Luminous Landscape Forum
Equipment & Techniques => Landscape & Nature Photography => Topic started by: shaunw on December 06, 2011, 12:49:20 pm
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Northumberland in the NE of the England is known as ''the quite country'' i was out this evening to capture the much photographed Bamburgh Castle...i was late for the Castle, too busy capturing this scene.
All input appreciated...Shaun
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7154/6460786235_513e26a7ce_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/skwalby/6460786235/)
Echo Beach (http://www.flickr.com/photos/skwalby/6460786235/) by Shaunwalby Photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/skwalby/), on Flickr
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Wonderful orange tones. i cannot decide which is more distracting - the surf or the dark hills. i think the surf since it is lighter. My focus wants to be on the sun and the reflection in the water rather than pulled to the white surf. Still a grand shot the way it is.
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I like this big orange lozenge between land and sea. Nice ovals, triangles, contrasts and colours.
Scott
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Wonderful orange tones. i cannot decide which is more distracting - the surf or the dark hills. i think the surf since it is lighter. My focus wants to be on the sun and the reflection in the water rather than pulled to the white surf. Still a grand shot the way it is.
Thanks for your thoughts degrub
Shaun
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I like this big orange lozenge between land and sea. Nice ovals, triangles, contrasts and colours.
Scott
Thanks Scott
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I like it. There's a sense of open timelessness... I can see myself walking that beach, hand in hand with Marcia...
Of course that would add footprints and change the image. ;D
Mike.
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It's good light. Is smooth sand and a far away sunset enough of a subject to hold interest?
It is for me. I can spend lots of time looking at it.
Very satisfying.
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Lovely photo Shaun. I like the colours and the "emptiness"
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It's good light. Is smooth sand and a far away sunset enough of a subject to hold interest?
Factor in Gisel Bundchen, lots of time - at least whilst the light lasts - and you have Paradise.
;-(
Rob C
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Factor in Gisel Bundchen, lots of time - at least whilst the light lasts - and you have Paradise.
;-(
Rob C
But rob, it's always better to leave something to the imagination. As the image is now, if you stare long enough you should be able to imagine Gisele in the scene. And when you tire of her, put in your next model. And so on. ;)
Eric
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Nice beach shot, not over done.
I especially like the orange reflection in the center, nice and smooth.
Jack
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But rob, it's always better to leave something to the imagination. As the image is now, if you stare long enough you should be able to imagine Gisele in the scene. And when you tire of her, put in your next model. And so on. ;)
Eric
Eric, isn't it enough that I left the second e in Gisele to the imagination? That just shows to go you what the imagination can do to/for you!
Actually, with Gisele, it was a known fact that though she did a lot of risqué pics, she never did a totally topless, so something was ever left to the imagination, which as every woman knows, if far more seductive and mind-blowing than not. That's why off switches are fitted to bedroom lights.
Trouble with too much imagining, one could come to the point where even the beach might be imiginary; CaNik wouldn't like that!
Rob C
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... Is smooth sand and a far away sunset enough of a subject to hold interest?
Oh, yes!
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Are there no ways in which you think the scene could be re-worked to give a stronger image?
No.
We all tend to suffer from time to time from perfectionitis, but sometimes it is best to leave things as they are, beautiful, even if not perfect.
The uniqueness of photography is that in any given moment you can do only one thing, take one standpoint, chose one lens, exposure, etc. Never two. Never. Physically impossible (though maybe not in a parallel universe). I know, I know, you can "work the scene" in the next moment or next hour or next day or next decade. But that moment you felt something that prompted you to select a particular standpoint, lens, exposure is never going to be repeated. You got it, however imperfect, but it is yours, and you made something out of it.
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I wonder what yardstick we hold these photos against?
A magnolia washed wall with/without a print of the Echo beach photo?
A magnolia washed wall with a print of the Echo beach photo or with a print of some other photo?
You lost me at magnolia ;)
Why should that stop us asking what worked well and what didn't work well and thinking out how we might approach a similar situation differently?
By all means keep asking, but I thought I answered that: because the image is already quite good as it is. By the way, you keep asking, but I have not heard what you think could have been done differently. Feel free to chip in.
