[Markulous]

We took the dog for a walk last Sunday and they were racing on the Dam so inevitably I was going to get a couple of shots!

So, which works better - this one



or this one



The background is actually plastic sheeting over the railway bridge which they're renovating - the "windows" are just holes in the polythene. I'm in two minds, the plain white just looks a bit too blank, whilst the "windows" look a bit strange, floating as they apparently are, in the "sky"

[Dabhand16]

For me, there is not a lot of difference as the first one looks as if there is a white building in the BG.

I think it looks better if the top is cropped to just below th top of the wall, which makes your question academic.

[Markulous]

Cheers, Graham! Ahh, yes, a building. Sounds good. I've other shots that suit your suggested crop (like below), so I'm keen to keep this full frame

[_MB_]

gut reaction to #2 more favourable than #1

[Rob Barron]

At first I thought 2 instead of 1 but I have changed my mind, simply because the white space being broken up slightly does help, a touch, to reduce the impact of that white area which pulls the eye away from the boat.

Must say I am with Graham on this one, I'd crop the tree and white area out completely as it adds nothing to the shot. The blur is all clearly there in the wall and water so we get all the impact of the speed. The tree is thus not needed to show us something that is fully evidenced elsewhere.

I wouldn't crop it as tight as that other shot though, I think the water spray behind the boat is quite important so would want to keep at least some of it.

Good shot though, love the boat itself

Cheers,
Rob

[Markulous]

Cheers, Malcolm, Rob - appreciate the comments

I've got a few with cropped top and want a selection of comps - and I like the 1/3rds nature of that shot but also think it's better balanced with the top. #3 was only cropped top and bottom (nothing off the sides) but liked it for the balance with the wall and blurred railings behind with the boat fitting the gap.

Agree that the 'rooster tail' of spray can look really good but they didn't have much - looked pretty good in turns but we weren't in a good position to catch the cornering. Didn't know they were going to be there, had the dog in tow (tho' she's ever so patient!) and only caught a couple of races at the end

[P-E]

Great sense of speed

[Markulous]

Thanks, P-E