Cityscape Quiet Spot

The Raven · 10-22-2010, 08:05 AM

I woke up for the sunrise the other day, and was wandering along one of the canals at the media centre in Copenhagen. There are sitting areas (presumably for food/smoking breaks when it isn't so damn cold out) along the entire canal, and one of them was positioned in such a way that the fantastic yellow chairs were lit quite dramatically. I must've snapped 30 or 40 pictures, but I was unable to achieve a result that I was thoroughly pleased with. Any suggestions regarding composition would be much appreciated.

**blackcloudbrew** · 10-22-2010, 09:13 AM

Well, to my eye the background above the shadow line is very distracting. If you crop out the upper half of the image it's quite interesting. Otherwise it's just a snap. $0.02

**jbinpg** · 10-22-2010, 10:49 AM

Agree totally. Crop without mercy until you have the chairs and a bit of the pond. The building in the back is a distraction.

jimH · 10-22-2010, 12:02 PM

What happened to the picture, I don't see anything.

The Raven · 10-23-2010, 03:38 AM

I have produced a couple of new crops, and immediately see the wisdom in the idea. Of course, looking closer at these pictures makes me realize I should've shot at a smaller aperture (one chair is sharp, the other isn't, the gravel is blurry, etc) but I am more pleased with the image now. Out of the two crops, which do you prefer? One is really tight on the chairs, while the other makes more of an effort to follow the rule of thirds (which unfortunately forced me to include more of the distracting background).

tcdk · 10-23-2010, 08:29 AM

I think your second crop has better balance.

Maybe desaturate the background a bit (mainly the red thingy), to make it less distracting..

p.s.: Welcome to copenhagen - hope you have fun here.

**jbinpg** · 10-23-2010, 03:52 PM

Yes, 2nd crop gives a better fit to the environment. But I like the first as well. Both are universes better than the original.

stewh · 10-23-2010, 06:08 PM

I like the bolder look of the 1st crop. The diagonal of the shoreline and the reflections in the water add interest for my humble eye. Very nice.

10-22-2010, 08:05 AM	#1
The Raven New Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Vancouver Posts: 4	Quiet Spot Lens: SMC-M 50mm f1.7 Camera: K10D Photo Location: DR Byun, Copenhagen ISO: 100 Shutter Speed: 1/2000s Aperture: F2 I woke up for the sunrise the other day, and was wandering along one of the canals at the media centre in Copenhagen. There are sitting areas (presumably for food/smoking breaks when it isn't so damn cold out) along the entire canal, and one of them was positioned in such a way that the fantastic yellow chairs were lit quite dramatically. I must've snapped 30 or 40 pictures, but I was unable to achieve a result that I was thoroughly pleased with. Any suggestions regarding composition would be much appreciated.

10-23-2010, 08:29 AM	#6
tcdk Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Posts: 279	I think your second crop has better balance. Maybe desaturate the background a bit (mainly the red thingy), to make it less distracting.. p.s.: Welcome to copenhagen - hope you have fun here. Last edited by tcdk; 10-23-2010 at 08:30 AM. Reason: add ps

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10-22-2010, 09:13 AM	#2
blackcloudbrew Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cotati, California USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,460	Well, to my eye the background above the shadow line is very distracting. If you crop out the upper half of the image it's quite interesting. Otherwise it's just a snap. $0.02

10-22-2010, 10:49 AM	#3
jbinpg Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Prince George, BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,546	Agree totally. Crop without mercy until you have the chairs and a bit of the pond. The building in the back is a distraction.

10-22-2010, 12:02 PM	#4
jimH Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Central Nebraska - USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,771	What happened to the picture, I don't see anything.

10-23-2010, 03:38 AM	#5
The Raven New Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Vancouver Posts: 4 Original Poster	I have produced a couple of new crops, and immediately see the wisdom in the idea. Of course, looking closer at these pictures makes me realize I should've shot at a smaller aperture (one chair is sharp, the other isn't, the gravel is blurry, etc) but I am more pleased with the image now. Out of the two crops, which do you prefer? One is really tight on the chairs, while the other makes more of an effort to follow the rule of thirds (which unfortunately forced me to include more of the distracting background).

10-23-2010, 03:52 PM	#7
jbinpg Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Prince George, BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,546	Yes, 2nd crop gives a better fit to the environment. But I like the first as well. Both are universes better than the original.

10-23-2010, 06:08 PM	#8
stewh Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 280	I like the bolder look of the 1st crop. The diagonal of the shoreline and the reflections in the water add interest for my humble eye. Very nice.