Vigil II

[SmartWombat]

Checked for camera shake this time, since I was working between 1/15 and 1/60 with no IS.

[gahspidy]

Paul, this shot came off real well. The sky sets off the subjects perfectly. It has a "Biblical" days look to it. It might have helped to leave a little more room at the bottom, but still is very powerful.
Good that you went back and did this again.

[MarcusK]

Gary hit it right on the money here.... I also prefer this one! Nothing else to say.....

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Marc

[SmartWombat]

Thanks guys.
I didn't go back, this is one of the other shots I took the same evening.

It's a 3 hour drive from home to Dover, 35 minutes on the EuroTunnel, 30 minutes to find this (if I ever could find it again) and then another 3 and a half hours back home. I know it's somewhere between Cap Blanc Nez and Cap Gris Nez.

I would have to do that every day for ages to catch the light just right like I did last Friday night. It was right on the edge of a rainstorm, fortunately the dry edge. The light caught my eye as I drove down the road, and then when I saw the figures in my rear view mirror I knew that I just had to stop.

[SmartWombat]

Thanks Gary, there's a looser shot in the original Vigil thread.
Perhaps too far back though, but MB1 wanted context
I've been pixel-peeping on the wider shot, I'm impressed with what the EF-S 10-22 and the 20D achieved.

[GB1]

Paul - A nicely done photograph. I like how everything balances out -- seems traditional, as they used to use a lot of balancing and triangles in religious paintings back in the middle ages. My only quibble is the background. The green seems a tad bit out of place with the feeling, but, not bad either, just different than what I expected.

GB

[readingr]

Paul,

Congrats, like it a lot but as someone said a tad more on the bottom would have been perfection.

Roger

[Xia_Ke]

An excellent find Paul. I agree with Gary about just a touch more room at the bottom but, not a big deal. Also, I wonder how this would look in.... B&W Sorry, couldn't resist...LOL Congrats on the FP :thumbsup:

Aaron

[SmartWombat]

Thanks everyone, glad you like it.

Gary - I thought as a moderator I wasn't allowed FP

Gary, Roger, Aaron - I have one for you to crop.

[Xia_Ke]

...I thought as a moderator I wasn't allowed FP ...

A good photo is a good photo, regardless if a mod took it. I would hate to see you guys not included just because you pitch in here :thumbsup:

...Gary, Roger, Aaron - I have one for you to crop.

Well, since, I've been into the whole 6x6 thing lately ...

[mtbbrian]

Gary - I thought as a moderator I wasn't allowed FP

It was always my rule that anyone could be selected other than myself or John.
Which is what I told Gary.
One of my photographs was selected once in the galleries.
(hint, hint.. )
Brian

[SmartWombat]

I wonder how this would look in.... B&W

There is no colour to draw the cross and the hill out of the background any more, and there is no colour in the clouds (no blue sky, no sunset orange tinge) to use in the colour-to-B&W mapping that would give good sky contrast.
I think it makes a good picture mediocre.

But if you can make a good B&W conversion, go ahead and post it.
Consider it a challenge

[SmartWombat]

Hmm, better than I thought.
Want to play with the full size original ?
Email me

[Ballen Photo]

Hi Paul, This looks very well shot. I think the cloudy, gloomy looking skies helped to set the atmosphere and feeling of the image.
Also, I prefer your second posting of it (6x6?).
My apologies if you already posted & I missed it, but what gear did you use here?
-Bruce

[gahspidy]

Paul, Brian answered the issue of selecting your for the featured photo.
As for the edits, i think the crop that Aaron applied is ok, but I really prefer more sky than land on this shot. Also, I prefer the color over the b&w here. The blue in the sky combined with some of the brown of the land sets offf that magical feeling for me.
I think your original crop works well, but just get a bit more to the bottom.
Here is a crop from your other shot. I like the sky and so included alot of it in the crop.
Also, I reduced the saturation in the green areas and a bit in the land. A few other touches as well.
All in all, i really like the original and feel if you expand the canvas a bit and add some land, you have the winner.
Thanks for sharing your shots with us Paul

[SmartWombat]

My apologies if you already posted & I missed it, but what gear did you use here? -Bruce

Canon 20D, EF-S 10-22
ISO 100, 1/50, f/5.6 for the curious

[SmartWombat]

Thank you, Gary, everyone.
It's the sharing of images, ideas and opinions that makes this work.

I deliberately pushed myself on this.
Wide angle, no cars, difficult stormy light, it's all been worth it to get out of the comfort zone.

[Xia_Ke]

Very nice Gary :thumbsup: I love threads like this where you can see everyone's personal take on a particular shot

Paul, I sent you an email for the original but, not sure if you got it

[SmartWombat]

Paul, I sent you an email for the original but, not sure if you got it

Yes, received and replied.
Looking forward to your vision of my vision

[Xia_Ke]

Yes, received and replied.
Looking forward to your vision of my vision

Here is my humble attempt

[readingr]

Paul,

This is what I was thinking.

Roger

[SmartWombat]

Which is within a gnat's of my original.

[DrRoebuck]

Very nice shot and congrats on the sticky.

[readingr]

Which is within a gnat's of my original.

Well, I did say a tad more.

Roger