This reminds me of two types of people when it come to decision-making: satisfiers and maximizers. Satisfiers stop searching when they get to a solution that leaves them satisfied, maximizers continue searching until the get the maximum out of the process (e.g., interview all possible candidates for a job or try all possible Photoshop or shooting techniques). Satisfiers are satisfied with the result, maximizers with the process. Satisfiers found what they want and moved on, while maximizers are still searching for the ideal (and by the time they find it, it might be already too late - e.g., sun disappeared). Obviously, I am advocating the satisfiers approach in this case.
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One thing I might try if it were mine.
I might sample the water-sand in the center (sunset orange color) and add a little of that color to the water on the right.
Just a little, just to keep the eye from wandering in that direction.
Not sure how it will look until you try.
Jack
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I agree SB, very meditative and serene as it is-superb. Add anything else and it becomes a different statement. As it is-it is complete.
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This reminds me of two types of people when it come to decision-making: satisfiers and maximizers. Satisfiers stop searching when they get to a solution that leaves them satisfied, maximizers continue searching until the get the maximum out of the process (e.g., interview all possible candidates for a job or try all possible Photoshop or shooting techniques). Satisfiers are satisfied with the result, maximizers with the process. Satisfiers found what they want and moved on, while maximizers are still searching for the ideal (and by the time they find it, it might be already too late - e.g., sun disappeared). Obviously, I am advocating the satisfiers approach in this case.
This reminds, me, sort of obliquely, of the joke about the chap with the tiny member who went to the ranch in Nevada looking for some extra-marital fun and games. When he disrobed, the girl laughed out loud and asked: 'who's that supposed to satify?' 'Me,' came the simple reply.
I've never been to Nevada, but they say there are lots of snowy mountains there.
Rob C
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But you're in the UK! Dulux (http://www.dulux.co.uk/colour/magnolia) :-)...
I am actually in the USA, though I occasionally get published in UK magazines.
I really do not get your angle in this debate. You do not seem to find this image particularly interesting or well done, and it is fine. There are several other participants in this thread, myself included, who find it quite good as-is. There is no right or wrong here, just like it or not, or feel it or not.
My point about satisfiers vs. maximizers is meant from the author's standpoint. It can be just as well applied to your scenario, to a viewer or buyer. If I would be the buyer, I would buy it without waiting to go first through gazillion beach sunset photos that I am sure exist today in the universe. Why? Because I am happy with what I see, enough so to stop the search. A maximizer would continue the search, first through the same gallery for a better one, then through other galleries in town, then online. I can guarantee you that with the subject such as beach sunsets he would never stop searching, as there would always be that nagging feeling that, after seeing a gazillion examples, there must be a gazillion +1 somewhere out there that just might be the perfect one.
As for Galen's musings, I actually agree with that. However, I used that example to mean if they were after a sunset image, not dusk image, then they would be late. I personally observed the same behavior as Galen did, and you can find my thoughts here (http://goo.gl/x347Z) (in the image description).
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When is enough enough? - An age old question whether you are a banker, a CEO or an artist.
Ultimately, artists must satisfy themselves first. As soon as they start working towards satisfying the desires/whims of someone else, their work becomes something other than pure art; e.g. commercial art.
At the same time, the notion of "being satisfied with what I've done" is often used (particularly by students) as a cop-out for not trying harder or not pushing further or not trying to learn more. However, when you've created a truly fine work as Echo Beach is, perhaps it's time to be satisfied. It may not be "perfect" in the eyes of others, but they weren't there "in the moment" and will have a different perspective based on their personal likes/dislikes.
Art is, arguably, the most self-centred thing a person can be doing but that's not a bad thing, it's the nature of self-expression.
An excellent and frank discussion. Thank you. I will pass this on to my photography students for them to chew on.
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... I'm still finding out what to expect from these forums, and it seems I should just expect there'll be either fulsome approbation or silent disapproval...
How about vocal disapproval? And that is what I've been asking you to provide, apparently in vain, instead of just asking questions as the form of a "silent disapproval".
As for "these forums", those who've been around a bit longer, know perfectly well how vocal we can be in our disapproval, myself included.
As for other aspect of the debate, seems like we are talking past each other, so I'll bow out.
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Not my style , very nice shot but I recommend to try black and white. This will force you to pay attention to the most important elements of the great photograph
texture,form,contrast, shape, composition.
When you discard the colors you focus on what is the most important, when you learn it you can go back to color and I guarantee you that your work will be improved a lot.
I like the composition and warm tones of this shot.
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How about vocal disapproval? And that is what I've been asking you to provide
If all you're asking for is vocal approval or vocal disapproval then I'm really not interested - there's little chance of learning from unexplained judgements; and I'm not interested in bashing shaunw's photo, just for the sake of bashing the photo.
