Oil on the Sand

[Alan]

From this morning's walk - (just to provide a bit of activity here)

[Lost]

removing the little plant may work better imo
edited
there is now a base to the image as some arty farty artists would say BTW; plant removed with LR5

[Alan]

Thanks again Ian for taking the time.

Point taken about the use of odd numbers and triangles - I didn't think of that in my playing with filters. (Though I'm still happy with the comp)

The other thing I try to consider is the direction of the light - which I usually assume comes from above. This time I didn't, because that's how it looked when I took it.

But you weren't there and picked that up and rotated it.

I'd be interested to see if anyone else finds it odd that the shadows in my OP fall upwards?

(again, the light was very soft, so I didn't go with a more saturated look)

Cheers

ps how are you managing to get pics posting - using attachments?

[Lost]

''copy image'' in google+ and paste onto forum page. Not the best but it will until the forum gets sorted out

[sejac]

The only arty farty artist I can see around here is Ian. Bass line indeed, or is that base line?

Bass line or not, I prefer the original. OK, no more base comments from me. Let's get back to basics.

Interesting point about the shadow direction. I read somewhere that the strongest line in an image is the one passing from the bottom left corner diagonally through to the top right. To do with the eye wanting to flow in that direction, leading lines into an image. Phew, this is hard work. But I feel that the direction of your shadow works as a composition. I'm not sure the other way is as satisfying. Who knows!

[Lost]

The only arty farty artist I can see around here is Ian. * Bass line indeed, or is that base line?

Bass line or not, I prefer the original. OK, no more base comments from me. Let's get back to basics.

Interesting point about the shadow direction. I read somewhere that the strongest line in an image is the one passing from the bottom left corner diagonally through to the top right.

*grab a pen and a bit of paper................ got them? now draw a triangle Charles. Everyone can have a go it. Draw a triangle.

** now that's (also) arty farty talk!!

[Lost]

Ok back to this one; who drew a triangle on a bit paper? Do it now; just a simple triangle

Done it? Only some one upside down would have drawn it with the point down. Most/all would have the longer side on the bottom


Unticctled-1 copy by Ian Browne, on Flickr

We do similar with squares and rectangles. we usually put the longer side at the bottom; we seldom draw a square standing on one corner


Unddtitled-1 copy by Ian Browne, on Flickr

The reason being we see base down as stable where as if point down it looks like it will fall over
Now we transfer those thoughts to photo composition.
a photo with a more solid look base is more stable to our minds. That is why many put or add darkness to the bottom of a photo; it gives a base for the rest of the information in the photo to sit on. Most of us do it without thinking about it.

The same can be said about picture framing with mats. Professional framing should have more matt board at the base to give the photo/art work something solid to sit on. Don't believe me? draw it out and you will notice if there is less matt at the base the art works looks to be slipping down

When we make collage we should put the biggest/widest photo at the bottom


Unddvtitled-1 copy by Ian Browne, on Flickr

Much of this is automatic to us although we often don't realize why we prefer the photo/picture with a more solid base. It's the same if a picture has too much on one side ; it looks unbalanced.

[sejac]

Excellent analysis Ian. No arguments there.

But I was thinking of leading lines! Have a look here! Especially what is written under the second photo example.

Photographic composition is a wonderful thing.

[Lost]

i would have stopped reading at the stupid first photo

I have always understood and believed we read a photo from the bottom LHS. That is why i so often flip photos horizontally to bring the leading lines to the LSH. The RHS is place for something from stopping the eye from leaving the picture.
but its not always true, a bright part of the picture when grab our attention as soon as we look at the picture.

As I just typed elsewhere; I don't need to see a big photo (on the www) with great detail to get my attention. What gets my attentions is composition/light and shadows/colours that work together or a colour that stand out. If those things are there I will stop and look more and it's then photograph detail quality is seen but in many case it's not that important to the actual photography. naturally there are variation to all of this.

'Every time someone tells me how sharp my photos are, I assume that it isn't a very interesting photograph. If it were, they would have more to say.' ~Author Unknown

[Sully]

My 2 cents worth: as Ian said "I don't need to see a big photo (on the www) with great detail to get my attention" … I KNOW within a split second whether I like someone's picture or not. As for my own, if it doesn't perform 'first up' … then I will travel the 'arty farty' path to endeavour to create something I like. Alan, I prefer your shadows going up