The pier

Any critique welcome

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/yr2h​jv

I'd probably crop out much of the sky since it doesn't contribute anything to the image. This would also allow your horizon to be on the top 1/3 of the image. I think there are many times when the rule of thirds could be ignored, but in this case, I think it improves your image.

First thing I see is the horizon going through the persons head since both are in the middle of the shot.

Secondly, which I believe you were trying to accomplish was to put the dock in the center of the shot which is really isn't since it is more to the right versus center.

Without knowing what you shot this with, I would have preferred a long lens to suck the background closer.

$.02

Gart

A Lot of potential in this shot.
I think getting low and closer to the dock would strengthen this picture.

Buick M wrote in post #17704943
A Lot of potential in this shot.
I think getting low and closer to the dock would strengthen this picture.

Lots of sky could work with a lower viewpoint, and it would put the subject's head above the flat horizon.

If you're facing east or west take the same shot and shoot at sunrise/sunup, then in PP...get rid of the far shoreline

I agree, a lot of potential. I agree with some of the other comments and want to add I think the shoes are distracting.

I like this shot. Here's what I would do to make it mo' bettah:

• Clone out the shoes
  
• Bring out the green in the water and her clothes.
  
• Bring out the red (pink) and cyan in the sky
  

I agree with many of the above comments regarding composition but I think the shoes add to the photo. There's a story here and I want to know more - which is the sign it's grabbed my attention.

First of all, thanks everyone.

I like the shoes, personally.

I was hesitant to take a shot from a lower angle as this often results in a weird body perspective. This and the gull poop .

The shore line running through her head... That's a valid point. It would be easy for me to clone it out but I'm afraid the photo will be too empty. I've already cloned out a couple of large boats right next to the pier. So I guess I can try one more time.

DOYAM wrote in post #17708234
I agree, a lot of potential. I agree with some of the other comments and want to add I think the shoes are distracting.

This

I think with symmetry it almost demands perfect symmetry, i.e. center the dock, dead center. Next, the picture seems to want to tell a story but it feels like it's missing too many pieces to the story to hold interest. She's looking right so a boat off in the distance to the right would be a good point of her focus and lead us more into the story... is she waiting for the boat to come in... or is it leaving and she is seeing it off? The shoes are almost ok if there was more info to draw from them... for example maybe she is wearing a swim suit under everything and as she is walking out she leaves her shoes, then a little further in on the dock is her shirt, etc. so it tells the story that she is getting ready for a swim and probably going to jump off the dock at the end. So I guess what I am saying is give us at least one more piece of info in the shot to help the story along and it would creat a much more powerful image.

I'd agree with the composition comments, but for me, it's the landscape, no real interest in the sky, nothing really in the water, I think it's a good shot slightly off kilter composition wise, but really, taken on the wrong day.