This shot appeals to me for three reasons, the first of which is definitely the greatest: the composition. The V-shape the boat and dock create is both strange and calming. One usually sees a boat tied up so it is parallel to the dock, and this is quite the opposite, giving it a strange look which is outside the normal "boat and a dock at sunset" types of pictures. The odd angle of the boat invokes feelings of use, as if this boat sees many passengers on a daily basis and is getting a rest as the sun goes down.

The second reason is the color: many shades of blue with hints of purple and turquoise, extending from the top of the frame to the bottom. For me, blues usually make a picture feel cold, frigid, and even gloomy. In this picture the colors do quite the reverse, making the scene feel somehow warmer. The brightness of the sky and water contrast nicely with shadows of the boat and dock. I do wish the trees were not as dark, and perhaps sharper, but this is hard to do after sunset when one is facing towards the sun. The soft glow in the boat is wonderful.

The third reason is related to the composition: the perspective. The vantage point here is either elevated, or a wide-angle was used (or both), but either way the perspective here is great. The inclusion of the reeds on the far left break up the water and draw attention to the boat, and I'm glad the rule of thirds was broken here.

All-in-all, a well-taken image. Sharp where it really counts, colorful but not over-saturated, and very calming. Of course the overall theme is not original, but I love this take on it, and thank the photographer for sharing his vision with us