Draw Lines from left top corner  to right bottom corner, next line right site corner to middle bottom and last line from left bottom corner to middle right. Were the three Lines cross is a focal point. You will notice that the tree is very near this point.

Somehow our brain is unintentional directed to this kind of points and make you think, yes this works.

Try this with some other pictures, its fun.

(Hope I wrote this in proper English)

Way back with Leonardo & Michaelangelo the "Golden Ratio" was understood and much used, and as you say Ted it still works!

Similarly the brain prefers to see an odd number of items rather than an even number.  This works even in such arts as flower arranging.  Try putting 4 flowers in a vase and look at it and add a 5th, the eye/brain prefers the 5 normally. (There are always exceptions).

Cathyml.  Do you have consent  to slate other peoples photos on here? It is one thing to comment on a photo,but to tell everyone what you think is wrong with it is out of order. 

We submit photos for others to see what England is all about,not to win competitions. By knocking others photos you may drive people away from this site.I do not like seeing friends of the site getting slated for taking the time and effort to submit their photos. We are not trying to submit works of art,just a picture of our lovely country. You may be an art teacher,but we are not submitting our photos for marking in a competition.

Lyn,like 99% of us on here,is a  keen amature and as such should be given respect for their efforts. To tell the word what is ,in your opinion,wrong with their photo is an insult. In my opinion,we will be lucky if Lyn submits any more.

Oh Peter, I am so sorry you feel that way, it is not my intention at all (as I said by Lyn's photo - which by the way I think is great) to knock anyones photos, but to help add a different perspective to photo taking.  Lyn is an incredibly talented photographer as are all the people who submit pics to POE.

I am in total agreement that putting our photos on POE is not about winning competitions but adding to our knowledge and insight of all the beautiful places in England.   But I think it is only human nature that we would like to take the best pics we can and it was my intention only to aid this. I was hoping to point out what had worked in the pic not what was wrong, if anything.

I appreciate that you felt strongly about this and were willing to voice your opinion, and I respect that.

Hear Hear Peter,

You have said very eloquently and accurately what is the truth of this matter. Lyn is a particular friend of mine and I know she felt insulted and belittled by what was said about her photograph.

There is a time and place for criticism if invited; for example in an 'Art/Photography Critique' type of class or website. POE, as a public forum,  is not the right place for such comments.

Ray.