Barbara Gore
August 2026 - Barbara Gore - Solitude's Dock
About the Image(s)
This image was captured several years ago in South Carolina. Docks are plentiful throughout the Charleston area, I set out on an overcast evening to create a long-exposure shot. The soft light and calm conditions made for an ideal atmosphere.
I don't recall all the details of the editing process, but I do remember using Lightroom and Photoshop, with the black-and-white conversion completed in Photoshop.
Canon 5D Mark IV, EF 24-70mm at 47mm, f/10, 145 second exposure, ISO 100, tripod mounted - I don’t believe an ND filter was needed.
9 comments posted
Hi Barbara,
This is a problematic image to my sight. Honestly, I like the concept a lot - especially the long exposure to smooth out the water and to enhance the silhouette effect of the Dock. The image speaks to me of quiet solitude, a place of rest (especially if one left their cell phone behind).
Where the problem comes in is in three areas.
First the way the dock is positioned in the image it appears as though the trees on the far bank are actually growing on the dock.
Second, when I look at an image my eye starts in the lower left corner of the image and travels up and to the right following the path of the golden spiral. The result, looking at this image, is that I look at it and end up looking past the roofed area settling on the confusing area where it looks like trees are growing on the dock. Flipping the image horizontally would relieve some of that issue since my eyes would look past the long portion stopping at the roofed area.
Third (minor) the long exposure gives the birds a ghostly appearance though that could be considered a real plus given the context.
Thanks very much for sharing it with us Barbara.
Posted: 08/13/2026 18:52:59
This is a problematic image to my sight. Honestly, I like the concept a lot - especially the long exposure to smooth out the water and to enhance the silhouette effect of the Dock. The image speaks to me of quiet solitude, a place of rest (especially if one left their cell phone behind).
Where the problem comes in is in three areas.
First the way the dock is positioned in the image it appears as though the trees on the far bank are actually growing on the dock.
Second, when I look at an image my eye starts in the lower left corner of the image and travels up and to the right following the path of the golden spiral. The result, looking at this image, is that I look at it and end up looking past the roofed area settling on the confusing area where it looks like trees are growing on the dock. Flipping the image horizontally would relieve some of that issue since my eyes would look past the long portion stopping at the roofed area.
Third (minor) the long exposure gives the birds a ghostly appearance though that could be considered a real plus given the context.
Thanks very much for sharing it with us Barbara.
Posted: 08/13/2026 18:52:59
Hi Ed. Thank you for your thoughtful feedback! First, I completely agree that there is not enough visual separation between the pier and the shoreline. I took several images that evening but unfortunately I lost the drive they were stored on during a move, so I cannot review them to see whether I have a stronger composition. Raising or lowering my camera position would have improved the separation. Good observation! Second, the image is visually heavy on the left. I will experiment with flipping to see if it creates a better balance. As for the birds, I like the little movement/life they add to the scene. Posted: 08/15/2026 13:43:12
Long exposure was a good choice for the water and the reflections of the pier, and it created a really nice effect. I like the clarity of the dock as well. The dock is your clear subject, and it is very sharp and in focus with the far bank perfectly aligned creating a very clean composition. The light sky and foreground give it a high-key feel.
I am not sure about the birds in the top right as I found them a little distracting to rest of the composition. But I am not sure that you should remove them either - have you played with that in your post processing?
I very much like the mood that this creates- thank you for sharing. Posted: 08/13/2026 19:57:40
I am not sure about the birds in the top right as I found them a little distracting to rest of the composition. But I am not sure that you should remove them either - have you played with that in your post processing?
I very much like the mood that this creates- thank you for sharing. Posted: 08/13/2026 19:57:40
Hi Shari. Thank you for your comments. Regarding your question about post-processing, I honestly don't remember the specific edits I used in PS and I no longer have the details. As for the birds, I thought the same thing but in the end they added a little interest and movement to an otherwise static sky. Posted: 08/15/2026 13:50:51
Hi Barbara, I love the calmness radiating from the image. To me, there is a dream-like feel, and I would definitely keep the ghost birds. I think that Ed has a point about the trees - I wonder if adding some haze on them might make them seem a little bit more distant and add to the sense of dimension? Posted: 08/14/2026 08:42:40
Hi Kirsti. Thanks for the feedback. I think the only answer for this photo would be to remove the trees however I will try your suggestion. Posted: 08/15/2026 13:52:38
Hi Barbara, I love the calmness that radiates from the image. To me, there is a dream-like feel, and I would definitely keep the ghost birds. I think that Ed has a point about the trees - I wonder if adding some haze on them might make them seem a little bit more distant and add to the sense of dimension? Posted: 08/14/2026 19:34:35
Hi Barbara,
Sorry for jumping in so late here.
I really like the general composition of the photo. The repition of the pier pilings works very well.
I did not pick up on the trees above the pier per Ed's comments; what I noticed were the trees behind the pier; they seem to take away from the pier itself (although obviously there's nothing you can do about where the trees are growing). The left side does seem to be a little heavy.
I like the effect of the long exposure, particularly the softness of the reflections. The birds seem to help balance out the photo although I think it still would work without them, but since they were there when you took the photo I think they work.
Thanks,
Rob
Posted: 08/20/2026 15:46:47
Sorry for jumping in so late here.
I really like the general composition of the photo. The repition of the pier pilings works very well.
I did not pick up on the trees above the pier per Ed's comments; what I noticed were the trees behind the pier; they seem to take away from the pier itself (although obviously there's nothing you can do about where the trees are growing). The left side does seem to be a little heavy.
I like the effect of the long exposure, particularly the softness of the reflections. The birds seem to help balance out the photo although I think it still would work without them, but since they were there when you took the photo I think they work.
Thanks,
Rob
Posted: 08/20/2026 15:46:47
Yes as others have noted the separation of items is important for vision clarity. I do like your use of the slow shutter to smooth the water effect which enhances the reflections and the effect of the motion of the birds. Posted: 08/24/2026 19:31:36