Your thoughts on this story.....

[TheBigE]

I will admit that this photo at first seemed to tell a story, as I worked on it some more, I put it aside, thinking it really did not have much. I shot this mid day on a walk through Bergen. I have since come back and worked a bit and really do not know....I would like to know everyone's C&C...is this something or nothing?

[Shadowman]

It creates a question that can easily be answered. Doesn't mean the answer is correct though.

[James G]

Erik, I can understand your hesitation since I have taken so many images like this myself. At the time they are fascinating but later when I review them they seem to have 'lost' something.
I think for me the problem comes down to an unresolvable 'tension' between composition and the underlying story.

Boats invariably are complicated and cluttered sbjucts, which rarely results (for me) in a harmonious composition in 'closeup'. The story element, (which is, I assume, the toys?) always seems to get overshadowed by the wider and distracting image context. The problem is that if you focus more on the 'story' element you lose this wider context of the image and a greater part of the initial interest in the image.

I definitely 'see' what attracted your attention, but, it is precisely the type of image I have often taken myself which ends up disappointing me ..... It hasn't stopped me taking them though and I rarely throw them away, they still tell me a story I understand!

[Donald]

I agree with James.

Boats invariably are complicated and cluttered subjects, which rarely results (for me) in a harmonious composition in 'closeup'.

When we look at such a scene, our eyes sort out the important information from the clutter. But when comes to viewing in a photograph, then everything is afforded the same importance and this is why the scene looks too cluttered.

[TheBigE]

James/Donald/John,

Thanks for the comments and it helps me digest my own thoughts.


For me this story is about life on a boat, realizing that there are children who live and play there...obvlious to the world around them...it is there, but not strong enough and buried in the clutter of the image.

I remember walking across this, and seeing the toys lying outside on the deck of the fishing vessel. That is what struck me and caused me to stop. I shot different angles and varying perspectives. In my mind after I walked away from this boat, I thought this would be really something nice...I think we all have had that feeling, where we feel like we just captured a really compelling image...only to have our opinion reversed when we get back and look at it on the computer. Maybe this needed a human element with kids and a fisherman, maybe there was nothing there to begin with...perhaps different light or deeper shadows on the boat with more light on the toys.

I felt that going in close on the toys would look perspective of the overall image.

For now it is a learning experience and I appreciate the open feedback and discussion on this image.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Erik,

Yes, I know that feeling.

I don't think you wasted your time, you've learnt a lot, if nothing else, but wait; I'm not saying there isn't anything else, because I think there is.

Looking at the scene, it is easy for me to say in hindsight, that a shallower DoF would have helped by blurring the background buildings, cranes, etc. Easy for me to say, perhaps your camera couldn't do that - I know the P&S I always carry couldn't, nor could my phone's camera.

I suppose you could work on it and blur them in PP, but you'd need to be careful to be subtle and also not accidentally blur any rigging or superstructure of this boat.
While we're talking PP, if this were mine, I'd crop about 40% off the right hand side, I don't think the inclusion of the life raft warrants the amount of space that side takes from the composition.
I'd also consider cloning out the yellow edge (and paraphernalia) in lower left corner.

If you do all those things, I think it helps improve the positioning and hence importance, of the toys in the shot - hopefully helping to 'tell that story'.

If my description of my thoughts aren't well enough described, I could demonstrate if you wish.

HTH, Dave

[Wavelength]

A bit cluttered, yet one can manage to read a story

[TheBigE]

Nandakumar - Thanks for your feedback

Dave - Good insight and yes, a shallower DoF would have worked in this case. I did have the equipment and could have reoriented by myself a bit to get the shallower DoF (was using Crop Sensor with 24-70mm f/2.8 lens) Zooming in and stepping back, I think I could get the needed DoF. I could try this in PS, but for now, I have enough photos to edit from my last trip I will save this for some time down the road.

As you said, this was a good learning experience. I saw the story in my mind, just did not tell it strong enough in the camera....funny I always think about trying different perspectives, angles and locations, but never DoF. Need to add that to my internal list. Part of that is because I usually do not have a fixed Aperture Zoom with me, I rented this lens specifically for the trip and wanted to see if I like the focal range, aperature, and lens. I really enjoyed it, despite the weight of carrying around the lens.

In future, I think I will get this lens for my own personal use but maybe the Tamron vice the Nikon...save a few $$.

Thanks again for the feedback and help