A tension and contrast study

The kinetic energy of the light colored surf working against the stationary dark rock.
The physical lightness of the foam dancing around the solidly anchored rock.
Rough textures of the foam playing against the fine texture of the sand.
The visual tension of the rock against the chaotic edge of the surf and foam.
Relentless motion against repose.

Compositionally speaking this image utilizes “Chiaroscuro” (defined as a bold contrast between light and dark) to create visual tensions between the simple elements.
Our eye is drawn most immediately to the points of highest contrast and brightness.
That visual tension can be used to express tensions in the image and to entice the eye to follow and dance between the important elements.
The highest visual tension in the image defines the rock as the primary subject.
If the rock were not the primary subject then the use of that visual tension device of Chiaroscuro can become more of a distraction rather than reinforcement.
So it is important to distinguish what the eye will want to see first and how the eye is directed and enticed in the image.

Certainly it’s an abstract detail, but it captured enough of what was happening on this beach at this moment in time to make it worthwhile.
The downside to such abstract shots is that it is more challenging to express very much with such a simplistic viewpoint, so its story is a short one.
Composition becomes center stage in most abstracts, perhaps because of the limited story it tells that would otherwise hold our attention.

A simple presentation is important so as to not distract from or to begin to compete with the image;
so I choose a simple drop shadow to play up the strong light in the image.
It is also worth noting to make sure that the drop shadow is at the same angle and direction as the shadows in the image!