Scenic Ave Rocks & Water

I saw this yesterday and decided to leave it a while and have a think before commenting. I too feel that it doesn't require a dominant focal point. Its strength is that it works as a cohesive composition with the beautifully textured and placed rock elements and lovely swirl of the angry ocean sweeping between and also linking them.

The hotspots in the foreground water are perhaps a bit too dominant for my taste, but I like the warm tone!

The texture of the rock looks 'dry' to me (i am sure that it is really wet though) I think it would look better without the texture but it really seems to be a limitation of the subject.
The rocks take away from the water which is really the focus of the image.

Thanks to all for their comments and perspectives!


* Highlights in water: Yes, I think that I dodged the water too much in some places..


* Wet Rocks: wow, good observation! yes, it was a calm day, so no waves high enough to glisten the rocks.


* Blury water / longer exposure: this, too, is a nice idea, and one I use often. I was attempting to get some detail in the water this time. But maybe I'll go back and try it again.


* Warmth: Yah, it is very warm, I guess my thinking was that because I was so-so on the overall image, then tone like crazy to make it more unique! Plus I'm always interested in severe toning experiments.



* I do have my monitor set pretty dark, if I brighten it, I feel there is enough detail for my taste on this image.


Thanks again.

To me it's a dance of patterns that makes it interesting. All the texture, the whipped up water, and the rock solid rocks. I don't lose interest at all. A wonderful image!

- Thomas

I like this very much, but there is something a little off about it and I think that is why you are wondering about what to do with it. My gut tells them that it has to do with the edges. Perhaps the water is a little too close to the left edge? There is a hotspot (on my monitor at least) that is in the middle of the channel at the bottom center which I think might be the thing the eye is led to rest on. A very beautiful image but it seems hemmed in and constrained by the borders. The rocks on the top seem too large a mass maybe? I'm just going on my limited intuitive powers, but it seems like there is something really special there that is being suppressed by some other element.

best,

Will

The tones are amazing to me. Thanks for sharing, would like to be there.
Thomas

I have looked at this a number of times, and enjoy it every time. It would be great to have it up on my wall.

The only thing I find slightly distracting is the fact that the rocks on the very left edge are in some ways the lightest in tone (of the rocks, that is). Being at the very edge, this draws my attention out of the frame.

I would experiment with burning them in slightly, and dodging the rocks at the right edge slightly, to see whether the resulting "re-balancing" might work.

Matt, that's a very good suggestion -thanks a lot!

Wow! There is nothing to be negative about, just enjoy the image. Look at Edward Weston's Last image. I'm sure he would love this picture. I'm just someone who looks at the positive and the photographer willl learn for them self what improvement can be made, the object is to create intrest for yourself as well as stimulating others. It's beautiful, I'm impressed. Move on to the next print.

I like the print the way it is. Beautifull photo!!