Lighthouse...Wedding...Sunset..how can you miss?

[Mariner]

This is another one of those unplanned moments that make photography so much fun! I was out to capture the changing sky, and as I approached my lighthouse subject at about 4 minutes before sunset, I cursed the luck that some intruders crept in to my well-planned shot. I finally opened my eyes and started to look through my viewfinder to frame this opportunity.
So…here it is, right out of the S30. What would you do? Color? Crop? Let me know your opinion, or suggestions.
Thanks!

http://www.pbase.com/image/5434155

[Conk]

I think the photo has a very warm look to it and IMO and as amature as my opinion is, that it doesn't even need the couple in it. The lighthouse alone would be an awsome shot especially with those colours.

[henkbos]

Agree with Colin. The couple is a little distracting. Try to take them out! I would also crop an inch from the bottom. This will keep you busy for a while. But it's cheap entertainment and doesn't ruin anything if you keep working from copies!!

[Don Ellis]

Here's the original...

http://www.kleptography.com/dl/lighthouseo.jpg

And a possible cropping that maintains the 3:4 ratio:

http://www.kleptography.com/dl/lighthouse.jpg

Personally, I think if you clone out the couple you end up with just another warm sunset shot on a lighthouse -- ok, there may not be that many but the bride and groom add an element that's both human and seldom seen.

You were fortunate (skilled) to get the couple between the corner lines of the lighthouse, so there's no distracting interference, and the white wedding veil stands out nicely from the shadow.

For it to work as an architectural shot, I would probably want to see more on the right side with the lighthouse closer to the left, really standing out. Since that's not an option, I would leave the folks alone.

See what happens when you ask for opinions. :p

Cheers,

Don

[Leighow]

I agree with Don -- but did not see the issues as clearly as he did.

At first I thought that it was a family member -- and in that case the shot was obviously a treasure.

Take the couple out -- and you have another shot that we would all call wonderful -- but in our minds we'd sense that it was missing something organic.

Super.

HOWIE

[Mariner]

Thanks for the crop! I wanted to keep the wisp of white cloud at the top and you did just that.
I have decided to go back down to the lighthouse and find out the bride and groom's address, and send them a copy of this. Might be a nice surprise for them.

[gandini]

Mariner wrote:
Thanks for the crop! I wanted to keep the wisp of white cloud at the top and you did just that.
...deletion...


I suggest that the "white cloud" is in fact the condensation trail left by a passing jet. It is so out of character with all the other clouds, and is very straight and narrow. I personally abhore such elements in photos since they ruin what are otherwise wonderful natural compositions in the sky.
The photo is wonderful, btw. The warmth of the setting sun is well captured in the tones of the image. And of course Don's crop is the icing on the cake.

cheers,

[Mariner]

This is the reason I like this forum. I learn something from every comment or post. Your comment about the contrail is right on, you would never see something artificial in a great work of art by Renoir or Monet, and that is the mood I am after.
Thanks for a new view.