Great shot. Why did you choose to put the man in the center of frame? I would have thought to put him in a more classic “rule of thirds” position. I don’t disagree with your choice, in fact there are subtle perspective lines in the sand that lead the eye right to him. I would like to hear your thoughts.
Many thanks for your comments. To answer your question…there are several “rules” of composition – and the one that applies in this picture is SYMMETRY. The balance it gives can be used to great effect especially when the elements within an image are few and relatively simple.
There’s lots more information about composition at http://photoinf.com/ – but I’ve always felt that it’s very distracting to try and apply the rules of composition when out shooting. Perhaps the rules of composition are of more use after photographs have been taken to explain why one picture works and another doesn’t. As one of my old tutors at photographic college used to say – composition is something that “you feel in your water”; it’s a strange way to say that when you look through the viewfinder the image looks and feels right!
Thanks for the answer. I love that. It’s easy to get bogged down in “rules” and forget what’s in your heart. Photography is art and as artists we have a sixth sense for what looks right.
I love your work. Your blog is my new favorite.
7 comments in “A hard day’s fishing on the Derry Coast”
October 27th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Beautiful! I like this.
October 28th, 2009 at 9:47 am
fantastic!
October 30th, 2009 at 11:34 pm
Great shot. Why did you choose to put the man in the center of frame? I would have thought to put him in a more classic “rule of thirds” position. I don’t disagree with your choice, in fact there are subtle perspective lines in the sand that lead the eye right to him. I would like to hear your thoughts.
October 31st, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Hi Matt…
Many thanks for your comments. To answer your question…there are several “rules” of composition – and the one that applies in this picture is SYMMETRY. The balance it gives can be used to great effect especially when the elements within an image are few and relatively simple.
There’s lots more information about composition at http://photoinf.com/ – but I’ve always felt that it’s very distracting to try and apply the rules of composition when out shooting. Perhaps the rules of composition are of more use after photographs have been taken to explain why one picture works and another doesn’t. As one of my old tutors at photographic college used to say – composition is something that “you feel in your water”; it’s a strange way to say that when you look through the viewfinder the image looks and feels right!
Hope that helps….George
November 1st, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Nice shot
November 2nd, 2009 at 7:45 am
Thanks for the answer. I love that. It’s easy to get bogged down in “rules” and forget what’s in your heart. Photography is art and as artists we have a sixth sense for what looks right.
I love your work. Your blog is my new favorite.
November 5th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
aah, what a serene picture! really suits your name – minimalistic!
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