Lighthouse and Rocks...

[natefromri]

This photograph was taken with a Nikon D-70 SLR. It is taken during mid-afternoon on a grey day at Sakonnet Point, Rhode Island. This picture captures my intention (showcase the rocks but have the viewer be aware of the distant lighthouse) but does it work or is there simply too much space in the photo?

Thank you...Nate

[mjs1973]

Nate,

For me, there is too much open space between the rocks and the lighthouse in this photo. I like the idea of the lighthouse in the BG but the open water between the rocks and the lighthouse is a bit too much for me. I think a lower view point would have help take out some of the open water.

The image appears to be a bit underexposed as well. If your goal was to showcase the rocks, I would have meetered off of the rocks to make sure they are properly exposed. They seem a little too dark, but some dodging in PS can lighten them up a bit. Perfaps a bit of fill flash would have helped expose the rocks a bit as well.

I hope you don't mind, but I made a few edits to illustrate what I have been rambling about.

[natefromri]

Interesting MJS. I don't mind the edit for learning purposes. Did you cut out some water and bring the top and bottom half together in Photoshop to achieve this result? I like the square photo appearance of the result of this. Thanks.

--Nate

[mjs1973]

Hey Nate,

That is exactly what I did. I coppied the top part of the photo, and slid it down a little bit. I did a quick clone job to get rid of the line from where the top and bottom came together. I also did a quick dodge on the rocks to lighten them up a bit. The entire edit took about a minute to do.

[gahspidy]

Nate, this is a good concept here with the foreground rocks in focus and the bg lighthouse appearing in the distant. If there were something else on the rocks, like a bird or even a person sitting, this would be complete as it is. But since it is only the rock, I think micheals crop helps here alot by cuttin out some of the water and bringing the two main elements closer to view.

[OldSchool]

Hi Nate. I think this is a good start and worth going back there. If it was me, I'd try stopping it down a lot such that you get both the rocks and lighthouse in focus. This way, the texture of the sea between the two might also be pleasing. Worth a try?

Cheers,
Tim