14

I was fascinated by the texture of the paintwork and their

reflections... what about you?

 

Would you crop or alter something? That's a straight-out-of-camera

version.

 

Comments and criticism on this and other nautical reflections of mines

(in the same folder, toward the bottom) are most welcome.

I really suggest you try to see this "Large"

I think the composition is fine. There's no such thing as a 1/3rd rule --- it's only a 1/3 guideline.

 

High clarity, superb contrast and interesting abstract.

I will agree M here regarding a slight change in composition, not necessarily because of the implications of the rule of thirds, but because a slight shift towards the right would first and foremost improve the overall composition and impact through the use of a stronger leading line imo - which would in this case come from the lighter side of the boat and the water line as it leads in from the top corner. Only later, after having been "led" into the image from the top left, would my eye realise that the rule of thirds applies nicely as the tip of the boat lands 1/3 of the way in. Nevertheless I think it is a great image as is and it certainly caught my eye.

rich,nice,natural.

Hi Salvatore, this is really nice. The saturated colours and the reflections look great. A bit more light in the shadowed area might be good?

I don't think the "20" adds anything. I also have this thing about straight verticals.

Thanks for the interesting debate on the image. I think there is a fair amount of truth in each of your remarks, and Carl has done an excellent job in putting everything together.

In addition to the shift of the numbers to the right, which you advocated, his version gives larger relevance to the "14" and the reflection of the white paintwork. I will most likely post it.

As a background note, this is the bow of the "Good Sheperd IV", the only link with motherland of the hundred souls of Fair Isle, midway the Shetland and Orkeneys island off the coast of Scotland. The island has just a tiny inlet as a natural harbour, which is exposed in bad weather. Therefore this ferry is hauled in a specially built cove to protect it from the elements when is not in use. I had the luck to visit the island while sailing the Imram this summer.

Lots of good points above. I liked Carl's straight verticals, a crop from the right, and daylight color balance to make the white layer really WHITE.

David, thanks for your version.

 

Having seen a few bows, before, the slight rotation which you propose make me a bit dizzy: it seems the ship is leaning on one side. It might be sailing-me though which does not agree with the aesthetic of the lines. How many degrees did you move it?

 

As for the white, I recall it quite golden in the last light of the day. I guess truth is somewhere behind what is posted with auto white balance and what you have posted. I will revisit this when I'll upload a cropped version.

1.25 degrees. Interesting discussion on this one. Hopefully all the comments have helped you figure out what you want this one to look like.

Now I have to figure out if this was really 1.25 degrees off, being a boat I have shot from another boat, or rather that's the natural inclination one perceives from the fact that the bow is pointing at the viewer, as I shot this head on.

 

Thanks again!

David's suggestion is worth pondering. Very good image,Salvatore.

My rotation and crop are based on visual design principles rather than from the standpoint of its "boatness". Does that make sense?

 

The same is true of the white color. The boat is no doubt white, but the warmer color from the sun to me is more pleasing and more importantly reflects what I liked about what I saw, rather than what it is.

I switched on a grid in PS and I start to be convinced that the picture is level and the angle of the bow and my being slightly to its starboard is what gives a rotated feeling to it. However, Carl's rotation still seems correct to me since the lever arm of the bow is smaller and I do not see such a large effect like in the "20" of David's suggestion.

 

As for the white, it was of course very white: the thing had just had a paintwork (and do appreciate that it had already scratched off the region between the 18 and the 20. Still, the sun was low -and these are high latitudes- and came off pretty warm.

 

Incidentally, speaking of paintwork, there is a saying in the French navvy that things on a boat divide in two categories: one category you salute, all the rest you paint.