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| Group |
Round |
C/R |
Comment |
Date |
Image |
| 36 |
Jun 21 |
Reply |
Hi Barbara
Here is a shot of the Donna Kay before the MW rose. Just the boat and the stars. Here I liked the boat white. |
Jun 17th |
 |
| 36 |
Jun 21 |
Reply |
Hi Barbara
Thanks for commenting. If this had been a completely natural scene, no boat, I would agree about neutralizing colors. However, in this case the boat was really really white and even when dimmed it became a sore thumb and just leaped out of the dark. The darker the sky, the more the boat jumped out of the scene. I fiddled with kelvin temperature setting in the camera to bring down the boat before I started taking the 16 exposures for this scene. I probably did 6 or 7 single frame shots until I got something I liked. Then I took the entire series.
As you noted, I applied my artist license to do this my way. The amount of sky and the nearly full arch both played a role in how I processed this image.
Some of the other angles I took of the boat I felt benefited from having the boat more white. But I liked the blue tones for this particular shot. |
Jun 17th |
| 36 |
Jun 21 |
Reply |
Thanks for the compliment and the suggestion. Does the version I attached to Arne's comment work? |
Jun 12th |
| 36 |
Jun 21 |
Reply |
Thanks Arne
Photography to me is a challenge to create something original. My goal is to capture what I feel while on site. I just try to use whatever tools are in my bag of tricks to make that happen. I never arrive and start shooting. The important part is thinking about what to shoot.---
After that, the rest is fun.
Thanks for your thoughts about the darkness of the sky. I have a darker version, but couldn't decide which I like better. Since I read your comments I've been looking more at the dark version. Does the attached work better? |
Jun 12th |
 |
| 36 |
Jun 21 |
Reply |
Richard
Like you I like the other boat lights. To me they set the stage. This is about shrimp boats on the seas, those that make it and those that do not. They seem so small in the grand scheme of the universe.
Thanks for commenting |
Jun 12th |
| 36 |
Jun 21 |
Comment |
I love this type of scene. The lonely lighthouse, perched on a cliff I think makes special images This one, being white just pops from the scene. I bet those hostile waves would make for quite dramatic shots. Hope you plan on going back.
While I really like this scene I have two thoughts. First, since the sky is so plain, why not just eliminate it? Second, since you are the king of dodging and burning why not slightly darken the huge grassy hillside in the foreground? With the sky removed and the hillside darkened it should make the lighthouse pop even more.
|
Jun 10th |
| 36 |
Jun 21 |
Comment |
I know this location quite well. It is one of those iconic settings for those amazing Smoky Mountain sunrises. You have a fine composition, with the sun being balanced by the trees and you have enough color in the sky to make the scene work. You have a nice composition here using the 24-70mm lens which brings more emphasize to the trees and I like the "hint" of green to balance the color of the sky.
Unless the clouds decide to grace you with something extra special (sadly they rarely do) this is about as good as it gets. I appreciate that you resisted the temptation to over saturate this scene.
The only suggestion is really a question. Have you considered shooting these sunrises with a longer lens? I done several with a 200mm and a couple with a 300mm lens. The compression factor sometimes adds a bit of drama. |
Jun 10th |
| 36 |
Jun 21 |
Comment |
Like the others I really like the idea of the serenity of this scene. I agree with Michael regarding the green in the left corner as it is so bright that it draws the eye. Unlike Michael my choices for solving this problem are different. To me, cropping from the left makes the scene feel cramped. This I offer the following, burn the grass down and leave it darker, maybe even desaturate just that grass just a bit as well. The other choice is to crop up from the bottom and eliminate the grass that way.
The large rock on the left has some interesting textures to it and as suggested I might consider adding just a bit of light to bring that area to life. To compliment that, perhaps add the same amount of light to the large upright rock on the beach. j This would make the two ricks serve as sentinels and sort of guide the eye into the distance
Even if you do nothing to this it is an exception moody image that keeps a viewer engaged.
|
Jun 5th |
| 36 |
Jun 21 |
Comment |
Thanks Michael
I spent from sunset to sunrise on the beach with the old lady. I tried everything and angle I could think of but this was the most complex shot. I really wanted this shot before I got there and was planning for it. The rising tide meant that I ended this series standing in the rising water with tripod and wet feet. I really wanted the full arch of the MW but further to the left I would pick up some lights (US Air Force base towers) that would ruin the scene and besides the foreground just got ugly.
Funny that you would reduce the stars, I wanted them all because that is what I saw --- the sky was just awash with stars----with the Gulf of Mexico as a background it was really black looking to the SE.
I thought about removing the shrimp boats but I liked them at sea as if searching for their sister boat. No one else looking it this would know that but I like them. I'm wondering what others will think. I could remove them if everyone wants them out. |
Jun 5th |
| 36 |
Jun 21 |
Comment |
The colors on the mountains are simply an overwhelming attention grabber. The heavy shadow at the bottom acts as a part of the whole alpen glow process. It simply feels like someone is lowering a blind and revealing the scene. While not necessary, the road makes for a serene leading line.
I noticed the "softness" in the near mountain and decided that it may just be part of the processing from Photomatrix.
Like Michael suggested, I would crop a sizeable chunk from the bottom. k As it is it detract the from incredible top. |
Jun 3rd |
| 36 |
Jun 21 |
Reply |
Yep, been there. |
Jun 3rd |
| 36 |
Jun 21 |
Reply |
I have not been there since the pandemic---later this summer I will return. I agree about too many shots of the Morton Overlook. I also have noticed the growth over the last few years. I heard that it is a lack of funds for maintenance.
Have you tried shooting sunrise from the foothills parkway out side of Townsend? Try the first turnout on the left that has two entrances. Use the first entrance and the first opening that looks into the valley. You have to look to the left when facing the valley but you get a view of a cabin, meadows and a roadway andof course the mountains. |
Jun 3rd |
| 36 |
Jun 21 |
Comment |
I'm going to have to agree with Richard's comment. While we love foregrounds finding them in the Smokies along US 441 is a royal pain. Like Richard says, these really detract more than enhance the scene.
The best place in the Smokies along 441 is the Morton Overlook on the west side of the road just a few turnouts after Newfound Gap. I know you can find it on a map. There is also a pretty good shot going south from Newfound Gap on the west side. It is on a bend and the parking is up on a hill, The view is to the east. You will have a great foreground and a long valley. If you can't find them, let me know and I'll try tofind a map that I can mark them on. |
Jun 3rd |
6 comments - 7 replies for Group 36
|
| 67 |
Jun 21 |
Comment |
I like this image. You got everything technically right. Shutter, ISO and erture all work fine. The light worked well in letting you control the white feathers that are always a problem. I always use manual for my white birds, it seems to work better and I have more control. Don't know it you shot in burst mode or not but but you got all the eyes in the frame and that is a good thing.
I think you handled the greens quite well in post as they look quite natural
For me the image feels either a bit flat or maybe a bit mystic. Since I first saw it I've been wondering if:
A: increasing the black point would give it a bit pop (maybe contrast too) or
B. just adding a bit of a white vignette and just making it into fine art and dream like would be the better way to go.
It would not be a true nature shot that way, but it might be quite impactful.
BTW you white egrets nest in much prettier settings than than the ones down here. Is that Queen Anne's lace? |
Jun 12th |
 |
| 67 |
Jun 21 |
Reply |
Actually Richard I know what they are doing, but I was trying to spice up a lousy photo (see above comment) with a title that didn't fool anyone.
I agree with the sharp, the story and the composition. I knew it was busy when I shot it, but I was hoping the blue of the birds against the green background would be enough to save the shot. It wasn't and I blew it completely.
I do appreciate you guys calling me out for being lazy and not following my own rules (that's the bad part). I'll do better next month. (especially with you experts hanging around to put me in my place) :-) Thanks!!
|
Jun 12th |
| 67 |
Jun 21 |
Reply |
Hey---I'm glad I made your day!!!Been having trouble getting out to shoot over the past year (wonder why) and don't have a lot of nature shots to post. I found this rookery and sat for several hours watching pairs of juvie tricolors trying to get something. The action here was pretty good, and I got the eyes of both birds. But from the beginning I thought this was just too busy. Against all my instincts I talked my self into thinking this was not as bad as it is. Basically I made excuses to cover my incompetent photography. This makes twice in the last 6 weeks I've let my self down. I do have a couple of good owl shots (preview of next month) for future use.
This is a shot that should not see the light of day. I'll be taking care of that. Thanks for the wake up call. I needed it. :-) |
Jun 12th |
| 67 |
Jun 21 |
Comment |
You have a very dramatic and moody image that is well balanced and contains a quite strong leading line of light. Leading lines formed with breaking waves, sea foam and other such water features are unusual and this makes them interesting. In you case even the clouds form leading lines toward the center of color.
There are so many wonderful line that the eye almost misses the tilted horizon line that really should be fixed.
My suggestion is very subtle---and needs to be handled very gently. I would use a Lightroom Adjustment brush to very very slightly lighten the foreground foam on the right and in the center just enough to extend the leading line. If you over do it it will seem phony, but just a touch will produce some impact.
Nice work on this one. |
Jun 9th |
| 67 |
Jun 21 |
Comment |
I like the little hummer just fine.k As I look at the image the only thing really wrong is the shutter is too slow. The secret to getting sharp wildlife photos is really just shutter speed. All the camera manuals talk about how you CAN hand hold at the amazing slower shutter speeds and that is just wrong. Yes, you CAN get a shot at those slower speeds but not of creature that is in motion. If this is shot at 1/1000 you have a whole different image. I strongly believe in bumping up the ISO to get a faster shutter speed.
I shot an owl flying toward my camera at ISO 2500 with a shutter of 1/2000 on my D810 and it came out great. So my suggestion, push the ISO and use a fast shutter. |
Jun 2nd |
| 67 |
Jun 21 |
Comment |
Hey! You got a closeup image of a lynx in the wild--that is no small feat. Well Done
I don't think the background is objectionable at all. It is winter, the lynx is in the snow so that is fine You have a good exposure and as you note--the lynx is sharp. It might just be my imagination but the lynx seems to be smiling.
The only thing I would object to is that there is a sort of unwritten rule about cutting off feet. The foot I'm referring to is the one on the far left. I know is vanishes into the snow but according to the rule if it is not visible then you should leave the space where it would normally be. So in this case the bottom of the frame should be extended to account for the location of them missing foot.
I do like the square format as it sets of the lynx with adequate negative space surrounding him. Looking at the original the snow is a bit more white while in the processed version is has taken on a blue cast. I do prefer the white version.
If you are concerned about the blank background then I'll suggest an alternate crop that keeps the hole on the right. See attached image. |
Jun 2nd |
 |
| 67 |
Jun 21 |
Reply |
Thanks David. Would you believe I have already burned those bright leaves in the upper corner down? If you look close you can see they are turning a slight grey already. They will not burn any more. That bright area is another issue I have with the image. I love the birds, but everything else stinks!! |
Jun 1st |
4 comments - 3 replies for Group 67
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10 comments - 10 replies Total
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