Laurie, the boat is beautifully constructed and the way you've processed the shot plus the light enhances that. I'm uncomfortable with the centered and head on composition however. Maybe shooting from a ground level or slightly above that with a tilt up?... just a thought

I had the same feeling about the composition, but of the several different compositions I tried, this one worked best. There was a lot of "stuff" around like trash cans and signs and other objects that you cannot see because they are just out of frame that ruined the mood and "old" feeling this boat had.

I was really tempted to move the boat, but the beach patrol was right there and they would have likely not been too keen on me moving it. The beach was closed that day and I got the feeling that I wasn't supposed to be there.

I really wanted the brooding sky in the shot, since it was really awesome and resulted in the tones and light. I was pretty low for this shot, kneeling on knees and elbows slightly below the subject. I would have lay down to take it but the sand was very wet, a bit chilly, and I wasn't exactly dressed for it. It was also very windy and although the sand was wet it was still blowing down low at the ground level and my camera got pelted a bit as it was.

lovely shot regardless Laurie

I agree the processing is very good.

For some reason, the composition gives me an uncomfortable feeling too. It reminds me of portraits taken too close up with a wide angle lens. I wonder if the same framing from further back with a longer lens would have improved things?

Graham...There was too much "garbage" around this scene for me to pull back much more. I had to clone out some as it was, which annoyed me. Like I said above I would have loved to have moved the boat itself but the beach patrol would probably have put me under "Lifeguard Arrest" if I had. ;)

I like the composition, the deep rich colour. Try just croping to the boat and let the lines go back, this would also be very stricking. You did a great job eith this image. As for the beach police, how many years do you think you would get for felony boat moving. It's always easer to beg for forgiveness then asking for permission.

nothing wrong with this image-well processed too

Then that's a pretty good cloning job. I can't spot it even knowing its there.

I would have prefered that the boat was no so centered. But I've read your reasons above, and it was certainly difficult to resist to such a subject, even centered ;-) Anyway, what a beautiful processing !

this is just a lovely picture .. I was amazed by the beauty of it ... just really unique.

Love the colours and the tone. Not thrilled about the composition, but it sounds like you did the best under bad conditions! A shot to be proud of - I'd love to see it printed big.

laurie, so great, I like so much the vigneting so soft but maybe the croping would be better not so centered.

Thanks all. I tried different crops and they all seemed very awkward. I have a different shot that is in portrait orientation which I like but then again I am still not thrilled with it.

I would have liked a different perspective but again the "beach junk" was a little overwhelming in the vicinity of the boat. This is definitely not a secluded area. Just the other side of the dunes is a large parking lot and public beach access so the area is lined with garbage drums and all sorts of sign-age etc.

I probably would have passed on the photo had the sky not been what it was that day. The boat had such an awesome tone and patina and I couldn't resist that either.

Maybe I will post the portrait orientation shot. It's not a crop of this one it is a different shot of the boat with a slightly higher perspective on the boat. I think it works a little better than this although there is less sky and the dunes both of which I loved that day.

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