(Actually I did reply to your previous question about what could have been done differently - "As degrub suggested a tighter crop - and reduction to more abstract areas of reflected colour".)
just asking questions as the form of a "silent disapproval"
I ask questions out of genuine curiosity - obviously you're seeing something appealing in the photo that I'm not, and I'm trying to understand what you're seeing there that I'm not.
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I can't see anything wrong with this image. It is superb and better than 90 percent of what I have seen on this forum. This is not a critique section, so I thought Shaun was fishing for comments when he posted it. Great image Shaun!
JMR
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Some debate!!.......As the Author/owner of the image all i can tell is that i remain totally happy with the image because... FOR ME (this is of course the single most important aspect of photography bar none, unless its commercial work of course) is portrays exactly how it felt to be there that evening, a big wide open space with the sea on my right the beautiful sun setting in the distance....................and that was was EXACTLY what i was trying to capture; as someone said.....as photographers we get to totally please ourselves.
There are around 15 versions of it,......this is the one i choose because it best represents what i was trying to achieve (FOR ME)...lol....sorry nothing my profound than that.
with regards to the question ''could it be improved''....of course it could, there isn't a single image on this planet that couldn't be improved.......................to suit the that particular viewers taste!!! I think a much more important question would be....has the owner considered the capture/processing/presentation of the image?
yes the owner has(vigorously as i do all my images); and do i feel the need to alter with the intention of improving the image....no.
FOR ME..it works and i like it 9 months down the line; to all those who like it...thanks really glad you enjoy what your looking at. For those that don't like it ,ok sorry about that i hope you enjoy some of my others, for those who want to alter it... well its not your to alter as i own it and it has been captured/processed and presented FOR ME.
Thanks for each and every comment...
Regards
Shaun Walby
Ps Might i suggest we leave this one here as fun as it certainly has been.
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This is not a critique section, so I thought Shaun was fishing for comments when he posted it.
Well, it says "Nature Photography - technical and aesthetic issues" but I guess I should take that to mean a section where photos are posted "fishing for [compliments]" :-)
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Well, it says "Nature Photography - technical and aesthetic issues" but I guess I should take that to mean a section where photos are posted "fishing for [compliments]" :-)
I posted this in another thread, but it might be relevant here as well. This is not a forum rule, just my observation on what seems to be a consensus:
There are three options when it comes to getting/avoiding criticism:
1. If someone wants a critique, there is a section for it (in The Art of Photography Forum)
2. If you specifically do not want it, but just want to display your work, there is a thread titled "Without Prejudice" in the same section
3. This forum is a bit ambiguous in that respect, as some posters would critique anyway, some would refrain, and some would ask for permission first (the last one refers to editing someone else's work).
Hence, Isaac, no, this thread is not meant for "fishing for compliments", or at least not only for that. If someone wants to use it so, that is ok too, although they can not count on, nor control (except by locking or deleting the whole trhead) if someone else posts a (negative) critique.
So, feel free to critique in this thread too, by all means. Just man up and use your own words for it, instead of hiding behind "degrub's" or behind slightly patronizing, "genuine curiosity" questions.
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So, feel free to critique in this thread too, by all means. Just man up and use your own words for it, instead of hiding behind "degrub's" or behind slightly patronizing, "genuine curiosity" questions.
(Actually "reduction to more abstract areas of reflected colour" were my words.)
I've told you as plainly as possible that "obviously you're seeing something appealing in the photo that I'm not, and I'm trying to understand what you're seeing there that I'm not".
Your continued refusal to accept that I ask straightforward honest questions is offensive. I won't insist that you man up and explain what appeals to you about the photo - but don't call me a liar for asking the question.
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... don't call me a liar for asking the question.
I understand we disagree, and lets leave it at that, but calling you liar was not my intention, nor it crossed my mind.
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Hi,
I like it, a lot!
Best regards
Erik
Northumberland in the NE of the England is known as ''the quite country'' i was out this evening to capture the much photographed Bamburgh Castle...i was late for the Castle, too busy capturing this scene.
All input appreciated...Shaun
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7154/6460786235_513e26a7ce_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/skwalby/6460786235/)
Echo Beach (http://www.flickr.com/photos/skwalby/6460786235/) by Shaunwalby Photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/skwalby/), on Flickr