Photo Critique Forum

Please post no more than five images a day and respond to as many images as you post. Critics, please be constructive, specific, and nice! Moderated by gahspidy and mtbbrian.
Featured Photo
Photo by hminx

Photo by hminx
Featured Photo Archive >>
By posting on the Photo Critique forum you agree to post only your own photos, be respectful, and give back as much as you receive. This is a moderated forum and anything abusive or off-topic will be removed.
Results 1 to 18 of 18

Thread: Ocean Sunset

  1. #1
    mod squad gahspidy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    N.Y. U.S.A.
    Posts
    8,368

    Ocean Sunset

    Shoulda put some plastic bags on my tripod legs, still trying to get the sand out.
    Anyway, how do you feel about this shot.
    Thanks
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Ocean Sunset-sunsetocean0105-061806x1web.jpg  
    please do not edit and repost my photos


    gary


  2. #2
    Re Member LeeIs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Toronto, Canada
    Posts
    3,403

    Re: Ocean Sunset

    it looks like a CGI! great mood, romantic to say the least.
    The colours though don't look natural which again goes back to the "it looks like CGI".

  3. #3
    Senior Member readingr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Basingstoke UK
    Posts
    4,564

    Re: Ocean Sunset

    Hey chaps stop the cruelty

    My boats out of the water, the water is freezing, I have withdrawl symptoms and now in one day I get surfers and Gary's great photo thrown at me! Its not fair!!!!

    Seriously, Leels you must be a landlubber - you frequently get these colours in the ealry morning or late evening.

    I love everything about this photo, the colours, the spray off the waves, the refelction of the sun setting and the birds coming back to roost after a hard day foraging.

    The DOF is perfect and the composition excellent - I definately like this photo.
    "I hope we will never see the day when photo shops sell little schema grills to clamp onto our viewfinders; and the Golden Rule will never be found etched on our ground glass." from The mind's eye by Henri Cartier-Bresson

    My Web Site: www.readingr.com

    DSLR
    Canon 5D; EF100-400 F4.5-5.6L IS USM; EF24-70 F2.8L USM 50mm F1.8 II; EF 100 F2.8 Macro
    Digital
    Canon Powershot Pro 1; Canon Ixus 100


  4. #4
    Grumpy Old Man Overbeyond's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Ireland (Now in London)
    Posts
    2,372

    Re: Ocean Sunset

    Great composition and colours and birds. beaytiful wave.
    My only problem with this is the glare from the reflection of the sun on the water: I find it too much and a bit hard hard on the eyes. Perhaps it could be softened a bit.
    Tom
    http://www.overbeyond.com


    I have a total lack of respect for anything connected with society, except that which makes the roads safer, the beer stronger, the food cheaper, and the old men and old women warmer in the winter and happier in the summer. Brendan Behan

  5. #5
    learning member
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Secunda ,Mpumalanga , South-Africa
    Posts
    297

    Re: Ocean Sunset

    Hi Gary
    That's something to get all those sand out of your tripods legs

    This is for me a beautiful scenery shot . I only have a problem with the reflection of the sun in the water .It is a bit too hard on my eyes and do distract my view from the other beautiful scenery . I especially love those big waves breaking . Would also like to have seen a bit more detail of the waves, but i don't know if that was possible at that perticular time ?

    I just would like to ask you something ? In one of your previous can series you had a photo of cans on the beach , did you put your camera flat on the ground for that shot , and how did you managed to get a view to the object ? Did you perhaps use a remote control ?

    I was also trying something with the camera basically on the ground but with not so good results .

    Regards
    james

  6. #6
    Obsessive-compulsive... Steph_B's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Cleveland, OH
    Posts
    404

    Re: Ocean Sunset

    Very nice composition (I like how the sliver of blue sky balances with the burned bottom left edges). The DOF is good and the exposure is OK when considering how contrasted this scene is. This highlights are almost burned out but not quite. They still retain some color.

    But what makes this pic are definitely the birds. If not for them, this would be yet another sea side sunset.

    I think that a slightly longer lens would have allowed you to emphasize more the splashing waves, but then, it all depends on which effect you were going for (sedated or dynamic). The rather wide angle here allowed you to have a large portion of calm water which contrasts with the birds and the foaming water.....

    A nice dark mat + wood frame around it and you have a keeper for sure.

    Steph.

  7. #7
    Grumpy Old Man Overbeyond's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Ireland (Now in London)
    Posts
    2,372

    Re: Ocean Sunset

    hello Gary
    I have taken the liberty of having a play with the glare; I hope you don't mind. Does this help or have I messed it up? Hope not.
    Tom
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Ocean Sunset-sunsetocean0105-061806x1web.jpg  
    http://www.overbeyond.com


    I have a total lack of respect for anything connected with society, except that which makes the roads safer, the beer stronger, the food cheaper, and the old men and old women warmer in the winter and happier in the summer. Brendan Behan

  8. #8
    is back jar_e's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Calgary, Alberta
    Posts
    3,264

    Re: Ocean Sunset

    Gary,

    Wow great shot! The rolling waves and the birds certainly are a huge thing for this photo, as without them, this shot would be a little cliche. Great timing with the birds and the wave, and honestly, for me, the glare isn't that big of a problem.

    Great shot!

    Jared

  9. #9
    Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Posts
    118

    Re: Ocean Sunset

    I wouldn't change a thing. Love it.
    http://www.dmbforums.com

  10. #10
    Not Really (Senior Member) ShotsbyScott's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    187

    Re: Ocean Sunset

    Nice shot Gary! I found myself looking all over this picture for a "can" HA!

    This is very relaxing! The bright reflection doesn't bother me.
    I'm sure the water is cold, but I wonder what the sun light shining through the spray of the crashing waves would look like.
    Would like to see more from this outing.

    Scott

  11. #11
    sharpen your image JK_Photo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Manitoba,Canada
    Posts
    304

    Re: Ocean Sunset

    Nice shot and I agree with Steph_B; the birds make the shot. Not much you can do about the glare as there is no detail in it. Let's face it, that's what glare looks like.
    Jon

    "shoot wide, shoot close"

  12. #12
    Member
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Fyffe, AL, USA
    Posts
    129

    Re: Ocean Sunset

    No doubt the colors and the birds help makes this shot, but to me, it’s the texture of the water in the foreground. Being there in the water is cool. Another great one Gary.

    Dudley

  13. #13
    mod squad gahspidy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    N.Y. U.S.A.
    Posts
    8,368

    Re: Ocean Sunset

    Leels. . . .Thanks for looking and commenting. These were the colors produced by this time of day, sun setting, clouds rolling in, and cold, cold , cold. But I see where your coming from with the tones of magenta and blue reflecting off some dark areas of the waves.

    Roger. . .I'm sorry to add to your withdrawal symptoms;) Knowing how much a seafaring chap you are, I appreciate your looking and liking this image. Thanks. Hope your time on land doesn't seem too drawn out and you'll be back in the boat before you know it!

    Tom . . . yeah, the reflection is strong but from my experience it won't be as profound in the print as it is on the glaring monitor. But I'll see how that goes. I'm not goijg to try to do much about it other than to perhaps clone in a bit of detail lost in the glare, but very subtle. thanks for your effort put into showing me your exaple for improvement.

    James . . .glad you feel it a nice shot. yes, I think it would be difficult to get more detail out of the waves at that angle, focal length and lighting situation. About your question regarding the Beached Cans shot, I had the camera about 6 inches off( sorry i can't convert that to cm for you right now ;) ) the sand. But what creates the dynamic of the cans looming large in the scene is the wide angle lens ( 28 mm, not very wide, but still considered wide angle) with a close focusing ability. I was about a foot away from the cans for the shot. I dont know what your shooting with, but if it is a point and shoot camera, you just won't be able to achieve the same effect. Hope I helped you some.

    Steph . . .Thanks for looking. Yes , the birds are very key to this scene. I wasn't quite set up yet when I saw them flying in and they had me fumbling for my dials and I just snapped before I could make sure i had it as I wanted. I did have the shot framed and focused, and had it set up so that the waves would break the horizon, but was still deciding on shutter and apperture when I had to just snap it as it was... i think it was about 5.6 aperture, but being wide angled gave it the extra dof. I do intend to give it another go and try zooming in on the waves as well. I had my 8 year old son with me that day and did not quite have the freedom I would have liked as I had to keep an eye on him. Thanks for your comments.

    Jared . . .thanks for the positve feelings on this. Much appreciated

    Skyline315 . . .Thanks for looking and commenting.

    Scott . . . There were a couple o cans not too far out of the frame this was the day and location that I took my beached cans shot, gladyou like it. I would like to get more shots and different angles and comps from the ocean.

    Jon. . . well said, thats what glare looks like. This is the way the scene was at the time. I don't know if using a ND filter might have helped on this, but I also would not want to detract from the dynamic of the sunset and reflection. Thanks for your time.

    Dudley . . .Glad you pointed out the water in the foreground. I wanted to be in the water to bring the scene further into the ocean, and to give contrast to the calm receding water against the rolling waves coming in.
    please do not edit and repost my photos


    gary


  14. #14
    Re Member LeeIs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Toronto, Canada
    Posts
    3,403

    Re: Ocean Sunset

    Quote Originally Posted by readingr
    Hey chaps stop the cruelty

    My boats out of the water, the water is freezing, I have withdrawl symptoms and now in one day I get surfers and Gary's great photo thrown at me! Its not fair!!!!

    Seriously, Leels you must be a landlubber - you frequently get these colours in the ealry morning or late evening.
    I wasn't trying to be cruel. I'm not even sure if I came off as such.
    I posted the first thing that came to my mind when I looked at the photo. Just giving my honest opnion that's all.
    Liban

    "There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have." Nelson Mandela

    Nikon Samurai #23 - The Alexei Ponikarovsky of PR

    Havana Cuba Photography

  15. #15
    Re Member LeeIs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Toronto, Canada
    Posts
    3,403

    Re: Ocean Sunset

    Quote Originally Posted by gahspidy
    Leels. . . .Thanks for looking and commenting. These were the colors produced by this time of day, sun setting, clouds rolling in, and cold, cold , cold. But I see where your coming from with the tones of magenta and blue reflecting off some dark areas of the waves.
    Hey, it's my pleasure.
    Liban

    "There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have." Nelson Mandela

    Nikon Samurai #23 - The Alexei Ponikarovsky of PR

    Havana Cuba Photography

  16. #16
    mod squad gahspidy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    N.Y. U.S.A.
    Posts
    8,368

    Re: Ocean Sunset

    Quote Originally Posted by LeeIs
    I wasn't trying to be cruel. I'm not even sure if I came off as such.
    I posted the first thing that came to my mind when I looked at the photo. Just giving my honest opnion that's all.
    Leels, I know you were not being cruel, on the contrary, you were giving me your honest take on this and I can't ask for anything more.
    I think Roger was being sarcastic and refering to all the ocean posts lately. He is a boater and has been frustrated during the off season as his boat is out of the water.
    please do not edit and repost my photos


    gary


  17. #17
    Re Member LeeIs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Toronto, Canada
    Posts
    3,403

    Re: Ocean Sunset

    Oh, my apologies.
    Liban

    "There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have." Nelson Mandela

    Nikon Samurai #23 - The Alexei Ponikarovsky of PR

    Havana Cuba Photography

  18. #18
    Senior Member readingr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Basingstoke UK
    Posts
    4,564

    Re: Ocean Sunset

    Leels

    Gary hit the nail on the head. I should have put a smilie at the end of the comments.

    Looking back at my post I think I should be apologising to you for calling you a landlubber, It was meant as humour. Please accept my apology
    "I hope we will never see the day when photo shops sell little schema grills to clamp onto our viewfinders; and the Golden Rule will never be found etched on our ground glass." from The mind's eye by Henri Cartier-Bresson

    My Web Site: www.readingr.com

    DSLR
    Canon 5D; EF100-400 F4.5-5.6L IS USM; EF24-70 F2.8L USM 50mm F1.8 II; EF 100 F2.8 Macro
    Digital
    Canon Powershot Pro 1; Canon Ixus 100


Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. December Sunset
    By ACArmstrong in forum ViewFinder
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 02-04-2005, 05:10 AM
  2. Honeymooners against a sunset backdrop
    By opus in forum Photo Critique
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 07-31-2004, 11:15 AM
  3. A sunset
    By Outdoorsman in forum Photo Critique
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 07-01-2004, 09:07 PM
  4. sunset that didnt end up so well
    By Young Shooter in forum Photo Critique
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 05-19-2004, 07:40 PM
  5. Another sunset pic...tried some stuff
    By bighitboy in forum Photo Critique
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 02-26-2004, 12:06 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •