Watching the Sea

[SmartWombat]

Any preference for these shots?
If you do prefer one, or not, why?
I want to know what works
And what doesn't

[starriderrick]

Image one works for me Paul.I like the dynamic sky, the sea wall leading out. Is that a helo in the sky? I'm not sure if...I think I would clone that out. That's a small nitpick.
In the second the chairs seem too close to the horizon allthough,there is a good mood present in this one with the human element. Just my thoughts.
Very relaxing.

Rick

[jaggie]

2nd one is my preference, the sky is not very attractive in the first one (fair play to the kids in the sea!!) and the colours look more vibrant in the 2nd one..also the kids playing give it more interest.

[SmartWombat]

Thanks Robert, Rick.
The difference between the lighting, the zoom, the action in the background made me want to know which people preferred.
And it's a one-all draw !

[Frog]

Number 2 because of the kids in the water but just to be difficult, I like the chair placement in the first better. Go ahead and throw rocks at me...fourtunatly I'm far away.

[Robusto]

LOL i prefer the 1st as the children attract my eyes in the 2nd away from the chairs

[ctg]

Number 2 looks as if it is just a closer view (longer lens) than #1.
#1 is #1 for me, I like an interesting sky line if you can't use the background to enhance the statement then it shouldn't compete nor degrade the statement. The line of the wall draws you into the center (between chairs) inviting you into the water. Which would mean the children would have worked with the composure in #1, instead of being the statement as in #2.

[SmartWombat]

Interesting, thanks !
The main difference between the two is time (35 minutes), sunlight, and a few paces closer to the chairs, but same zoom.

I like the first for the extra chairs by the groyne, as if they're being watched by the two foreground chairs, and the way the groyne leads your eyes into the sea, and the clouds.

I like the second for the better light, the people in the sea, and the appearance of the chairs standing in line with the edge of the surf, with the more subtle line of the groyne - though it may not lead far enough.

Seems you want both
Better light, better clouds, long leading line, and the people.
Photoshop then ?

[ctg]

Seems you want both Better light, better clouds, long leading line, and the people.
Photoshop then ?

Not really both are good shots but the critique is more of an expression of what others may feel did or didn't work well. Which to me is filed into compositional effects for the next time I run onto a similar shot. Looking again would you shoot the scene again at the same angle in reference to the chairs? Their alignment is facing the sun as evident to the shadow but at another time of the year they might be more in a perpendicular alignment with the beach? Note the 2 chairs near the wall line, they don't add to the effect (of facing the sun) in fact if anything seem not to be noticed or is it the viewer does want to notice them?
But yes all the elements would give more to the image (emotional context). Consider if you had set the 2 foreground chairs more to the left (1st image)?Shooting from the same spot would have decreased the angle producing a more parallel view the waterline. Slightly shifting the location so the other chairs would be cropped from the scene as well the foreground chair would not bisect the line of the wall extending into the water leading toward the children at play. What kind of statement would the photograph made?
Chairs facing the sun => Sitting in the sun => empty => inviting?
Retaining wall => near the edge (of the photo) => boundary , border, closed private => protected area? Leading into the central area where the family plays?
Which is not to say that either shot taken are less than good.
As a note, going full circle. The timing of the 1sted lighter shadows & less contrast than the second => empty chairs void of sun bathers . . now looking at the empty chair of the second => the abandoned chairs => the adult (parent figure) has abandoned the role of drowsily sunning while watching to take on an active part of family fun => larger figure further (deeper) in the water => the viewer sees more details as the eyes roams around the elements within the photograph bringing them deeper into the moment.

[gahspidy]

Paul, I'm not comfortable with either of these compositions. In the first shot, the sky is good as well as the tones of the sea but the placement of the chairs especially the one in front of the barrier hurts it for me.
the second one I like a little more because of the element of the kids playing in the water but the two chairs placed symetrically in the frame as it is does not feel right. Two even and balanced somehow. I think if you cropped out the chair on the right in the second image you would have a better comp.If there was more sky to this one, than bringing back the sky and cropping out the right side chair to a square frame I think would look very good.

[JTcooper]

I like the first one over the second regarding the crop.

[natgaines]

Paul,

I have to agree with Gary. For me the two chairs in the foreground of the first shot seem slightly distracting, but I like the lighting better in the second. Without the human element it reminds me a little of a commerical for Corona or advertisment for a vacation-I love the chairs themselves, empty but inviting! I'd have to go with number one.

[ctg]

Being the shot is of the beach then suppose that a towell or beter yet a pair of sunglasses were laid in the foreground of the 2nd shot (scene)? Ya, another job for Photo Shop . . . ?

[MarcusK]

In the first, I would clone out the "helo"/black dot in the sky, and the black one on the right...

I like the second mostly for the sun having peaked out from behind the clouds, although the angle gives me mixed emotions...

The first one has great mood though... I really like it!

Hope this helps