“Sticks in the Sand” is what my husband kept calling it – making fun of my Driftwood Beach destination I was so looking forward to in Georgia. By the end, it ended up being one of his favourite beaches because it is so unique.
The trick here is to try to simplify the composition. It may look like there is just one big tree trunk or 3 or 4 branches sticking out, but in reality the beach is absolutely covered like a giant came and dropped a ton of branches there in preparation for his campfire! You have to get in behind just a few of them and aim out to sea to isolate them from the others or it is just a big mish mash of jumbled branches.
In this image, I was attracted by the pool of water that remained around one branch when the tide went out. I isolated it with just a few more branches in the background to lead your eye around the frame, careful not to let any of the branches overlap.
Click the image to view a larger version.
I still don’t feel like I have a good grasp on the concept of balance, so I am debating whether I left too much negative space on the left. What do you think about that?
Great captute … wonderful color!
Thank you very much Dan!
I love the little wisp of darker cloud in the upper left hand corner. I think that gives the perfect hint of balance. “Elegant,” as my mother-in-law would say about anything that was of fine design.
Thank you so much Marlee, I really appreciate your comment 🙂
Beautiful colors and composition. Nicely done!
Thank you so much Kris, I appreciate it.
I absolutely love it! Just the right amount of negative space, amazing colour and light, and wonderful simplicity in the image.
Thanks again Laurie!
I really like the simplicity of this composition Anne. The smooth transition of tones from warm to cool is just wonderful.
Thank you so much Curt, simplicity is what I was aiming for here!
Love how the beautiful light and color create the wonderful silhouettes Anne. The reflection is just about perfect.
Thank you very much for your comments Len, much appreciated.
Anne, what a beautiful image. I would say you understand balance very well! You’ve picked out a neat arrangement of branches that leads you right and then tracks back left a bit. The picture wins because it’s beauty over-rules any other concepts (and there are a lot of them as you know) about ‘space’, ‘rule of thirds’ and all. Rules are to be broken! A little bit more space on the right edge would have been a bonus (according to one of the ‘rules’) but I’m sure you chose this POV because just beyond the Rt side were the untidy bits you wished to exclude! We all have to live within the parameters that nature provides and make the best of what we are offered. And you’ve certainly done that. I could hang this on my wall and be very happy, for ever! Fantastic mood and colour as always.
Hi Andy, thank you so much for your detailed feedback about the negative space. I really appreciate getting feedback from my peers. I cannot recall exactly how much space was available to me on the right, but that is a good point, a little more breathing room over there would have been good. Hey, if you want a print for your wall I know where you can get one! 😉
I love it, it looks like whales in the water.
Someone else mentioned whales too! Thanks for your comments Crystal!
I agree. There’s just the right amount of negative space, especially since the driftwood seems to be pointing the viewers’ eyes toward the left. They almost look like birds in flight (if one has a good imagination).
Hi Mim, thanks for your feedback on the negative space, I appreciate it.
What an incredible place Anne. Another wonderful shot and no I don’t think there’s too much negative space on the left. I don’t think images need to be perfectly balanced to be beautiful.
Hi Edith, thank you for your feedback on the negative space. I’m still working on the balance concept!
Did you say husband? Xoxox
R
Hi Ruth! It’s just easier 😉
Love the way you “Framed this photo”. Rule of Thirds still exist. The forward tree trunk “Pulls you into the center thus accomplishing viewing the entire photo. LOVE IT. As you know I was there recently and the place is a “Photographers Dreamscape”. This to me is an excellent photo. The horizon buffers the background perfectly.. Very well done. The colors are muted to blend in with the objects. Couldn’t get any better than this. Have fun…
Darryl.
Darryl, thank you so much for your feedback on the image, I really appreciate your taking the time to give me such detailed comments.