Critique Wanted foreground distracting?

[krugorg]

Going through some of my images from last week and trying to make this one work.... maybe trying too hard?

Do you think the pole in the foreground dock is distracting? I want to think that it somehow ties into the sky, but I may be reaching a bit.

View attachment 48616

Thanks in advance for any critique!

 

[grebeman]

Personally I think the picture would be better without that pole, however the pole is there in the real world, so I think it would have been better if you'd been able to frame the shot with the top of the offending pole visible, in other words if the pole hadn't reached the top border of the picture. As it is I think it acts to cut the picture in two, which for me detracts from the image.

Barrie

 

[Luke]

I really like your cropped version. That pier in the foreground IS great, but that pole is too much. Here's a 30 second hack job I did to give you an idea of what it looks like with the pole removed.... I can delete it if you like. I just couldn't resist trying.
View attachment 48618
6801647289_7f2b01b5d1_b by Lukinosity, on Flickr

 

[olli]

Agree that it would be better if you had all of it included. The other thing the jumps out to me is its central location - right in the middle of the image. You could play around with different crops to set it off to the left and see if that helps a bit.

 

[Armanius]

I'm with Olli. It might work if you move it to the side. Or if possible, re-take the photo framing the foreground object more to the side.

 

[Luke]

maybe crop it on either side of the pole and present it as a diptych

 

[krugorg]

You guys rock - some great tips all around and confirmed for me that I need to go back and get a better shot.

Personally I think the picture would be better without that pole, however the pole is there in the real world, so I think it would have been better if you'd been able to frame the shot with the top of the offending pole visible, in other words if the pole hadn't reached the top border of the picture. As it is I think it acts to cut the picture in two, which for me detracts from the image.

Barrie

Thanks, Barrie. Having the top of the pole visible makes sense to me now and I will keep that in mind next time!

I really like your cropped version. That pier in the foreground IS great, but that pole is too much. Here's a 30 second hack job I did to give you an idea of what it looks like with the pole removed.... I can delete it if you like. I just couldn't resist trying.
View attachment 48620
6801647289_7f2b01b5d1_b by Lukinosity, on Flickr

Thanks, Luke. Hmmmm, it does look better! I wonder if a non-member of said marina could talk the owners into removing the pole for my amateur photo shoot?

Agree that it would be better if you had all of it included. The other thing the jumps out to me is its central location - right in the middle of the image. You could play around with different crops to set it off to the left and see if that helps a bit.

I'm with Olli. It might work if you move it to the side. Or if possible, re-take the photo framing the foreground object more to the side.

Thanks, Olli and Armando! I tried a crop and there is not much left of the image. I can physically move to the right next time, anchor the pole just outside of the frame on the left, and with a little angle to the left (to get more docks in the frame).

maybe crop it on either side of the pole and present it as a diptych

First time I had heard of a diptych, thanks, Luke. I will play around with this a bit.



Thanks again for the comments ... will go back out and try to do better on the composition.

 

[Armanius]

Hi Kyle, what exactly are those things?

 

[grebeman]

Hi Kyle, what exactly are those things?

I'm used to a tidal range of 20 feet or more between high and low tide, certainly on spring tides, so I would suggest they are guides to allow the pontoons to rise and fall, however with Minnesota being some way from the sea I don't know if that applies, do the Great Lakes vary in level, perhaps seasonally rather than daily.

Barrie

 

[Armanius]

Thanks for the explanation Barrie! That makes perfect sense.

 

[krugorg]

I'm used to a tidal range of 20 feet or more between high and low tide, certainly on spring tides, so I would suggest they are guides to allow the pontoons to rise and fall, however with Minnesota being some way from the sea I don't know if that applies, do the Great Lakes vary in level, perhaps seasonally rather than daily.

Barrie

I am not a boater (freeload on my brother-in-law's speedboat when I can), but think your theory is right on here. This marina is on a river, the St. Croix, and water level definitely varies quite a bit based on season, like spring snow melt, and where we are at for overall precipitation.