Deemphasize Your Emphasis
It’s a natural tendency to make the star of your photo the focal point. You aim your camera and think to yourself, “Wow, check that out.” But sometimes it pays to put your subject to the side or in the dark, and let your viewer soak in the total scene as claudiabeatriz does with this sunset photo of the monument. I could do without some of the trees, but overall this photo works for me due to the warm color, composition (rule of thirds), and because the Washington Monument is probably my favorite icon in our city.
I agree. Beautiful picture – colors, composition, everything. Then I see those two lumps on the right side, which must be trees, and it distracts from the whole scene. Sometimes you have to take the photo while it is there, though. If she had rushed to get a different angle, those five minutes would have changed the scene dramatically.
Of course if she was a master with Photoshop she could chop those trees right down!
Good point, Carl. You’ve got to act fast especially when a sunset is in play. 30 seconds can make all the difference in the world.