While editing more pictures of the wild and gorgeous Castle Girnigoe and Sintclair I picked three I liked a lot. While uploading them on Steemit to 'tell more about the castle' (which really is one of the best you can visit if ever in Scotland) I noticed something weird: they actually are three pictures of the same subject!
As a photographer selecting your pictures is an important job. Which are the ones you actually want to show the world as 'your work'? There should be coherence in the selected images without repeating subjects too much.
Even though I first deleted the pictures and wrote a different post, I do find the three images interesting - they show how composition can change a subject entirely.
Three layers
I noticed the 'same subject' (the cliff) in all three pictures. I'm not sure in what order I took these shots, because I walked around the castle quite some time. But I do know as a photographer it's important to look for focus points. And since Castle Girnigoe and Sintclair is positioned on a cliff there was not much else to focus on but empty sea and a straight horizon.
It's probably why I kept coming back to this cliff in my pictures.
Layer 1
In layer 1 I have left out all the framing. I focussed on the cliff and included some foreground in the shot as well, in the form of layers of rock/stones. The horizon is clean, the sea is empty. The horizon is cutting the picture in half, making it a quite classical composition.
Layer 2
In layer 2 I show more of the place where I am. I'm still outside, but on the right side you see some brick from the castle itself. Some green grass in the foreground shows how natural the surroundings are. A seagull just above the horizon as an extra nod to the sea environment. Notice how a lot of the bricks you could see laying in front of the cliff are not visible in this shot? They are hidden because of how I composed this shot, behind the grass.
Layer 3
Where layer 1 is full-on outside, no signs of 'cultured' surroundings, layer 2 adds a bit more perspective on the place. But in layer 3 you are definitely showing something different. I'm clearly inside looking outside, while at the same time not showing much of the surroundings except for the 'nose' of the cliff.
I still love all three pictures, but if I want to show pictures of this castle in the future I will have to decide for myself: what story of this castle do I want to tell? Do I want to show more of the surroundings, of the structure, or do I just want to show the natural space leaving out the brick structures? Once I've decided on the story I want to share I'll know which picture(s) to show.
All pictures on steemit.com/@soyrosa are created and edited by me, Rosanne Dubbeld, 2005-2018. Contact me if you want to discuss licensing or collaborations on creative projects :-)