We had dinner tonight at friends who live on the St. James harbor. This is the deep water harbor that I've featured in some other daytime shots. The lighting was wonderful tonight and the lake was a mirror. As the sun was setting, everything seemed to glow. I'm curious about which of these two versions is more effective. V1, the focus is only on the pier, and I liked the symmetry of the pier and the wild grasses as off-set. V2, I liked how the pier seems to point us to the dingy and the sailboat. I kept going back and forth of which to post and decided to post both to see what you think (if you don't mind viewing both), and why. http://365project.org/taffy/the-also-ran-ph/2013-08-31
I think the issue is preferable perspective and what the boats versus the grasses add, but I'm not sure. Thanks in advance if you do take the time to view both! I'm so happy being back on the island -- today was such a fun photo day!
This one is very serene, perhaps because less is going on - it looks like it was a beautiful evening. Have you stayed on the island in winter? I have been googling the island and it looks gorgeous.
@joluise When we taught at Michigan State, we used to come up through January, then close down til end of May. Once we moved to Chicago, it's a long way to go in winter with iffy roads, etc. for the weekend so we haven't been up here in winter in years. It's beautiful here each season, except for 'mud season' between March and early to mid-May. Thanks for your kind comments on the photos -- and for liking them enough to google the island!
They are both gorgeous photos in their own right and different ways. On balance I think I prefer the colours in the other photo, but it is a close run thing!
Really great reflection and great simplicity, but my vote goes for the other pic, there´s something captivating about that one , maybe it´s the pointing direct to the boats that you mentioned.
Hi Taffy. I love my challenge, I've been thinking about it all day trying to come up with something original.
I've looked through your project think you've got some great nature shots, love the insects and flowers. You've also got some great sunsets, landscapes and cityscapes. I noticed a couple of night scenes, but I didn't see any with light trails made by traffic and wondered if you'd like to give that a try. Possibly with an iconic building or two in the background? Enjoy :)
@kwind@mikegifford@jankoos@elaine55@elaine55@yaorenliu@kazlamont@timandelke@jackie8@stimuloog@susale@pennyp@colie
Thank you all so much for taking the time to view the two of them and give me feedback on why you preferred one over the other. I've learned some is personal preference. Other things that I've learned and will pay more attention to -- like, the horizon in the other one is confounded with the pier, so higher or lower would have been better. Personal preferences seem to be in terms of liking the quieter reflective image in contrast to the one that has more potential action through the two boats and the way the pier forms an arrow toward them. Your comments were so helpful -- thank you so much!
@mzzhope@jodimuli@jackie8@sailingmusic
Thank you Joey, Myrna, Jackie, and Hope for your favs! I too was drawn to the feeling of serenity in this version.
I keep coming back to this one and think I have changed my mind! Such a beautiful image so peaceful! I also prefer the separation of the pier from the horizon in this one! Both favs though!
This one is peaceful, the other vibrant. I like the boats, and I like the pier below the horizon in this with the lovely reflection, but I'm leaning toward the boats. How nice to have a dilemma between two great photos! Third time's the charm - maybe you'll get boats and the peaceful horizon on your next visit!
@sjouk@anazad511@genealogygenie@danielwsc
Thanks Sjouk, Ana, Kim, and Daniel. This ended up being so useful and a good learning experience. I hadn't even noticed the horizon problem until after I'd read the comments. I learn so much about composition from my 365 friends -- I do appreciate it!
I'm coming into this one late, but this is the shot I prefer. It's simple and clean with a clear subject. The other, although nice, is a bit cluttered and it's hard to tell whether the subject is the pier or the boats. I also feel the houses on the shoreline compete with the boats on that one too. I do like the colors of the boats against the water on the other though and think there might have been a nice shot of them with the water, but that particular composition did not do them justice. With all that I've learned from Patterson's book, this is definitely the stronger of the two emotionally as well. The blue and green are very soothing, serene. In the other your eye is drawn to the red boat that competes with the serene blue water. So that's my 2 cents worth, late as it may be!
@olivetreeann Thanks for taking the time to comment and analyze! It was such a good learning experience to have specific reactions to the two. This was also my preference of the two, but mostly for the calm, zen feeling.
I've looked through your project think you've got some great nature shots, love the insects and flowers. You've also got some great sunsets, landscapes and cityscapes. I noticed a couple of night scenes, but I didn't see any with light trails made by traffic and wondered if you'd like to give that a try. Possibly with an iconic building or two in the background? Enjoy :)
Thank you all so much for taking the time to view the two of them and give me feedback on why you preferred one over the other. I've learned some is personal preference. Other things that I've learned and will pay more attention to -- like, the horizon in the other one is confounded with the pier, so higher or lower would have been better. Personal preferences seem to be in terms of liking the quieter reflective image in contrast to the one that has more potential action through the two boats and the way the pier forms an arrow toward them. Your comments were so helpful -- thank you so much!
Thank you Joey, Myrna, Jackie, and Hope for your favs! I too was drawn to the feeling of serenity in this version.
Thanks Sjouk, Ana, Kim, and Daniel. This ended up being so useful and a good learning experience. I hadn't even noticed the horizon problem until after I'd read the comments. I learn so much about composition from my 365 friends -- I do appreciate it!