Useless Photograph?

[Stephen Thackeray]

This is an image I took in February of this year. It seemed like a good idea at the time, mainly because of the mist. However, when I opened it for processing the first thing that came into my mind was “why on earth did you take that?” It’s a “nothing” image. Is there anything in there worth saving? What do you think?

[Robert Apple]

I wouldn’t say it’s a nothing image the tracks are great leading lines and you have an interest in the approaching trolley, the composition is rather good and for an industrial or Urban shot that’s a good photo. I know that’s not too sharky but then again I’m a nature photographer. However if one of my students had taken this I wouldn’t discourage them for it, it’s not that bad at all.

[Stephen Thackeray]

Thank you  Robert 👍

[Retired Grunt]

As pointed out, the leading lines are key. I would recrop as a profile shot and eliminate all the land on the right, maybe just right of there the handrails end. Also, everything left of the nearest pole on the left. That left pole adds to the depth, along with the cable running center with the tracks.

[Stephen Thackeray]

Good advice, thank you

[LightandShadow]

I agree woth RG’s crop. A case where placing the subject at the rule of 3rds doesn’t work.  Lose the featureless sky. Adding haze might recover some of what you saw on site but have lost-thanks to the camera’s “help”. I might just go square but would want to retain the sign on the left unless it made too much foreground.

[Stephen Thackeray]

Thank you for your input. I’ll  have a re-edit a little later.

[Stephen Thackeray]

Here is a re-edit of the shot, taking into account the suggestions. I did add some haze and the thickness of the mist now matches more closely my memory of the day. I think it works better!

 

[Retired Grunt]

@stevet

Late in commenting but this is much more captivating and focused on the subject of the train.

[Anne Hornsby]

@stevet   Here’s another crop you might want to try.  Create a square image with the two passenger cubbies facing each other and the two lightpoles on the far side of the cubbies facing each other.  Next, this is strictly personal preference – as someone who loves infrastructure shots, I would not add haze. I would add contrast to the image and increase the highlights to make the sky whiter, thus showing up the train more dramatically.  But for a memory shot for you, it sounds like haze makes sense!  Have fun.

[Author]

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