Balancing figure and space

The focus in this image is on the chequered fence, characteristic of the many features on this pathway lining the entrance to some houseboats in Shoreham. The figures in the image add a human element, while their soft focus retains the fence as the focus of the image.

In the second image, the fence is too small in the image to retain attention as the eye is more drawn to the people. A further issue with this is that because the people appear to be the subject, it looks like the main focus on the fence was accidental.

The tall cliff lined with trees above creates a dramatic scene for such a small child to be climbing into. In the second image, much of the drama is lost due to the omission of the cliff top and trees.