Luminous Landscape Forum

The Art of Photography => User Critiques => Topic started by: Chris Calohan on December 29, 2012, 11:40:27 am

Title: Mariner's Grave
Post by: Chris Calohan on December 29, 2012, 11:40:27 am

We actually stopped at an intersection, so I had a little more time to compose this shot. There were a lot of desecrated graves around that church with this the only intact headstone.

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8072/8322256754_fbb4b81612_o.jpg)

Title: Re: Mariner's Grave
Post by: Chris Calohan on December 30, 2012, 11:46:24 am

So what is it about this shot that makes it so uninteresting as to receive no comments? I'm curious because to me it meets all the elements and principles of a good photograph both technically and artisitically. To me, it is no less a good shot than a lot of stuff on here. I'm just being curious today...perhaps even a little pissy. No can learn without input...data, I need data!

Title: Re: Mariner's Grave
Post by: pegelli on December 30, 2012, 01:39:02 pm

I've looked at it several times now and don't know. It's certainly technically OK, nice play of lines w/o distortion taking you from the headstone to the tower, into the sky, the right toning but somehow I still can't "connect" to the picture. Only explanation I can come up with is that there are a lot of unconnected different texture areas in there. Maybe too much distraction from the main subject or so. Hope this little ramble helps, if not just forget it ;)

EDIT: afterthougt: did you try the same from a step to the left, so the background is essentially the same but the headstone slightly more off-center? That's probably how I would have taken a scene like this. Just a thought.

Title: Re: Mariner's Grave
Post by: Chris Calohan on December 30, 2012, 01:56:34 pm

I actually cropped back to a more centered point as the extra space to the left hindered more than helped and more to the right led to a long low wall which was a kill shot. I think your point as to not connecting is something to contend with. I was just interested in the singularity of the one headstone being intact and then working the image into the background. Sometimes, I think I get too caught up in trying to make sure I have all the pieces and parts in the right place at the right time than working more toward an artisitic rendering. I am a work in progress.

Thanks for the input.

Title: Re: Mariner's Grave
Post by: RSL on December 31, 2012, 09:50:13 am

It's a pleasant snapshot, Chris.