Flow

[pixieplease]

Thoughts? It's a couple months old but I really like this shot. Please be honest!

[Marko]

I like the sharpness of the rocks in the midground, but the sky is too blown and is stealing the show.
In terms of composition, our eyes like clearer focal points imo. I find this comp a bit confusing.
Hope that helps - Marko

[pixieplease]

If I were to be able to retake it, how would I make the comp less confusing?

[Iguanasan]

I think I've seen that bridge from a different angle before thanks to some of our other Calgary photographers.

I totally understand why you like this shot. It kind of makes me feel like I'm there and it feels a bit like nature in the city which is cool. The problem, for me, is that the city is a distraction. Those buildings in the upper left and the concrete wall on the left as well are very busy and distracting to me. I think with a little more patience the light would have been less harsh and more warm had you waited an hour or two for the sun to be lower on the horizon. Big fan of your vantage point here and good on you for not taking an "obvious" angle.

[Marko]

If I were to be able to retake it, how would I make the comp less confusing?

This easy to say and tough to do....but if it were mine I'd look for compositions where the foreground, midground and background elements 'work' with each other to make the whole image more harmonious.

Tough to do but think of it this way... You are the creator of the image and are "responsible" for either including or excluding every element in the shot. If the elements work together, the photo is stronger. But if the shot was taken without taking EVERY element into consideration, OFTEN one or several of these elements are distractions.
This comes only with practice.....
Hope that helps - Marko

[pixieplease]

I understand... thank you!
For experimentation's sake I just quickly cropped the buildings out and, even though it makes the bridge front and center (when I prefer it on the side) I definitely see how leaving the buildings out makes the image more harmonious.

[Marko]

My pleasure.
Feel free to post that image if you like so we can all see - your choice of course.

[pixieplease]

Definitely

[Iguanasan]

Well, I certainly like this one much more. The subject of river/rocks is much more prominent and obvious with less distractions.

[Marko]

I like this version better as well.
If subjects like these become faves for you, You'll want to invest in a graduated neutral density filter. that will hold back the sky and would have made this image more dramatic