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I make no attempt to match Rodney but I thought I should see a sunrise this week.

The weather forecast was for big seas this morning so with the sun rising at 62 deg I thought Queenscliffe would be the go.
The sea was not big but there were an incredible number of surfers out amongst the waves by sun-up.
There were several other shutter bugs present too.

Here are a couple of shots.






Canon 60D with 17-55 f2.8 lens.

Sunrise is good for the soul Victor - gotta be early - still see the lights on inside the apartments

I prefer the first one for composition. I find the
second diminished by the pipe.

Reply from Zafra52;

I prefer the first one for composition. I find the
second diminished by the pipe.

Thanks Zaf. I was looking for some foreground interest because I was using a wide angle lens.
Perhaps better if I had swapped to the telephoto so that the POV was the surfers but, the shot was opportunistic anyway.

I loved the reflection of light at the waters edge in both shots.

Rgds.

So I prefer the 2nd image.
For me the pipe IS the image subject rather than it diminishing the image.
It's what the image is about with the board riders providing secondary subject matter.
The alignment of the sunrise above the riders is a nice toch also.
The first lacks focus, composition and subject IMHO... sorry.

Hey Vic,

The second image has merit, a couple of thoughts

1) Maybe try and crop this to a portrait orientation with the sun and riders in the centreline of the image, that line/section is where all the interest is and rest of pipe is not adding to the riders or sun, that leads to 2)

2) pipes are cool...they provide all kind of neat compositions and complimentary hook points, in this case you are on the right track, however if you look at the pipe it creates a visual barrier in the image, it also creates a leading line (that is usually good). The visual barrier is created by the separation of the lower part of the image to that of the top and main subjects (imo, the sun and riders) and the fact that the leading line runs the viewer's eye straight out of the frame, ie from the bottom left to the right.

Whilst it may have not been possible in this instance trying to create a leading lines that intersect and lead the viewer through the image to the points of interest are a sure/formulaic way to get a pleasing composition, you have almost got it here, a bigger wave that intersected with the pipe on the right side would have worked to created a Z shape in the composition and that would have improved the viewers travel through the image...clear as mud ?!

Thanks for comments guys. Very informative.

The pipe as a barrier in the second image explained to me why I did not feel it was quite right but the burst of sun over the surfers shoulders made me want it to be OK.

The point about leading lines and creating a Z with the pipe and waves is an interesting thought for future setups. Thanks Biggery.

MJ; I think your point is the same inasmuch as the pipe is a barrier rather than a leading line. I was conscious of this deficit and tried to use it as foreground interest but I now realise that such interest must be secondary to the POV.

I realise that cutting out the arc of the beach to the point in the first image spoiled the composition possibility.

Thanks gents for your thoughts.

Rgds.