No swimming

[sau2004]

This one was taken yesterday at Joshua Tree. I am still learning photography so any critique and comments about composition and processing is appreciated. Thanks.

[Frog]

If you want the sign to be the main subject, you need to meter and focus on it. I'd suggest a wider aperture, also, to blur the background a bit.
Not sure what focus ability your camera has but if you focus on the sign, hold the shutter halfway down, it will hold that focus and then you can move to how you want the pic composed.

[sau2004]

Thanks for the reply.

My goal for this picture is to tell that even though the sign says no swimming, there is no water to swim in. I was thinking I need to depict that there is no water so I adjust the aperture to 8 so everything is in focus including the dry land. Is that the wrong way to do so?

[sau2004]

I did a little retouching to emphasize the sign more.

[Frog]

Yes, that makes it stand out better. Looks like you did a bit closer crop too.