From across the river

[gregj1763]

Been having some fun with night photography lately. These shots were taken from the other side of the Tamar River from my last post Whats your favourite
The first is the Seaport area with the yacht club and hotel and the second is a scallop boat at moor just around the bend in the Tamar River proper.
Trevor, this boat was what was illuminating the tree line in image #3 with it's lights.
C&C welcome as always.
Regards, Greg

[JamesScott86]

Excellent captures - well taken.

[Manfred M]

It looks like you are having some sleepless nights there, getting out and doing all those night shots. I liked your previous post and I like these as well.

My personal view is #1 is better than #2, as the left side of #2 really does not contribute anything to the image. In #1, the reflections in the water just seem to give the image that special look. My only thought is both images seem to be a touch light for night shots, but then I don't know what time you were shooting at and how the scenes looked to you.

[Ziggy]

I do like the reflections in the first one, nice.

[CaolIla]

Really nice pictures both of them.
The second one is the best I think, because it's obviously composed with foreground, midground and horizon.
The first one is nice but it's more "straight on" without the depth in the second one.
I have no problem with the free space at the left. Centering the boat would be less good I think.

[gregj1763]

It looks like you are having some sleepless nights there, getting out and doing all those night shots. I liked your previous post and I like these as well.

My personal view is #1 is better than #2, as the left side of #2 really does not contribute anything to the image. In #1, the reflections in the water just seem to give the image that special look. My only thought is both images seem to be a touch light for night shots, but then I don't know what time you were shooting at and how the scenes looked to you.

Thanks Manfred, #1 was my pick as well, both shots were taken just after sunset as you can see with the second image which was taken toward the setting sun, the other facing East.
Do you think lightning the far bank in the second image would be an improvement?
Regards, Greg

[gregj1763]

Really nice pictures both of them.
The second one is the best I think, because it's obviously composed with foreground, midground and horizon.
The first one is nice but it's more "straight on" without the depth in the second one.
I have no problem with the free space at the left. Centering the boat would be less good I think.

Thanks Mats, I liked this image as the boat was something a little different from what we normally have moored in the Tamar. I liked how the ships lights highlighted the mast/rigging? area.
Regards, Greg

[Shadowman]

Nice captures.

[Manfred M]

Do you think lightning the far bank in the second image would be an improvement?

I don't think that would add much. While I like negative space in an image, I don't think this (even with a brighter left bank) would help. I personally think the image is about the ship and a much tighter crop might be the way to go. If it were my image, I'd likely head in this direction:

[gregj1763]

Yep, you're right Manfred, much stronger image.

[selig1656]

Pic one in it's original form I like Better when compared to pic @ , however the suggested cropping truly enhances pic 2 and they are both terrific.

[Aeros]

Really nice pictures both of them.
The second one is the best I think, because it's obviously composed with foreground, midground and horizon.
The first one is nice but it's more "straight on" without the depth in the second one.
I have no problem with the free space at the left. Centering the boat would be less good I think.

+1........... As most of us already know, composition has basic rules, the most common of which is the rule of thirds. The artists I like are so good at it that they break the rules with genius. I like these images and #2 shows a good understanding of composition, whereas #1 is a well exposes night shot, it is as the previous post points out, flat, but still pleasing, # 2 has a strong lead in line from the bottom right and the reflections in the left side of the shot add much to the content and balance the image.

[Aeros]

I don't think that would add much. While I like negative space in an image, I don't think this (even with a brighter left bank) would help. I personally think the image is about the ship and a much tighter crop might be the way to go. If it were my image, I'd likely head in this direction:

They are both good in their own right. Even though there are rules, this shouldn't stifle experimentation by not trying to creatively challenge the rules. I applaud the OP for trying the second crop, it creates a very strong image. In my own work I can get very aggressive with cropping as cropping is a very powerful methodology. One just has to accept that not all choices re: composition, cropping or lighting will always get one a consensus, to which I exclaim...Vive la difference!

[Aeros]

Been having some fun with night photography lately. These shots were taken from the other side of the Tamar River from my last post Whats your favourite
The first is the Seaport area with the yacht club and hotel and the second is a scallop boat at moor just around the bend in the Tamar River proper.
Trevor, this boat was what was illuminating the tree line in image #3 with it's lights.
C&C welcome as always.
Regards, Greg

Greg, may I post a crop version of your #2 photo here?

[deetheturk]

Very nice Greg, something I will try one of these days, or nights

[gregj1763]

Greg, may I post a crop version of your #2 photo here?

By all means Richard, look forward to seeing your version.
Greg

[Aeros]

By all means Richard, look forward to seeing your version.
Greg

2py1awy by Richard Jones, on Flickr

Greg, without having seen any other crops, this would have been my first attempt for the following reasons.... To keep the very strong lead in line that you obviously intended. To bring the viewer closer to the boat. To keep that lovely reflection on the left that is magical. It's a very good example of night photography with some wonderful details and definitely has more than one cropping option. A very pleasing image to look at, kudos to you.

BTW I was just reviewing this crop on the site and could see the rule of thirds grid in my mind, but it was not conscious on my part, but the boat is on the vertical and horizontal coordinates, right in the middle of the thirds.

[flashback]

Greg, definitely #1. Visually much more interesting with the lights on the LHS, the building (which I'm assuming is a condo/apartment bldg?) and the marina. With the reflections and all the interesting things to look around at #1 is the far better image.
#2 looks like the back end of some kind of trawler/fishing vessel of some sort, and as it is there's not really much there to keep my interest.
To me both appear to be very good technically, but compositionally it's #1.

[gregj1763]

Very nice Richard, ticks all the boxes. As you pointed out there are many crop versions available in this image. I like Manfred's as it centres attention on the boat but yours is great in the respect that it has the best of both worlds in it. The reflections on the water which originally caught my eye and giving the viewer a closer view of the boat.
As I progress with my photography I'm always conscious of rules but quite happy to ignore them if I think the scene demands it.
Thanks for your detailed feedback, it a great help.

Regards, Greg

[gregj1763]

Greg, definitely #1. Visually much more interesting with the lights on the LHS, the building (which I'm assuming is a condo/apartment bldg?) and the marina. With the reflections and all the interesting things to look around at #1 is the far better image.
#2 looks like the back end of some kind of trawler/fishing vessel of some sort, and as it is there's not really much there to keep my interest.
To me both appear to be very good technically, but compositionally it's #1.

Thanks Jack, it's a pretty spot at night, the lights are on the bridge crossing the North Esk river and yes the building is a hotel complex. This area up until about 10 years ago was just mud flats then it all got developed into what you see here, lots of restaurants etc. The only problem is that it looks wonderful at high tide but dreadful at low. The North Esk and Tamar rivers have a terrible silt problem which has been a high point of contention locally for as long as I can remember. Local council and government passing the buck as to who should clean it up.