Unprotected Beach . . .

[gahspidy]

What are your thoughts on this one . .
Thanks

[bubblesxx19]

I like the photo, except the chair and umbrella seem to be somewhat distracting; they are (or seem to be) out of place. Otherwise this is a GREAT picture!

[Seb]

What are your thoughts on this one . .
Thanks

I think I have already seen this somewhere ;) You know that I like it but the b&w conversion isn't ideal as I see it. I believe that it is too contrasty, the details are lost on the umbrella. I would have hoped for a little more details in the sky as well. That's a strong composition that needs a different b&w conversion.

Seb

[OldSchool]

Hi Gary,

I think that's a nice concept, but it doesn't seemed balanced to me. I don't know... but, I'm thinking that the chair should have a little more prominence or something.

What would have been really fun to try, if you could get position, would be to back up a bit and shoot with a long lens -- try and make those waves look big and about to wash the chair and all.

Thanks for posting,
Tim

[Overbeyond]

Hello Gary
That empty chair gives me a very uncomfortable feeling. Where is its owner? Gone to swim and never to return? Hence maybe the signage. No detail in the flag (umbrella) but in the circumstances black may well be appropriate. The absence of some wet sand in front of the waves is unusual, or maybe not. A little bit more in the sky would add to the "emptyness".
Gary, what are your thoughts on this one?

Tom
Tom

[gahspidy]

Thanks for the comments on this. This is a scene that i had tried shooting once before, but in that attempt the chair and umbrella were further out and too small to be relevant. In this attempt, I am satisfied with the placement of the chair and umbrella, but the overcast lighting of this day has caused the details to be lost and render the chair and umbrella to be less prominent as i would like. Also, valid observations about the sky. . .I would have liked more dramatic sky to go along .
Tom, the sand slopes down towrds the water and so the wet sand is out of site from this view.
This image looks much better in print as the various elements including the chair look more relevant, however, I'm not satisfied with the overall outcome and will be going back to set this one up again. The idea or concept here is that it should look as if there is someone swimming in the water with the notion that there is danger. A tension or somewhat disturbing feeling here is sought.
Thanks for the thoughts on this . . .

[gahspidy]

I think I have already seen this somewhere ;) You know that I like it but the b&w conversion isn't ideal as I see it. I believe that it is too contrasty, the details are lost on the umbrella. I would have hoped for a little more details in the sky as well. That's a strong composition that needs a different b&w conversion.

Seb

Seb, yes too contrasty especially the umbrella. It is not from the conversion so much as it is from the lighting. I tried everything in the conversion to the point of making the image very flat and even dodging the umbrella but there was no image data there at all. I guess with the brightness of the sand and sky the dark green umbrella had to be underexposed. . .thus different lighting conditions will and should be the solution.
Thanks

[GB1]

Always like lonely beach shots. The black sign is a bit contrasty with the beach and waves, but what can you do. I like the umbrella. The only thing I see that you could have made better is a little more space between the left side and the sign. -GB