First of all, thanks for all the great comments on my last entry. As always, they're much appreciated.
As for this one: it's been a while since I went down to St. Annes, and even longer since I photographed the pier, so I headed down there this morning. I had intended to shoot some long exposures while this section of the pier was under water, but must have misread the tide times because by the time I got there the tide was already quite some way out.
Anyway, I spent about an hour taking photographs, and can't say that I'm particularly impressed with any of the other shots that I got. I like this one though.
In terms of the post-production: there were two things I concentrated on here - balancing the sky to the foreground (using two masked Curves), and toning the image using a Curve to alter the blue and green channels. If you're interested, I've posted a copy of the original here:
Very nice. I like the cross processing like colors and the texture of the sand. Regards.
comment by jack at 08:15 PM (GMT) on 12 November, 2008
Sorry, but I prefer the original -- must be the purist in me
comment byignacio guerra at 08:26 PM (GMT) on 12 November, 2008
i really like this one :)
comment byErik Drabløs at 08:26 PM (GMT) on 12 November, 2008
I am usually quite impressed by your editing, but this time I actually would prefer the original. I think it's mostly due to the loss of detail in the pier. Not all that amazed by the colours either this time I guess.
Feel a little bad criticizing when I comment so rarely, but if I commented all the time it would be pretty much just "Very nice, really like the editing" over and over again...
comment byCarlos Garcia at 08:28 PM (GMT) on 12 November, 2008
I am so glad to see another photograph of this structure! It's a pier? It has such a "not from this planet" look to it and I wonder of its history: Why was it built? Who has walked upon it? What captains have tied their vessels to it's posts? Just wondering out loud. I love both images. The post-production one has beautiful tones.
comment bydjn1 at 08:44 PM (GMT) on 12 November, 2008
Erik: I'd much rather that people spoke their minds than said nothing, so feel free to criticize anything I post. Also, it's interesting that you mentioned the detail as Libby made much the same comment. I think it works as it is, but you might be right, it might be better if there was more detail.
Carlos: it was part of a much larger pier, a section of which burnt down. Now, there's a pier coming out towards this structure from the shore, a gap of around 150', then this structure. To give you a better idea about both structures I've posted another shot here:
comment byshooter at 08:45 PM (GMT) on 12 November, 2008
I usually compliment you on your undoubted processing skills, however this time I feel it's a case of a few clicks too far...
comment byClaus at 09:55 PM (GMT) on 12 November, 2008
I love the texture in the sand, it kinda leads the eyes to the structure!
comment byPolydactyle at 10:09 PM (GMT) on 12 November, 2008
Excellent desertic shot. Textures are nice again and the colors choice is perfect.
comment byRobbie Veldwijk at 10:13 PM (GMT) on 12 November, 2008
Wonderful photos, nice compositions and colors!
comment by chrissy at 12:08 AM (GMT) on 13 November, 2008
I may be a minority, but I love what you have done to this image, it adds a great deal of interest to a normally bland tonal scene. the highlights on the sand are great.
Also, your last image evoke the same comments from me x1000
comment byDan Kaufman at 02:36 AM (GMT) on 13 November, 2008
I appreciate your remark in asking for critical comment as well as "it's great." In that vein then I feel that my first reaction to the image was--that's interesting--but as I studied it a bit more I felt it wasn't compelling to me. The foreground beach and the "other worldly" pier work for me. I do like the high-contrast loss of detail in the pier. But it is the sky that isn't working for me. But I don't have a clue where I'd go with it though. It just doesn't draw me in.
comment byMirko Herzner at 06:08 AM (GMT) on 13 November, 2008
Perfect composition and interesting structures here. I have to admit that I am not a friend of the sky's colors, though.
comment byTom at 02:56 PM (GMT) on 13 November, 2008
The texture and detail on the sand is brilliant.
comment byYETi at 04:14 PM (GMT) on 13 November, 2008
The foreground is interesting and so is the sky but the main feature the pier is weird looking, I think it is hard from this distance to show th edetail but seems to have lost something in highlights may be? Doesn't do it justice unlike many or your other shots of this pier.
comment bydjn1 at 09:17 PM (GMT) on 13 November, 2008
Thanks everyone.
comment bygavin hart at 11:00 PM (GMT) on 13 November, 2008
David, I too am probably among the minority of commenters in saying that I prefer your processed version. The original, a very nice pier shot, is very natural looking. However, your edited version, for me, very strongly adds an indefinable feeling to the scene. I wish I could iterate what it is. The result transcends mere observation and impinges on my senses in a way which I think is of much greater value in an image than technical points about pier detail, etc. I suppose I'm a romantic or dreamer more than a technician. I have no qualms about the hues, I believe in artistic license. IMHO, embracing art in photography is totally valid.
comment by Mark at 02:26 AM (GMT) on 14 November, 2008
I think I'm largely with the 'nays' on this one, although I still like the final image. I was surprised to see that the unprocessed version had more to the sky than the final output. I think processing more along the lines of "the light show" would have suited this; much darker, and in particular the heavy vignetting to add intensity. The light/reflected patch bottom left is also very distracting in an otherwise fairly even toned image.
comment byRichard Webb at 10:44 AM (GMT) on 14 November, 2008
It was a landing stage attached to St Annes Pier
But the end of the pier burnt down in the 70’s.
It was owned by my father then; and he decided to leave this part of the structure out in the sea after the burnt part was removed.
Yes many ships have tied up her in the past.
