[Rob Barron]

Another older shot from my collection but I like this as a pleasant harbour scene so thought I'd share it. Taken back in my Minolta Dimage days. Fairly low res but had a decent lens for a compact. Come on down for a holiday, it really is a lovely place :o)

Cheers,
Rob

[Dabhand16]

Have you been signed up by the local tourist board? First Lulworth Close (sic), now Poole Harbour.

Maybe we could organise a Pixalo weekend at Sandford Park.

[Markulous]

And I'd never even faintly suggest you placed that shell there!

[Soupdragon]

I was too polite to mention that.

[Toonie]

Lovely still life arrangment Rob

[Rob Barron]

Awww come on chaps and chapesses, would I do a thing like that? <g>

Of course I would :o) If foreground interest isn't there, I say put it there :o) It ties the whole thing together so if it works I am fine with that: albeit I would entirely agree that looking at it through the eyes of photographers, it looks a touch contrived. Funny how the non-snappers I show it to never seem to be bothered by it.

I guess that has to make us evaluate the way we look at things too. Are we perhaps a bit too critical of pictures when we look at them? Not on this thread of course, critique is what we put them here for. Just thinking generally.

Cheers,
Rob

[Soupdragon]

We're only yankin your chain, I really do like the shot.

[Rob Barron]

LOL Soup, don't worry, I wasn't taking anything personal, I am too thick-skinned for that! Just making a general point for other threads really.

On this point though, do other people think it is valid to pick up something and stick it in the FG to give depth? Some say if it isn't there don't take it but it isn't a theory I subscribe to personally. Interested to hear other thoughts.

Cheers,
Rob

[Dabhand16]

Well, if you did not like it afterwards, you can always remove it..........

[Markulous]

Originally Posted by Rob Barron

On this point though, do other people think it is valid to pick up something and stick it in the FG to give depth? Some say if it isn't there don't take it but it isn't a theory I subscribe to personally. Interested to hear other thoughts.

Personally, think adding something to the scene is no different to removing something at post production and I have no problems with it being done, tho' I do it very rarely.

Don't think it matters if you frame the shot with something already in place or add an object, providing it doesn't look contrived. But whichever, it does need to look as if it "belongs". Finding a scallop shell on the beach, unlikely. In the open, not even slightly sand covered/buried, very unlikely. In the open and on top of some rocks, look for flying pigs and a blue moon!

[fionaB]

i like this, contrived or not, the shell adds a certain something to the scene..
i dont think there is anything wrong in adding something to a shot, after all we would think nothing of removing an unsightly bag etc from the shot so why not add something. i dont do it very often personally but only cos i usually think of it after the fact!

Fi

[Rob Barron]

Sorry Mark, your comment is wrong. If you are talking about a lonesome beach where nobody ever goes, you're right. you don't usually find scallop shells like that.

But beaches, especially in harbours like this are people places. people wonder along them, pick up shells, move things around. As surprised as I was to find such a good shell, it was literally sitting two feet from the rock on which I placed it. Beaches like this ARE interactive places where people go. This shot in a sense reflects that aspect of it rather than of it being a lonesome 'no foot has ever touched here' sort of place.

So the principle you said is right but reality can also be very different IMHO.

Cheers,
Rob