single photos Sun Breaks Through, Mono Lake

There are no rules about how you must compose a photo - just an understanding of how different compositions can have different effects.

Here are some of my reactions to this photo:

• There are several symmetries: the sky and water divided by the horizon with the snowy mountains; left/right around the imagined line between the bow of the kayak and the sun; the curved clouds at the upper left and the curved cloud reflection and submerged rocks at the lower right; the darkened corners, particularly between the lower left and upper right.
• The kayak is not quite perfectly centered - pointing a bit to the left - but it points directly at the sun. This creates a sort of steep diagonal line which I see as including the left side of the kayak and extending toward the sun.
• The exposed rocks at the left nicely break the other symmetries, though they are somewhat balanced by the larger portion of the mountains at the right.

The position of the boat and the fact that it is pointing straight into the scene give this a first-person quality - the viewer is not just "looking at" the scene, but feels in the scene.

One small nit perhaps. I think that the contrast on the kayak may be affected a bit by the flens lare - I can't quite put my finger on it but something seems a _little_ off about it.

Although I go to Mono Lake fairly frequently (for someone who lives in the SF Bay Area) and have been there in the winter, this is a view I have not experience.

Wonderful photo.

Dan

I don't see that any rules was break here, people often talk about composition without studying it so better that you dont take seriously some coments that i read above, about broken rules and bla bla bla, the photo has a strong visual atraction what i don?t like is the high dynamic range for me it is clear, the photo has been manipulated, in spite of manipulations and the poor title, the visual impact is good.

f.

What a great image in a lonely place. I guess you couldn't offset the camera because you are on the water otherwise I would suggest to off-center the kayak.

With this consideration, this is very well done.

Cheers.