Blue Water

The first thing I noticed is that you have used a rather unconventional cropping ratio, usually reserved for scenic panoramas. Since every picture tells a story I always look for the compositional elements and what story they might be stating. Here you have two different pictures telling two different stories, separated by a vertical post. Try holding up a piece of paper to crop the images on your computer screen; put the paper exactly on the vertical corner of the support post. Two different pictures, glued together. Why not make them two?

Regards,

Jerry

Thanks for the comments Jerry

What you say makes sense. The original picture had the horizon directly in the center which I didn’t think about when I took the shot. By correcting this I've probably made the composition worse.

Regards

Shane

I think that the horizon penetrating the Female Subject's head, is also a problem for you.

An higher camera angle would have alleviated this - not much more camera height was required maybe only 12 inches I am not keen on the crop at her ankles, either.

I do like to control of the exposure (and the PP) to get a large range of tone all with good definition and also the water's colour and tone range. Was it somewhere on the eastern seaboard - top areas of NSW or southern Qld???

WW

Hi William

The horizon has bugged me since I first viewed the image on screen.

To be honest with myself I didnt put enough thought into the composition in the first place. I snapped away as quick as possible so we could get my then 9 month old daughter out of the 40 deg C heat.

The sun was high in the sky so made use of a polariser which brought back some saturation in the sea and sky, some post processing in Lightroom was required as well.

This shot was taken under Busselton Jetty about 230kms from Perth on the West coast of Australia.

Thanks for the comments

Cheers

Shane

I never guessed WA - though I should have - the water is crystal clear.

CU round . . . I would like to know how the band gig turned out for you.

WW

First of all, let me congratulate you for trying something out of the ordinary with this portrait.....I think it is a very commendable effort.

However, as has been stated already, there are a couple of things you may try different next time.

But before I start, let me tell you that I'm not bothered at all with the vertical post, the fact that the eyes of your model is looking at that other part of the frame, serve as a bridge to join both halves.

As for the horizon, I agree with previous comments, you could either lower it, or higher it,  it is another compositional tool, that you need to take into account, just as you did with the peer posts. A slight adjustment lo light curves and color, may also serve you to make those blue hues to pop out....something like this, perhaps. (Increased warmth, saturation, and work light curves)

You have a very keen eye, and peculiar way of composing...keep it up you're on to something here.

Hi Shane, since you are not ready for classes at this point, continue on reading books on photography that way it will prepare your mind. Good photographers know that pictures are made in the mind before they even click on the shutter. The camera is the tool to paint that picture. I was looking at your SUNSET. Why are sunsets so alluring even though it happens everyday. People flock to the beach to get the sunset shot.  Do a google search on claude lorraine, J M Turner and John Constable foremost landscape painters. search on JM Turner "crossing the brook" See the Framing where it leads the eye. That was in your SUNSET! Sunset needs a little work in photoshop but your idea was good.

A good book is the "Photographers eye composition and design by Michael Freeman.

Good Luck!