Derelict Boats & Shipwrecks

This image immediately captured my attention. The warm hues of the sky suggest it was shot during golden hour, but what really lifts it and adds a sense of depth is the subtle yet effective lighting of the main subject. Whether it was achieved using lights, flash, or by light painting, it demonstrates a lovely natural looking balance between the ambient and artificial light.

What I like most about this shot is that it has inspired me to try the same light painting technique. This image would probably have been a good one without it but it's just lifted to another level with it. Best I find a suitable subject and get practising!

The effective use of a very wide-angle lens has helped produce this wonderfully moody seascape with the corner distortion subtly drawing the eye toward the main subject. I also like the way the composition allows a comfortable amount of room around the wreck so that you get a sense of the environment in which it is stranded.

Dereliction is a great subject for well-observed detail compositions such as this. For me, this was the standout shot of the many fine examples entered for this competition. Here we have a good compositional balance between getting in close, yet still knowing what we're looking at. The low-angle light source not only reveals the fine textures of the decaying boat, but also adds a degree of depth by ever so subtly picking out the background. Its warm colour further aids the overall effect, as it works so well with wood.

This splendid shipwreck shot works so well as it nails several of the key photographic elements needed to create an appealing image. Here we have the successful combination of a sharp, well-balanced composition, great 'golden hour’ lighting, and that little something extra, with the use of a slow shutter speed to create a subtle reflection that complements the overall look of scene.

This is a lovely capture that benefits greatly from the environmental conditions to make something special from something more ordinary. The rare combination of mist, still water and soft light has provided all the ingredients to help produce this pleasantly becalmed scene.

This is a curious image that makes me wonder, how did they get there? Why is there a tree on the roof? I really like the cool colour tones and the slow shutter that add to a sense of drama and the pleasing way the breakwater (which really looks like the bow of a submarine!) works as a leading line.

I really like the way this underwater scene is so clear and well lit. What's unusual is there's almost a reverse vignette going on with a dark subject framed by a lighter surround. As the photographer who took it says, the shot could be improved even more by having a diver in the frame as an extra focal point.

This example of the much-photographed Corpach shipwreck is one of the best I've seen. What sets it apart for me is the close wide-angle perspective and menacing clouds. While Ben Nevis is a usually a magnificent backdrop, the post-processing of the menacing clouds does a nice job of framing the subject. The black and white presentation adds moody atmosphere.

This minimalist interpretation just edges my vote from this well visited boat graveyard. Sometimes less is more and I was really drawn by the simplicity of the composition and being able to see fine detail and texture. The slow shutter speed has helped create an ethereal scene where the wrecked boats almost appear to be floating on clouds.

I look at this striking shipwreck portrait and I see a sad face! It certainly echoes the plight of the abandoned vessel. I like the symmetry of the head-on composition, which together with the black and white presentation, makes for a simple yet powerful image. The vignetting of the corners nicely highlights the texture of the rusty hull.

Unusual viewpoints are a great device for producing appealing images and I'm a fan of this type of aerial look-down shot. The composition, colours and light here are first rate and the shot simply wouldn't have worked so well from any other perspective.

This is an intriguing image that is both warm and cold at the same time. The brooding overcast conditions are in stark contrast to the bright colours of the fallen autumn leaves and the boat. The dragged shutter speed has created a nice effect, smoothing out the movement of the clouds and water. For me, the composition could be improved by moving the framing slightly to the right to include less of the dead space and making more use of the leading line created by the fence.

This infamous incident reminds me of classic news images from the days of film, with the story succinctly captured in a single image. The jaunty angle, use of black and white, and the positioning of the spectators all add to the drama and intrigue. For me, the scene may have benefitted more from being less tightly cropped, so that the ship and people at the edges of the frame have more space.