Here’s a quiet scene ― what shot might you take & why?

[Heroique]

Below is sleepy marina w/ a curving jetty in mid-day light. Nothing special.

Now that we have that out of the way, let’s do something different…

Let’s say you walk into this scene w/ your equipment. You’ve never been here. You know nothing about the immediate area. What photo possibilities, if any, spring to mind first, and what helps you explore the possibilities here for a shot?

For example – where might you set-up your tripod? Here, on the jetty, on the wooden pier, across the lake? What might be your principal subject? What camera, lens, film or accessories might you use? What orientation? Would you wait for better light? Different weather? More action?

Are your habits similar from scene to scene?

In other words, I’m curious how you’d investigate and compose your own shot inside this general type of scene. (I’ve tried to choose one w/ limited possibilities to sharpen the focus.)

Your thought process will be interesting to hear, and might give others some ideas for next time...


Tachi 4x5
Schneider XL 110mm/5.6
Fuji Tungsten 64 (w/ Lee 85b filter)
Epson 4990/Epson Scan

[Heroique]

I’ve tried to choose a scene w/ limited possibilities to sharpen the focus.

I forgot to add this was to help bring-out your original & unique ideas, too.

Ideas to “shake things up” in situations like this.

[Diane Maher]

A few quick thoughts on the subject.

I could set up in the same place. I would choose the 5x12 format for this (I don't have a 4x5 anymore). I would definitely use a longer focal length lens to lose the boring sky and the distracting foreground.

I would focus mainly on the pier and that stone wall.

[Ken Lee]

I would return when the lighting was more favorable: morning or early evening. 99% of the Noon shots I see feel like Noon, which has a certain stagnant quality to it in my humble opinion.

[Heroique]

Here’s an approximation of Diane’s 5x12 ratio from this tripod position, plus some magnification to “lengthen” the lens. It was new for me to use this ratio. Now if I could just get the sun lower for Ken. I suppose the sun at lower left would be nice, but low L, R, front, or back would be better than this high, mid-day light.

Sometimes when I arrive at a new and potentially good scene, I just select a quick spot and take a practice shot. That’s what the first shot actually is. Gets me into the scene and thinking better. I also walk around w/o expectations letting things find me.

I did walk out on this jetty for more shots which I’ll eventually scan...

[Stoogley]

Definitely favor the early morning or evening. Or even a day with some light fog.

As for other vantage points and POV, I'd need to see what the other views provide.

I do prefer the reformatted version so far.

[Heroique]

Yes, Diane’s 5x12 format adds potential to this type of scene.

Here’s her ratio once more, but w/ a “longer” lens.

The wooden pier is lost, and so are the vertical mast tops – but the jetty comes to get you, plus its sign is readable. Since the jetty is so close now, I brightened its shadows. I do miss the water’s texture from the very first shot.

[Daniel Stone]

just MY interpretation

8x10 aspect ratio

-Dan

[Heroique]

Nice! I like the minimalism – and regret losing that lonely pole in the variations above.

I should add that I’m less curious about your interpretation of my photo, and more curious about what steps you might take to capture your own photo if you were inside this scene. So ideally, there should be no need to excerpt my photo, which would be my preference anyway. Above, I’ve created new personal images of my own based on Diane’s refreshing building-block ideas, because she surprised me by saying she could use my identical viewpoint; however, what I’ve created from my high-resolution file may not be very representative of what she imagined.

Naturally, my first image is only a fragment of what your “experience” might be if you came upon this scene & considered whether to explore it. Yet, I thought your “initial impression & plan of action” would be interesting to hear, and practically useful, too.

[jnantz]

the masts and mountains behind would be my subject .. no sky and b+w
i'd shoot a little closer and wide open focused infront of the subject.
probably over expose it and over process it as well.
then enlarge ... to soften it. the tallest mast would cut the frame so it is 1/3 + 2/3rds.