Hello All,

I am, of course, new here. I'd like to humbly offer up one of my pics for critique. I've seen so many smart things said in other threads, and I really hope that some of the knowledge here will flow my way. I'm excited to be here, even if it means getting thumped by those who know what they're doing. . .

Good shot. I like the cool-damp feeling color. It kind of reminds me of the Oregon coast.

I like how you included the rock and the flowers to add interest to this oceanscape.

Nit picks that may or may not have helped this:
--slightly higher shooting angle, to put the horizon up in the frame, or make the background completely water.

--crop from the top just a tad, play with it and see what you like.

--if you get a chance, reshoot this on a partly cloudy or sunny day, maybe at different times of day too.

Thanks for posting, looking forward to seeing some more of your work and insights, you obviously have a good eye for photo.

Hi, and welcome to the forums! I am sure you will find, as I have, that this is a friendly and helpful place to improve your photography - there are some very good photographers here.

I too like this image - the flowers in the cleft of the rocks speaks to me of something fragile finding a little toehold of existence in an otherwise harsh environment. There are two things though that would make it better. First, as Mr Yuck has already said, the crop is not the most helpful. I do like the position of the rock on the left - it is right on the thirds which is compositionally strong. It is cropped a little harshly on the bottom though - a slightly highter viewpoint might well help that.

Second, the colour looks a little flat. I think the image works with being misty and dull, but a little tweak with levels might help lift the colour just a little.

Hope that helps!
Mike

That's a right smart photo, matey! In addition to maybe snipping off a smidge of the top, perhaps cropping the left side almost to the point where the rock on the left starts? Love the feel of it though. I wonder how this would have looked with a battleship looming out of the fog...lol.
John

Welcome to the forum. I like the subject here. I also, basically, like how you framed this. What i think should have been done a little differently is shooting from a slightly lower vantage point so that the tops of the rocks break over the horizon . also, include a little more at the bottom. If you notice, the tops of the rocks are lined up level with the horizon (which I feel is placed well) and that does not usually work very well. In this case, the horizon line is so soft and faded that it does not hurt this way too much, but still would be better off having the tops of the rocks above the horizon.
A bit better lighting helping to get things interesting, instead of flat here, would also improve. All in all, you have a pleasing image to view and I look forward to more.

I like the cool, misty feel you caught which is a frequent ocean shore type of weather.
I do think that if you can bring out the colors just a bit on the rocks and flowers, it would be more eye catching.

Ok I have to ask the pbvious. Where was hits taken? I know it could be any generic coastline with cliffs over water but for some reason I see the Cliffs of NewFoundland there.

I love the feel of the shot, it makes me want to run back ito my kitchen and get a cup of hot cocoa. Then stand there and drink it all alone to appreciate the rugged beauty of the environment. I agree with the above poster who said that a bit more colour would make it more eye catching... but it isn't really necessary as it is already eye catching in it's own right.

Keep up the good work and keep posting.

Jay

i see scotland.. ???

trog

Hello and welcome to the forums...

In matters of crop and angle, the suggestions are well worth looking at, and testing if possible... I agree...

As for the colors, which i believe do look a little flat, levels are not what is needed since the histogram of the image is spread out pretty good.

However, a little tweak of blue in highlights (a little, very little) will introduce a better feeling for the sky and water... after adding a bit more blue you might want to add more contrast with Curves but that is just being a little too much of a perfectionist....

When in such situations, i find it always helpful to bracket... get as many different exposures as possible... bracket your shot the way it was, then maybe expose for the sky or water, and bracket again... If you are shooting digital its not a problem, if you shoot film, then you will learn very fast, seeing as you don't want to be spending your money on testing to see what works and what doesn't for the rest of your photographic journey :D

I like the look and feel of the shot though... that is a very nice effort... looking forward to more posts...

Marc

its what a picture taken on a dull day looks like.. the world has dull days i recon someone has to record images of them..

its the dull factor that makes me see scotland.. he he

trog

Wow,

Thanks everyone, what a warm welcome. Thanks! There are so many good posts here already, that I'll have trouble responding to them all, but I'll try.

Mr. Yuck--thanks for being first off the boat, and for the compliments. I do like the idea of a re-shoot under various conditions, perhaps even to make a series. But this particular stone is in Ireland (good guesses everyone!) and I'm in Arizona. The odds are slim for the foreseeable future.

Mike--More thanks to you. I've been here a very short time, but am impressed by the series you're submitting to the RPS, so you're quick response here is flattering. Your points about the harsh cropping and flat light are well-taken, though once printed, I think only the sky and water end up feeling too dead. (The crop remains the crop, sadly)

swmdrayfan & Frog--Thanks for the welcome, your agreement about the colors and the crops has been duly noted.

gahspidy--I really like what you've said about the placement of the tops of the rocks in relation to the horizon. I think I was so into balancing sky, sea, and stone that I totally overlooked their relation to each other. This would be the first of the things I would try were I to return to that spot.

Jaedon--I've already mentioned Ireland, but the Aran Islands, to be more specific. Thanks for the warm words.

Marc--Once I buy a new copy of Photoshop, the tweaks you've suggested will be among the first I try. Many thanks. I did bracket the shot, as I was shooting digital, but I think, ultimately, that the crummy weather conditions of the day simply exceeded my abilities.

Again, many thanks to everyone. This seems like exactly the sort of community I hoped it was.