Beginner Hayling Island Beach

[snowy91]

Hi,

I’m not a natural landscape photographer but was at the beach last weekend so gave it a go.
Constructive remarks appreciated!

 

[F1.2]

Hi
A few comments re your photo

I think it would have more impact if you did the following

1 Crop the sky to just above the clouds
2 Crop the bottom and loose the groin post top
3 Think about removing the red kit surfers wing , its so small you cant see the person just a red mark
4 Looks like the horizon needs a slight adjustment , looks to be leaning to the right

Plenty of power in the sea , Hope you dont mind my comments

Have fun

 

[ancient_mariner]

Constructive remarks appreciated!

This is intended to be helpful, rather than just criticism.

First thing to say of the scene as shot is that there's nothing interesting about it - no point of focus, no key detail, no leading lines that guide the eye, no subject, for want of a better phrase. Detail is complex and small, too much for the eye to make sense of easily at this size.

Secondly, the lighting has generally destroyed what ever atmosphere there might have been in the scene. Landscape often benefits from the sun being at a lower angle, providing some modelling to the scene, and also warmer colours, while overhead lighting makes everything a bit dull.

Have a look at the first 2 images in this thread to see what can be done with a somewhat similar scene: https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/shingle-street-electric-sunset.699165/

So if I were presented with a scene like this and only able to shoot in noon lighting, I'd look for interesting patterns, lines to draw the eye, colours and shapes to focus on and provide a subject:
In the scene above there's a zigzag line where the line of foam has rolled up the beach, and a corresponding dark line of wet stones above that - could be shot using a tele in portrait to isolate that section.
You could use the groyne as a leading line, looking out to the waves breaking and spray flying in the breeze.
The waves themselves can make fascinating images, especially using a slightly longer exposure of around 0.25 to 1.5 seconds hand-held.
There appear to be interesting patterns of vertical lines in the concrete of the breakwater in the distance that could create an abstract beach image.
There's the kite surfer in the distance.
And finally there's the town in the distance across the sea.

Generally with landscape it's good to simplify, rather than cram as much in as possible unless you're planning to print VERY large, and even then simpler is often more powerful than an intensely detailed image.

HTH

Examples:
View: https://flic.kr/p/2eggsvT
View: https://flic.kr/p/2fAFT6F
View: https://flic.kr/p/SBDbr5
View: https://flic.kr/p/QEzf6e