While working with the colour, Shchedrin used the technique of asymmetry, i.e. the whole right side of the work is occupied by the dark rocky coast while the left one is taken by the bright space of sea and skies. The artist pictured a great number of different colour shades, but managed to keep general tonality, thus avoiding variegation. The composition is also asymmetric. The painter abandoned the generally accepted scheme of landscape with a side scene in favour of real unembellished nature. He outlines fishermen’s silhouettes in a boat in order to further revive the landscape.

Shchedrin was one of the reformers in picturing nature. A classical landscape in the 19th century was the one without emotions and momentariness – everything was supposed to be done by the rules. A typical image consisted of three views and an obligatory side scene, which opened the action to the audience. Shchedrin, on the contrary, was interested in real-life nature. He was the first among Russian painters who turned to plain-air painting (from French en plain air, i.e. painting in the open air).