Please crtitique this shot, Boston, MA

[serissolutions]

Heres another shot from my travels.
Please critique.

http://www.serissolutions.com/boston2/Navy_shipyard.jpg

[Steven M. Anthony]

When I look at this image, I have no idea where I should be looking or what I should be looking at. You haven't directed me to any particular spot in the frame.

The fence in front just leads across the entire shot--not into it. The fence further back does the same thing.

The pole leads me to an empty bench... and then, hidden amidst the jumble of buildings and cranes, I see a war ship.

At this point I'm confused...

In the future, try to get the elements of your photo to direct the viewer to your subject. If you aren't sure what your subject is, consider not taking the photo. And I don't mean that in an offensive way--it's just that photography is communication, and if you don't know what you want to say, think about it before "saying" something even you don't understand.

[serissolutions]

OK that makes sense. I wanted to use "image planes" with the fence in the foreground and the ships in the background with the focal point being the bench.
I thought that might work.

So just to recap, next time I should have whatever is closest to me lead to the subject, then the background should not draw attention?

[Steven M. Anthony]

That depends on what your subject is and what message you are trying to communicate...

[Titus213]

It doesn't do a thing for me. The foreground fence out of focus is a distraction. Perhaps move to the left and shoot down the fence, empty bench on the right, warship on the left? When will Canon make a camera that will let us recompose our shots after we get home?????

[serissolutions]

Thanks for the tips. I will try again!

[LisaMarie]

Hi Seris.

Did you get a chance to tour the Cassin Young and the Navy Yard ?

when you say "image plane " do you mean focal plane ? Because what you are describing sounds like you meant to be praticing "hyper focal distance"
To accomplish that 1/3rd of the focal plane is ahead of the thing you're focused on and 2/3rds of the focal plane falls behind what you're focused on.
Focus your lens at infinity and the leading edge of the area that is in focus is the hyperfocal point for that lens. ( No matter if every thing else seems out of focus in your viewfinder)
Your eye naturally goes to that foreground subject as a starting point and then flows back into the image.
You have to make sure your foreground is sharp because Depending on your focal length and the nearness of your subject, setting your lens to infinity may leave the foreground object soft. It is first thing the the eye goes to and there for the whole image will appear to be slightly out of focus ,no matter if everything else is tack sharp.

[Kennymc]

IMHO the DOF makes this image too busy but it is always good to experiment, never stop doing that...

[Steven M. Anthony]

Clearly, never stop experimenting. But when you take photos--even when experimenting--it helps to know what you want to say with the image.

Think of it like talking. If you just took the first 10 words that pop into your head and said them, chances are no one would have a clue sas to what you were talking about. But when you know what you want to say, the words you use support your message.

The "words" of photography are "technique." If you focus on technique, you get well formed words that make no sense together.

[johneric8]

Just keep taking pics!! not a bad shot, but not anything to make a hot girl pee her pants..

[serissolutions]

Hi Seris.

Did you get a chance to tour the Cassin Young and the Navy Yard ?

when you say "image plane " do you mean focal plane ? Because what you are describing sounds like you meant to be praticing "hyper focal distance"
To accomplish that 1/3rd of the focal plane is ahead of the thing you're focused on and 2/3rds of the focal plane falls behind what you're focused on.
Focus your lens at infinity and the leading edge of the area that is in focus is the hyperfocal point for that lens. ( No matter if every thing else seems out of focus in your viewfinder)
Your eye naturally goes to that foreground subject as a starting point and then flows back into the image.
You have to make sure your foreground is sharp because Depending on your focal length and the nearness of your subject, setting your lens to infinity may leave the foreground object soft. It is first thing the the eye goes to and there for the whole image will appear to be slightly out of focus ,no matter if everything else is tack sharp.

Yes I meant focal plane...
Wow thank you for the tips. I could read as many books as my little heart desires but I will not improve until I experiment...
Thanx again...