January 15, 2010

Enough Interest?

When I saw this scene I really liked the textures of the foreground versus the foggy, blown-out background. I started to shoot the image in HDR but then decided that I would normalize the overall scene and the contrast would be eliminated. I decided to properly expose the foreground so I used a spot meter on the net area and expose accordingly.

The basic question I have about this image is simple: Does the subject of the boat and the contrast with the background create a photograph that has impact?

Enjoy.

Camera settings: Nikon D3, Nikon 28-70mm f/2.8 at 50mm shot at ISO 200, f/13 and 1/60th of a second.

Post Processing:

Lightroom—Set white and black points, added mid-tone contrast, added clarity.

Photoshop—used nik Color Efex Pro tonal contrast to add contrast to highlights, mid-tones and shadows of the boat and dock.

10 comments:

  1. I think it works. My eye goes straight to the green net and color in the foreground. Then my eyes go to the background and briefly look around. I do get drawn back to all the color and detail in the foreground pretty quick though.

    I like it. To me it probably more closely reflects what you saw.

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  2. I have always heard that the eye goes to the brightest part of a photo, but my eye keeps looking for more details in the boat and dock. I think the foreground has enough interest to carry the photo.
    Ted

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  3. Nice shot Patrick! I really like the composition and the contrast (exposure and tonality) between the foreground and background parts of the image.

    Well done!
    Barry

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  4. High impact photo, no. Good photo that gets your attention and holds it, yes.
    Anne

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  5. Not very good. A weak photo with little impact.
    Charles M

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  6. I like the simple details of the boat, but my eye is pulled to the background, maybe a little too much.
    Debbie

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  7. I do not think the foreground, although interesting, is sufficient to make this a high impact photo. To me, there is a disconnect between the foreground and the background that makes it hare for me to get my mind around the image.
    The Professor

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  8. One part of me likes this photo while another part does not like it. You have made me think on this one.
    Sya

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  9. There's so much about the foreground that wants to lead you out to the background, but I don't think the background has that much of a payoff. With the fog, there's not a whole lot out there visually to keep you there. But I really like the textures you have in the foreground.

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  10. Hi Larry. Congratulations from Portugal for your blog. I like very much your photos. Jorge Sousa www.ibernatur.blogspot.com

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