Use of walls in landscape photography

Supercell

I'm pretty fond of going for a spin on the rothar and taking a few snaps along the way.

This afternoon was out by Vartry in Wicklow and took the pic below, it looked pretty cool at the time but now I'm not so sure.

I think this could be done well, maybe zoom out a bit more?

Any tips?

elven

I think the main problems you're seeing now you have the picture in 2D in front of you is this:

1) The line of the wall leads your eye out of the right hand side of the picture, rather than into the frame. Diagonal lines are very strong and it's difficult to go against that instinct when you're looking at a photograph with such a prominent diagonal like that. Think of the shots of the big lakes or sea with the pier leading into the middle of the picture - that's a good use of something like that because it leads the eye into theframe, instead.

2) there's no real focus for your interest - the little bridgey towery thing is quite nice but it's small and tucked off to the side. Most of the shot is taken up by an expanse of water and sky and where this could be used in a good way, here it's just giving an imbalance to the picture where you're not really sure what to be looking at.

Extra points for an ideal C&C thread where you've asked for specific advice Hope that gives you some ideas...

Fenster

The bridge and tower in the water might make for a far more interesting subject. Having a wall positioned like that doesn't lead the eye anywhere within the image. I've looked back at my own wall photos and I've found that you're better off using the wall to lead the viewer somewhere within the image, if it is a foreground focus, or making the wall the entire subject of the image.

Supercell

Thanks for the advise elven.
You are totally right about the wasted space with nothing happening - ie the water and the wall leading to the tower (a potentially interesting feature - should have been closer), lots to think about, I really need to work on my composition.

Supercell

Fenster wrote: »

The bridge and tower in the water might make for a far more interesting subject. Having a wall positioned like that doesn't lead the eye anywhere within the image.

Thanks Fenster, I think I get the point you and Elven are making i think - walls should lead somewhere thats important in the picture, right?

Hugh_C

elven wrote: »

2) there's no real focus for your interest - the little bridgey towery thing is quite nice but it's small and tucked off to the side.

It is however reasonably placed for rule of thirds with a bit of cropping

:eek: