Photo of the Week #2

4/10/2020

Image Title: Lobster Boat
Photographer: Maryann Flick

These were taken at the dock in Castine, Maine. The image is meant to represent lobster fishing.

Question for viewers: Do you prefer the lobster boat to be in focus with the trap out of focus or the trap in focus with the boat out of focus? If you can, explain why that is your preference.

In my opinion, I do not think both should be in focus because the image would seem too busy. But that is a 3rd option! It would have been difficult ‘in camera’ due to the very large distance between them [an extreme DoF]. Perhaps these two could be focus stacked though as taken they may not align properly

Image Title: Lobster Trap
Photographer: Maryann Flick

Image Title: Lobster Boat 2

12 Comments

Colin Reeve

4/10/2020 03:57:20 pm

I think the Lobster trap out of focus & the boat in focus is a better image because the lobster trap joins the two messages together into one message. With the boat out of focus the eye tends to try and clarify the boat and the Lobster trap is ignored.

Peter Chow

4/10/2020 04:03:32 pm

With the two image are they are I prefer Lobster Trap. I associate the trap with lobstering, so I prefer to see that trap in focus. Beside, the boat is too out of focus to be of interest.
But, if the first image is cropped on the right side almost to the opening of the trap I would prefer that one.

Sally Perreten

4/10/2020 05:05:40 pm

I agree with Peter's crop. I'm thinking the right hand portion of the image is cluttered and doesn't add to the story. Without the crop I prefer the second image because the boat plays a minor role, and having the entire foreground out of focus is disturbing....to me anyway. The viewer needs to be clear exactly what the subject is and if there is too much stuff going on it makes that unclear.

Allison M Maltese

4/10/2020 05:58:55 pm

I prefer the second image with the trap in focus.The boat is too small, even when in focus, to be the subject of the image. I didn't even see it until I read other's comments. Also, there is too much of the image in the foreground for it all to be out of focus (image#1).

Dave Rathbun

4/11/2020 04:21:46 am

I favor the second image, the focus being on the cage. I look for sharp focus and that’s apparent in the metal cage and buoy. The soft focus of the boat ties the two components together, but being smaller, is the minor of the two yet succeeds in depicting the story of “lobstering”.

Anne Mele

4/11/2020 04:57:53 am

I prefer the second image. In the first, the size of the out of focus buoy overwhelms the photo. For me, the cage and buoy represents lobstering so the second shot makes more sense. I also would like to see Peter’s cropped version of the first to see if that allows the boat to pull my eye in enough.

Mike Frechette

4/11/2020 07:22:42 am

I prefer the trap in focus. The lobster boat is not prominent enough, and tends to be better as a background rather than a focus point. To me, the trap has more color, design, and interest than the lobster boat. If the intent of the photographer was to capture a geometric, abstract picture, as is suggested by the multiple lines in the trap, then the boat is not the focus. If the boat is the intended focus point, then there is too much of the other "stuff" in the picture.

Mark Janke

4/11/2020 08:17:11 am

There are so many "rules" here that something has to give. If you want the boat as the subject then it "should" be in focus. But another rule is always have your foreground sharp...which puts the boat out of focus. Aesthetically, I like the trap in sharp focus, but then I almost ignore the boat, as Allison did. So, Maryann, if you are trying to get us to think about the connection of boat and lobster trap, then the boat should be at least a little sharper for my taste. If the image is intended to be a "quick look" with not a lot of gut wrenching soul searching, then the second one is my choice.
For both, I'd put the camera at f42, on a tripod and compromise a little.

Maryann

4/11/2020 12:10:45 pm

Thank you all for the excellent observations and comments! Most of you had a similar response. I agree that in the 2nd image I should have gotten the boat a little more in focus--good point. That would make the connection between them stronger.
That would be quite a lens to give f/42! Did you mean f/22?
I've added a 3rd image that should be close to Peter's suggestion.

archie Stone

4/12/2020 05:41:28 am

Maryann,
I agree with Allison and I did not see the boat at first. I wish you could have found a way to show the boat through the opening in the trap rather than cutting it in half. Peter's crop makes the image and at the same time improves the story telling i think you were after in the first place. There is a way to get both sharp without focus stacking and I will try and find my write up on it for the blog.
archie

Jeannine S Smith

4/13/2020 02:20:54 pm

I really like the story being told. I do agree with the majority here in allowing the boat to be the greater focus. Although the third variation is closer to unfolding the tale more clearly I wonder if it might be a bit too severe. By offering a bit more of the trap on the right side I'm envisioning the second leading character in this plot (ie buoy) would be a bit more defined than present and the image shape becoming rectangular would represent the actual trap shape more realistically.

Regina Hausmann

4/15/2020 12:58:09 pm

I prefer the trap in focus. I do like the fact that you were able to catch the boat behind it.

Photo of the Week #2

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