Photo of The Vico Baths in Dublin

[Enda Cavanagh]

I have added a photo of the Photo of the Vico Baths in Dublin to my site. I'd love to hear your comments. Here is the link
The Vico Baths

Many thanks

[wolfnowl]

Ed:  I really like the steps and the railing leading into the water, but I don't think the building adds to the image.  If it was mine I'd chop it off below the horizon.  By doing so the viewer is put into the position of contemplating going down into the water him/herself and questioning whether or not s/he has a way of gettig back.  With the buildings it's just a shot of someone standing there, looking around.  YMMV!

Mike.

[Enda Cavanagh]

Ed:  I really like the steps and the railing leading into the water, but I don't think the building adds to the image.  If it was mine I'd chop it off below the horizon.  By doing so the viewer is put into the position of contemplating going down into the water him/herself and questioning whether or not s/he has a way of gettig back.  With the buildings it's just a shot of someone standing there, looking around.  YMMV!

Mike.

Hi Mike
I just tried chopping it and I don't think it works at all. I wanted to take the photo just at this time because the island in the background was the only thing in sunlight. (It was close to sunset and the sun was going down below the hills behind me.) I think if you leave out the sky it just disorientates the viewer because you have no bearing. By having the horizon,  island and sky you give the viewer a sense of piece and a sense of actually been there.

YMMV! I always have to google when you guys abbreviate. I never know what you mean.  

[wolfnowl]

YMMV! I always have to google when you guys abbreviate. I never know what you mean.  

Sorry about that!  Your Mileage May Vary!

Just to a search on TLAs (Three Letter Acronyms, although not all of them are three letters).

Mike.

P.S.  It was that sense of unbalance that I was suggesting by cropping it.  Obviously you were looking for something else.  As I said, YMMV!

[Jeremy Roussak]

Sorry about that!  Your Mileage May Vary!

Just to a search on TLAs (Three Letter Acronyms, although not all of them are three letters).

...and nearly all of them are abbreviations, not acronyms (sorry: I'm a pedant and there is a difference).

Jeremy

[Enda Cavanagh]

...and nearly all of them are abbreviations, not acronyms (sorry: I'm a pedant and there is a difference).

Jeremy

It shoes how often I use them

[PeterAit]

Ed:  I really like the steps and the railing leading into the water, but I don't think the building adds to the image.  If it was mine I'd chop it off below the horizon.  By doing so the viewer is put into the position of contemplating going down into the water him/herself and questioning whether or not s/he has a way of gettig back.  With the buildings it's just a shot of someone standing there, looking around.  YMMV!

Mike.

My opinion is the opposite of Mike's. I like the photo, and the distant building is an essential part of it. The steps themselves are interesting enough, an old algae-covered structure of uncertain origin and function. With the distant building, it is put in context, a bay with a distant headland on which is a perfectly ordinary building - and the mystery grows!

[Enda Cavanagh]

My opinion is the opposite of Mike's. I like the photo, and the distant building is an essential part of it. The steps themselves are interesting enough, an old algae-covered structure of uncertain origin and function. With the distant building, it is put in context, a bay with a distant headland on which is a perfectly ordinary building - and the mystery grows!

Thanks Peter for your comments.
I aggree 100%. The steps while forming quite a strong composition in the foreground, are for me not enough subject matter on their own. As you say the background gives the image context. The island in the background is very well known in Dublin and I wanted to highlight that by showing just the island in sunlight. I also wanted to show the viewer something warm and inviting beyond the cold blue water and the dilapidated steps.