image.
However, those are my views and I know that you may not agree with me but isn't that the beauty of photography!
Did the shot work overall? Did it make a great image? Well despite my reservations I think it does, but I would be very interested to hear your views and comments via my blog site which you can find here.
(Exposure settings: f20, 10secs, ISO 100)
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Image Critique
Each month I will critique one of my own photographs.Making images gives me a great deal of pleasure but one way to improve ones own photography is to critique it.
Yes you can critique it yourself but you can also gain a great deal from hearing others views. That is why I shall be challenging you to post your views and comments on my blog about your thoughts on each image displayed.
I value open-minded intelligent discussion of my images - but please, honest critique is required, not mean rude or insulting!
You can also tweet me @stevegillphotos.