Cargo Ship at Sea

A heavily loaded container ship moves through deep blue water, leaving a wide white wake behind its stern. The vessel is seen from above and slightly ahead, which gives the dark hull a strong diagonal and makes the stacked containers look like bright blocks across the deck. A white bridge rises near the rear, while a smaller mast and working deck break up the bow.

The containers are the quickest route into the picture. Sort them into red, orange, green and blue groups, then use their rows to establish perspective. The long rust-red waterline connects the deck to the dark hull. A thin white mast and railings at the bow offer precise clues among the darker ship pieces.

Save the sea for later, but keep the foamy wake separate from the calmer water; its broken white curves are much easier to place than open blue. Small clouds near the horizon help close the final gap between ship and sky.