Richard Stauber  


Arthur Kill Junked Boat by Richard Stauber

October 2024 - Arthur Kill Junked Boat

About the Image(s)

Arthur Kill Junked Boat

Another urban adventure- this time to a boat graveyard off Staten Island (NYC) in the Arthur Kill. Due to property restrictions, the site can only be explored from the water and with all the sunken debris, a small boat is needed like a kayak; or explore from the air by drone.

The boat graveyard dates to the 1930’s and there were hundreds of boats there. By using Google Maps I found a very small cemetery where I was able to launch the DJI Air2s from an opening between trees. I spent two batteries of fly time and made shots from 200 ft AGL (the limit on that day) down to 20 ft where this shot was made. Going through the photos I had to decide whether to display a close up shot like this one of a general overall scene shot.


This round’s discussion is now closed!
12 comments posted




Bev Caine   Bev Caine
(Groups 24 & 48 & 58)
This is great. Perfect coloring and overall lighting.   Posted: 10/06/2024 18:21:33
Richard Stauber   Richard Stauber
Thanks Bev for dropping by and a look!   Posted: 10/08/2024 19:10:56



Drema Swader   Drema Swader
Hi Richard. Very nice composition, although I think it would be better to have just a tad bit more breathing room at the top above the mast. The sky has blown out areas. Perhaps a multiple exposure and exposure blend would have solved that problem and made the sky even more beautiful. Also, the boat itself looks a little soft, so I recommend sharpening it a little. That would also enhance the texture in the wood and metal on the side of the boat, and on the deck.

I know you want to leave the junk in the water on the left side above the boat because of it being a boat graveyard, but I would recommend taking out the 3 or 4 little spots among the junk.

Although this image has some very nice qualities, it could have been a wow image with a bit more work.   Posted: 10/07/2024 19:14:56
Richard Stauber   Richard Stauber
Thanks Drema for your comments. I made a redo image taking in to consideration a few of your points. Any better?   Posted: 10/10/2024 20:45:15
Comment Image
Drema Swader   Drema Swader
Well, the blown-out areas in the sky look better, but I'm not sure I like the warmer colors better. I rather like the blue color in the sky in the 1st version, and the image seemed brighter. Warming it up seemed to flatten the image somewhat.

Also, I would take out that tiny black plane in the sky in the upper right.   Posted: 10/11/2024 04:31:20



Pete Scifres   Pete Scifres
Great subject -- makes me want to go there. and I like the treatment you put in during post.

Compositionally this is a bit of a struggle. Subject is pretty tight and I felt like I am missing much of the setting. As Drema has already said for sure I would have been higher so the boats in the background are not so close to the subject and I would have tried moving to the left and rotating right -- shooting down the bow towards the stern -- to get a little more tension in the main subject   Posted: 10/08/2024 03:46:15
Richard Stauber   Richard Stauber
You point out exactly the conflict I felt between detail of a boat or inclusion of more scene. I liked the look of the funky port holes in the cabin and what looks like wood atop of the steel hull and from a further distance the details were not as noticeable.   Posted: 10/08/2024 19:09:38



Lou McLove   Lou McLove
Hello Richard, you found a great subject. I understand your dilemma in choosing which image to submit. I personally like the one you chose. I like seeing the details etc., I agree with Drema that the boat could be a little sharper. Thanks for sharing this image, I really like it.   Posted: 10/08/2024 21:04:59
Richard Stauber   Richard Stauber
Hi Lou, thanks for your comments. I did redo the image based on comments such as your point regarding the sharpness. (See image above)   Posted: 10/10/2024 20:49:42
Lou McLove   Lou McLove
Looks good.   Posted: 10/12/2024 21:14:19



Lisa Cirincione   Lisa Cirincione
Hi Richard, I really like this close-up shot. While it would be nice to see other photos that show the depth of the boat graveyard, I like seeing this one up close. And I like all the busyness around it, and that mostly there is breathing room between the main subject boat and all the little boats around it.
Share another viewpoint again!   Posted: 10/10/2024 00:50:04
Richard Stauber   Richard Stauber
Thanks Lisa and there will be one or two more from this place in future months! (Redo above)   Posted: 10/10/2024 20:52:43