Footprints In The Sand

[Xia_Ke]

Snapped this shot this morning of some seagull footprints. Not quite sure if the prints are defined enough to have a good impact. Any thoughts?

[swmdrayfan]

Aaron, I like your DOF here. The footprints leading into the distance -- very solid. There's a bit of a rock on the left side near the top that could stand to be cloned out. Love the choice of b & w.
John

[jkriminger]

well.... .the seagulls footprints do not hold my interest much. The title had me visualizing a childs footprints..maybe washed away towards the ocean. Sorry but the subject matter just isn't there....for me.

[Xia_Ke]

Thanks John. I wasn't quite sure about the rock. On one hand it helps break-up that light area a bit, on the other hand it is a little distracting.

Thanks Rod. That was what I was afraid of. While I still like the shot quite a bit, the subtleness of seagull prints just doesn't quite "drive it home" like I had hoped. It looked a lot better in my head when I was visualizing it at the time...LOL

[mn shutterbug]

Sorry, I'm with Rod. There just isn't enough definition for a person to even realize it's footprints, unless they are told. But, different strokes for different folks.

[Xia_Ke]

Thanks Mike. Having been there, shot it, and knowing what the footprints were I guess makes it easier for me to identify with I SWEAR, it looked a lot cooler in my head at the time...LOL

[SmartWombat]

I disagree, the footprints of a gull are as plain as human footprints.
I do agree on the rock though.

[Xia_Ke]

Thanks Paul. I agree that a footprint is a footprint, all being as plain as another, I just wish the footprints would have turned out more prominent in the shot and better defined. I suppose I could edit the shot to that effect but, it's just not the same for me.

Aaron

[Greg McCary]

I agree with Paul. Get rid of the rock and it works fine for me. I like how the lighting changes from dark to light along with the DOF. Crop it just below the rock.
Greg

[Xia_Ke]

Thanks Greg So you think I should take out all of the rock or just the one rock sticking out a bit on the left?

[Greg McCary]

I would crop it just below the big rock on the right. The out of focus hole? Just below it doesn't bother me. I really like the texture to the sand too.

[Xia_Ke]

Thanks again Greg. Maybe I'll try playing around a bit momre with this when I get home tonight. Maybe all is not lost with this one

Aaron

[schrackman]

I'm gonna go a different direction on this. The footprints are GREAT, but what distracts me is what they lead to. It would have been nice you had captured some wave action at the top of the frame. That would have defined the photo it even better IMO.

[Xia_Ke]

Lead to or away from? ;) Unfortunately this was one of those grab shots. Just something I noticed while walking around. The tide was wayyyyy out at dead low tide so waves weren't an option at the time. I'm sure I'l have plenty of future opportunities for shots like this, so I'll see if I can't get a future shot with some waves in the background and hopefully some more definition to the prints. Thanks Ray

Aaron