On the 22nd June 2022 I set off to Powderham, Devon (as with 43018) to see a steam engine, 70000 - Britannia, on the English Riviera Express. Walking over the bridge, again I caught sight of a ‘ Class 43 HST ’, this time a ‘ Castle set ’, and took this image:
and thought wow! The foreground is a bit distracting but that can be cropped… to be a collection of different ratios:
Each of which evoking a different emotion as you’re drawn to other elements. I’ve read that you shouldn’t put the subject in the middle of the image, that there are other considerations of composition such as the ‘ Rule of thirds ’, but I think that the rule is only something to be considered. To play around and see what works visually, what clicks in the mind and just looks ‘right’. The oak trees on the left and the trees on the right bring bounds, but the oak’s are less ‘busy’. The path on the right has a lovely ‘S’ curve to it with the sides of yellow past away vegetation due to the summer heat. The clouds are white and fluffy, evoking the strength of the sun at that time of year.
Its really difficult to pick the best one. Perhaps there isn’t, but rather depends on the use of the image in a given context.
Britannia
You can view the video of Britannia on my YouTube channel here: