<<< o >>>dear liza #2 30 comments + add yours
chromasia.com

I know I said I was going to put up a more dramatic shot this evening, but I thought I'd post this one instead (and the more dramatic one tomorrow. It's much the same scene as yesterday's, but I've gone for a 'colder' feel to this one. Let me know how you think they compare. I think I prefer yesterday's, but I'm quite pleased with this one too.

Oh, and as quite a few of you commented on the masking for yesterday's shot: both yesterday's and today's are a combination of two TIFFs processed from the same RAW file, one at the normal exposure, one overexposed by a stop. The mask was used to seperate the original exposure (the sky and some aspects of the background) from the overexposed shot – the bucket and most of the foreground. I did think about doing both as HDRs, but decided to go with a more 'traditional' approach for these two.

captured
camera
lens
focal length
aperture
shutter speed
shooting mode
exposure bias
metering mode
ISO
flash
image quality
RAW converter
cropped?
10.36am on 14/1/07
Canon 20D
EF 17-40 f/4L USM
21mm (34mm equiv.)
f/8.0
1/320
aperture priority
-1/3
evaluative
100
no
RAW
C1 Pro
no
 
3x2 + beachcombing + fylde coast
comment by greg at 08:23 PM (GMT) on 15 January, 2007

Love it. Especially the solid black contrasting with salt and pepper sand. I'm a new visitor to the site so I know little about the techniques involved. But I did read yesterday that your depth of field in the first beach shot was unaltered. Do you ever use blur tools to soften detail?

comment by m at 08:32 PM (GMT) on 15 January, 2007

crisp

comment by Jennifer at 08:46 PM (GMT) on 15 January, 2007

Can't make up my mind - this is uber real which I don't usually dig - but I like it. Possibly yesterday's as I liked the softness of the background and the angle of the groyne - difficult! You can't post another tomorrow - I was looking forward to *?*! ;-)

comment by P.J. at 09:11 PM (GMT) on 15 January, 2007

So far, I think I'm liking the one from yesterday better. I'll look forward to shot No. 3. :)

comment by Marek Nierychlo // lichtlauschen at 09:14 PM (GMT) on 15 January, 2007

This one got more contrast as the shot from yesterday. I like this more. It's more realistic when I compare them so I think this one is it.

comment by Richard Trim at 09:37 PM (GMT) on 15 January, 2007

I go for yesterday's shot. It created a greater feel of desolation for me. Atmosphere in a photograph is a powerful precedent. I can't comment on and decode the techno' stuff but that shot certainly stirred the emotions.

comment by matt at 09:37 PM (GMT) on 15 January, 2007

then fix it dear henry

comment by Jamey at 09:48 PM (GMT) on 15 January, 2007

Can't decide which I prefer either but I'm equally impressed by the processing on this as well.

comment by ROB at 09:58 PM (GMT) on 15 January, 2007

Classic Chromasia. There is nothing else like this out there...

comment by [ PIXEL VIKING ] at 10:09 PM (GMT) on 15 January, 2007

I think I like the white sand and the cooler sky of this image over yesterday's. The composition of this one is simpler and therefor more appealing in my eyes.

comment by Boje at 10:44 PM (GMT) on 15 January, 2007

It's funny, it seems as though the definition of 'HDR' is combining multiple exposures using Photomatix. I agree it's the most obvious, and the only method with a defined title, but blending two exposures or tone mapping one exposure ultimately achieves something only the RAW format permits; all are part of the potential of digital photography.

It's funny how film enthusiasts manage to survive these days, but you can see what they mean when they talk about the quality of digitally processed photographs; it's totally different. I would be fascinated by this shot if it weren't for the fact that with shots like this I think a photographer with immense potential is resting on his laurels.

It's odd, I think, that a photoblogger has not only a signature style of shot, but even more so one that people are constantly gratified by. Come on DJN, we all know you're among the best at what you do, but branch out, man! There only so many shot of 'debris' on the beach that'll maintain the title!

comment by Max at 10:55 PM (GMT) on 15 January, 2007

Very cool processing. I could have sworn you used a soft flash.

comment by milou at 12:02 AM (GMT) on 16 January, 2007

There's a certain luminescence to the texture of the sand and I like the groynes marching off to the sea with their usual inevitability.

comment by ryan at 12:38 AM (GMT) on 16 January, 2007

As you mentioned, the surreal and drama to this one over the previous really adds something...

comment by Rob at 03:16 AM (GMT) on 16 January, 2007

Oh man...I just got the title - doh.

I like the processing in this one better, but admittedly I have a bent toward cooler bluer tones. As a shot, I like the depth in yesterdays better.

Any chance you will consider processing yesterdays shot like this one?

comment by Bugsy and the Hometown Invasion tour at 05:35 AM (GMT) on 16 January, 2007

i love the shift between todays and yesterdays. *tips hat*

comment by Azz at 08:14 AM (GMT) on 16 January, 2007

I like both shots - I like the framing of yesterday's shot and the definition/colouring of this one.

comment by Boje at 09:51 AM (GMT) on 16 January, 2007

Actually, I think this shot goes better with my coffee than it did with my beer ;p Crazy light.

comment by riesenriel at 10:08 AM (GMT) on 16 January, 2007

like both, the lighting is so unusual but so nice.

comment by Oko at 01:20 PM (GMT) on 16 January, 2007

Both of these shot really have great texture. The angel of the wall dropping towards the water (I assume) adds a line to shot. Well done.

comment by Alice at 02:28 PM (GMT) on 16 January, 2007

Great shot! I like yesterday's shot also, but I like this one even better. I think this one does a better job showing the contrasting colors (sand, pot, sky, etc.). Very nice.

comment by Pam R at 04:42 PM (GMT) on 16 January, 2007

I like yesterday's image better. In this shot, the brighter areas of sand are a bit too bright and the bucket a bit too contrasty. I like the quieter nature of yesterday's shot. The very subtle tonal gradations, the lower contrast and the wonderful color make a more compelling image for me. Also, I prefer the sky in yesterday's image. The way it opened up around the tip of the bucket was sheer perfection. Can't wait for tomorrow's image!

comment by Billy at 07:33 PM (GMT) on 16 January, 2007

Wow. The lighting and texture are wonderful. Interesting choice of subject.

comment by djn1 at 08:42 PM (GMT) on 16 January, 2007

Thanks everyone :-)

comment by Kevin at 10:18 PM (GMT) on 16 January, 2007

Great shot! Blending exposures was definitely the right choice for this one.

comment by mihai at 01:03 PM (GMT) on 17 January, 2007

nice details and good light ....almost surreal

comment by Regis at 03:08 PM (GMT) on 17 January, 2007

Marvelous rendering. I love the tones !

comment by Mal at 09:36 PM (GMT) on 17 January, 2007

Both of these have been great Dave. The texture and light in the sand detail I particularly like in this one. Really lovely images. Mal

comment by JD at 09:30 AM (GMT) on 19 January, 2007

glad you decided to go down this route (non HDR that is)...
I think HDR removes too many shadows from pictures, and thusly some of the beauty that light can provide!

The colours are sensational, as is the composition with the barrier thing (can't ever remember what they call them... thing I used to stand on when crabbing!), it really draws your eye down and gives balance ;)

comment by JD at 09:32 AM (GMT) on 19 January, 2007

I'm not sure why tho, but the shadows seem a little unnatural in this one, making it seems as though its a totally computerised image?