Huntington Beach - First Attempt [Sitemap] - Digital Grin Photography Forum

LiquidOps

Jan-18-2005, 09:10 PM

:clap This is my first serious attempt at a beach scene landscape. I have been browsing these boards quite intensely lately. I only hope I can apply some of what i've read...

Help me get better here :)

http://www.wanderingthroughlife.com/stf/DSC02699x800.jpg

Thanks,

Steven

David_S85

Jan-18-2005, 09:20 PM

Way cool shot there, LO! I think I'd crop off some of the beach below, and a bit to the right to get the walking surfer dudes about 2/3'rds from the left. That would focus the viewer even more on them as the subject(s) without sacrificing the sunset or the strong feeling of the shot.

Also, it just cries out for some "end of the surfing day" theme music playing in the background.

Then..... I'd try to sell that shot to somebody.... for the cover of, well, something.

gregneil

Jan-18-2005, 10:26 PM

I agree with cropping the beach out a bit. The shot appears to have a slight left to right tilt up, so you might want to rotate it a degree or so CW in PS. The colors and the silhouette effect are pretty stunning as is, IMO.

Hope you don't mind, I decided to have a go at it... Here's about how I'd crop it. I did a 1 degree rotation CW, and I did mess with levels just a tad, which seemed to give the ocean more contrast. That's neither here nor there, really, just personal preference, since it already looks great. Did you do any PS work prior to posting, or was that straight from the camera? Thanks for sharing!

http://homepage.mac.com/gregneil/iblog/SWAB/surfers.jpg

Kalamata

Jan-19-2005, 03:54 AM

I agree with cropping the beach out a bit. The shot appears to have a slight left to right tilt up, so you might want to rotate it a degree or so CW in PS. The colors and the silhouette effect are pretty stunning as is, IMO.

Hope you don't mind, I decided to have a go at it... Here's about how I'd crop it. I did a 1 degree rotation CW, and I did mess with levels just a tad, which seemed to give the ocean more contrast. That's neither here nor there, really, just personal preference, since it already looks great. Did you do any PS work prior to posting, or was that straight from the camera? Thanks for sharing!

http://homepage.mac.com/gregneil/iblog/SWAB/surfers.jpg

Nice shot, looks good cropped. Just my opinion and preference I would have taken the picture if possible with the surfers walking into the frame.
:clap

Bryan

Jan-19-2005, 04:26 AM

What a beautifull clear day you got, you can reach out and touch Catalina. I love the exposure, there is detail in the sand and surfers, well done. If anything, rotate it a bit to level the horizion and maye crop out a bit of the sand, otherwise you are off to a great start!

cmr164

Jan-19-2005, 08:23 AM

I agree with cropping the beach out a bit. The shot appears to have a slight left to right tilt up, so you might want to rotate it a degree or so CW in PS. The colors and the silhouette effect are pretty stunning as is, IMO.

Hope you don't mind, I decided to have a go at it... Here's about how I'd crop it. I did a 1 degree rotation CW, and I did mess with levels just a tad, which seemed to give the ocean more contrast. That's neither here nor there, really, just personal preference, since it already looks great. Did you do any PS work prior to posting, or was that straight from the camera? Thanks for sharing!

http://homepage.mac.com/gregneil/iblog/SWAB/surfers.jpg Hmmm.. I agree with the rotation but I think the other changes left the scene too saturated. I like the colors in the first better. YMMV (Note1)

Note #1: Your Monitor May Vary

LiquidOps

Jan-19-2005, 11:42 AM

Thank you so much for all the comments and compliments you guys have given. I have never taken a picture and gotten so much positive feedback. I am thrilled. Goes to show my 717 is still good :clap

I will rotate the image when i get home (no PS access here at work) and try out different crops.

Please bare with me as I venture through this photo. It really means a lot to me and I would love all the help I can get.

I did do a little PS work. There were some unnecessary objects on the sand that needed to be remove.

I love the fact that it seems they are walking away from the sun and not into it.

Thanks again for all the feedback. Please keep them coming

imax

Jan-19-2005, 12:20 PM

Great Picture. Defintely agree that it could be the cover of something.

LiquidOps

Jan-19-2005, 01:01 PM

Great Picture. Defintely agree that it could be the cover of something.
Thank you for the kind words IMAX.

After I get it completely fine tuned, then I will be requesting help on setting it up for print.

Thanks again,

Steven

damonff

Jan-19-2005, 01:16 PM

yeah, the beach crop works...

gregneil

Jan-19-2005, 02:53 PM

Wow, you're right about YMMV! Here at work on my 17" LCD Apple Display I can see the sand in the first shot. At home on my old crappy CRT I strained my eyes and still couldn't see any sand. I figured messing w/ levels wouldn't change not seeing something that I couldn't see in the first place. Boy was I wrong. Time to look at getting a new monitor...

LiquidOps

Jan-19-2005, 06:50 PM

Wow, you're right about YMMV! Here at work on my 17" LCD Apple Display I can see the sand in the first shot. At home on my old crappy CRT I strained my eyes and still couldn't see any sand. I figured messing w/ levels wouldn't change not seeing something that I couldn't see in the first place. Boy was I wrong. Time to look at getting a new monitor...
So... do you guys prefer the sand or no? I mean.... do you like being able to see the sand? Or should it be contrasted like the crop that was done?

Steven

gregneil

Jan-19-2005, 07:39 PM

I prefer seeing the sand. The texture of the sand in the dark is better than just black, I think. I think I'd make it visible, but only after inspection, if that makes sense. So at first glance it might look like a pure black silhouette, but once someone looks closer they notice some minor detail in the sand and the surfers. But I don't really know what I'm talking about... that's just what I'd probably aim for at first and then see if I like it. Good luck!

cmr164

Jan-20-2005, 08:41 AM

So... do you guys prefer the sand or no? I mean.... do you like being able to see the sand? Or should it be contrasted like the crop that was done?

Steven
It isn't just the sand. The people have detail in the original. Not a lot but enough to make then have substance. Again YMMV

LiquidOps

Jan-21-2005, 05:50 AM

Someone had mentioned to me that I should have tried bracketing on this shot...

well... the thing is... I did, I just don't know what to do with it from there :)

so yeah...

any suggestions? Or just leave this shot as is?

LiquidOps

Jan-22-2005, 04:42 PM

ok... so which is better?

orig:
http://www.wanderingthroughlife.com/stf/DSC02699x800.jpg

Crop:
http://www.wanderingthroughlife.com/stf/DSC02699x800_crop.jpg

All feedback is much appreciated. This is my first shot that I am truly proud of...

Dee

Jan-22-2005, 05:42 PM

I think I like it as a silhouette better, but here are some other alternatives for you. I wish they were more to the left, then you could make a panorama crop. And yes, they can be copied and moved, and the sky and sand and water cloned in to do this...

So here's just a quick go at at for you. Gorgeous, gorgeous sky! BTW