The structure is actually 3 times the height that can be seen, 2/3rds under the sand.
The sand over the years has silted up along the coast and stopped any boats navigating it!
comment byFramed and Shot at 11:13 PM (GMT) on 14 November, 2008
We stand firmly with the minority on this one in preferring the processed version. To us, the pp added drama and uniqueness. It also emphasises the ripples in the foreground that forms a large part of the picture.
First of all, thanks for all the great comments on my last entry. As always, they're much appreciated.
As for this one: it's been a while since I went down to St. Annes, and even longer since I photographed the pier, so I headed down there this morning. I had intended to shoot some long exposures while this section of the pier was under water, but must have misread the tide times because by the time I got there the tide was already quite some way out.
Anyway, I spent about an hour taking photographs, and can't say that I'm particularly impressed with any of the other shots that I got. I like this one though.
In terms of the post-production: there were two things I concentrated on here - balancing the sky to the foreground (using two masked Curves), and toning the image using a Curve to alter the blue and green channels. If you're interested, I've posted a copy of the original here:
.../archives/tide_down_5.php
camera
lens
focal length
aperture
shutter speed
shooting mode
exposure bias
metering mode
ISO
flash
image quality
RAW converter
cropped?
Canon 1Ds Mark II
EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
24mm
f/16.0
1/20
aperture priority
+1/3
evaluative
100
no
RAW
ACR
minor
Very nice. I like the cross processing like colors and the texture of the sand. Regards.
Sorry, but I prefer the original -- must be the purist in me
i really like this one :)
I am usually quite impressed by your editing, but this time I actually would prefer the original. I think it's mostly due to the loss of detail in the pier. Not all that amazed by the colours either this time I guess.
Feel a little bad criticizing when I comment so rarely, but if I commented all the time it would be pretty much just "Very nice, really like the editing" over and over again...
I am so glad to see another photograph of this structure! It's a pier? It has such a "not from this planet" look to it and I wonder of its history: Why was it built? Who has walked upon it? What captains have tied their vessels to it's posts? Just wondering out loud. I love both images. The post-production one has beautiful tones.
Erik: I'd much rather that people spoke their minds than said nothing, so feel free to criticize anything I post. Also, it's interesting that you mentioned the detail as Libby made much the same comment. I think it works as it is, but you might be right, it might be better if there was more detail.
Carlos: it was part of a much larger pier, a section of which burnt down. Now, there's a pier coming out towards this structure from the shore, a gap of around 150', then this structure. To give you a better idea about both structures I've posted another shot here:
.../archives/tide_down_5b.php
I usually compliment you on your undoubted processing skills, however this time I feel it's a case of a few clicks too far...
I love the texture in the sand, it kinda leads the eyes to the structure!
Excellent desertic shot. Textures are nice again and the colors choice is perfect.
Wonderful photos, nice compositions and colors!
I may be a minority, but I love what you have done to this image, it adds a great deal of interest to a normally bland tonal scene. the highlights on the sand are great.
Also, your last image evoke the same comments from me x1000
I appreciate your remark in asking for critical comment as well as "it's great." In that vein then I feel that my first reaction to the image was--that's interesting--but as I studied it a bit more I felt it wasn't compelling to me. The foreground beach and the "other worldly" pier work for me. I do like the high-contrast loss of detail in the pier. But it is the sky that isn't working for me. But I don't have a clue where I'd go with it though. It just doesn't draw me in.
Perfect composition and interesting structures here. I have to admit that I am not a friend of the sky's colors, though.
The texture and detail on the sand is brilliant.
The foreground is interesting and so is the sky but the main feature the pier is weird looking, I think it is hard from this distance to show th edetail but seems to have lost something in highlights may be? Doesn't do it justice unlike many or your other shots of this pier.
Thanks everyone.
David, I too am probably among the minority of commenters in saying that I prefer your processed version. The original, a very nice pier shot, is very natural looking. However, your edited version, for me, very strongly adds an indefinable feeling to the scene. I wish I could iterate what it is. The result transcends mere observation and impinges on my senses in a way which I think is of much greater value in an image than technical points about pier detail, etc. I suppose I'm a romantic or dreamer more than a technician. I have no qualms about the hues, I believe in artistic license. IMHO, embracing art in photography is totally valid.
I think I'm largely with the 'nays' on this one, although I still like the final image. I was surprised to see that the unprocessed version had more to the sky than the final output. I think processing more along the lines of "the light show" would have suited this; much darker, and in particular the heavy vignetting to add intensity. The light/reflected patch bottom left is also very distracting in an otherwise fairly even toned image.
It was a landing stage attached to St Annes Pier
But the end of the pier burnt down in the 70’s.
It was owned by my father then; and he decided to leave this part of the structure out in the sea after the burnt part was removed.
Yes many ships have tied up her in the past.
The structure is actually 3 times the height that can be seen, 2/3rds under the sand.
The sand over the years has silted up along the coast and stopped any boats navigating it!
We stand firmly with the minority on this one in preferring the processed version. To us, the pp added drama and uniqueness. It also emphasises the ripples in the foreground that forms a large part of the picture.
Love the lines in this image, the solitude of the pier and the pillars are amazing, great capture, awesome post processing, it really sets the mood...
Stunning use of texture and subject matter. I also really enjoy the kind of vintage effect that comes across via the use of colours.
Love it all....the composition, post processing, contrast, detail...simply beautiful!
Great colors and contrast!
i love the cross process on this view!