I managed to get down to the beach today – 20 minutes before the sun went down, just as the tide was coming in – and took a lot of shots of this sunset. This is my favourite of the set, shot with a 3 stop ND Grad, and was taken about five minutes before I got soaking wet. The tide on Blackpool beach comes in at around walking pace, so taking photographs at the waves' edge means shooting, then moving quite quickly, then shooting again, and so on. And that would have been fine if the beach had been flat flat. Unfortunately though I was shooting from a raised section of beach and hadn't realised that the tide, in addition to coming towards me quite quickly, had already swept around behind me. By the time I did realise there was quite a lot of water between me and the shore. Fortunately, it wasn't too deep. Unfortunately, I was wearing a good pair of shoes. But I did get this shot, so I can't complain too much :)
Oh, and if you're interested, I've linked the original below – not to make any points about the post-production, but to demonstrate that the colours are pretty faithful to the original scene:
comment by Audrey Mottishaw at 08:44 PM (GMT) on 22 November, 2008
Wonderful sunset David. The PP does justice.
comment bycsj @ id7.co.uk at 09:00 PM (GMT) on 22 November, 2008
Dave, just a quicky re:ND grad in the dying light, was this just a test?, a conscious decision because of the contrast between forground and sky, I mean it worked, because you have retained an amazing amount of detail in this contrast boosted final cut, and I love it, but I never seem to be able to achieve that range. Also do you think the -1/3 helped in this in terms of the histogram? I need to get back to the roots again.....good effort on an evil cold day........csj
comment bydjn1 at 09:08 PM (GMT) on 22 November, 2008
csj: I bought two sets of ND Grads quite some time ago, one set with a hard transition and another with a soft transition. I've been using them quite a bit recently, for the reason you mention, and find it makes the final post-production quite a bit easier. The reason for the -1/3 was to stop the highlights in the sky burning out. So, in terms of the basics: I was trying to expose to the right, maximise the amount of data in the shot (by using the ND Grad), while also making sure I didn't clip any of the highlights.
comment by613photo at 09:26 PM (GMT) on 22 November, 2008
Beautiful work as usual. It's an extremely vivid photo...almost like I could jump right into it.
comment byRichard at 09:29 PM (GMT) on 22 November, 2008
After a recent soaking myself, this is a classic illustration of my new motto "Good shots come to those who dare" A direct rip off form the SAS, but has been so apt in the past.
comment byRubenV at 09:34 PM (GMT) on 22 November, 2008
Thank god you were still able to wade through to shore. Would have been quite a lot less funny if you found yourself in deeper water with a backpack of camera gear. Almost been there myself one day, not recommendable. But well, the passion of photography has probably brought most of us in less comfortable situations anyway. And that's the beauty of it, the fact that it can be so immersing that it captures us completely.
Great sea landscape...light, color, composition...ALL WELL DONE!
comment byAlex Caballero at 10:07 PM (GMT) on 22 November, 2008
Me gusta mucho tu trabajo, la profundidad de campo que consigues en tus fotografias es bestial, por no decir de tu toque personal con el tratamiento, saludos
comment byKevin H. Stecyk at 10:25 PM (GMT) on 22 November, 2008
Gorgeous image David. I love the rich colors and textures of the clouds and beech. Wonderfully shot and processed. An outstanding image in all respects!
comment byPhilB at 10:31 PM (GMT) on 22 November, 2008
Great shot - almost looks like a painting!
Well worth the wet feet! ;-)
comment byCarlos Garcia at 02:57 AM (GMT) on 23 November, 2008
Just stunning! I love how the different colors and textures of the sky, sand, clouds and the sea are harmonizing with each other.
comment bymartie at 03:03 AM (GMT) on 23 November, 2008
Once again, your photography takes my breath away. I LOVE this one. I've spent many, many evenings at the waters edge, but never with this view. It is just wonderful!
comment byThe Obvious at 06:31 AM (GMT) on 23 November, 2008
Lovely original, David. The posted version of the sky seems a bit too harsh for your landscape style... both the colors and the contrast. The reflection in the lower section, however, is amazing.
Titus
comment byCatalin at 08:58 AM (GMT) on 23 November, 2008
Brrr... that water must have been cold considering it's November and you're in the UK. The shot looks great though and I love the way the white clouds just about the horizon almost look like waves. I haven't tried ND grad filters yet but now I see why I should try them :)
comment byClaus at 09:09 AM (GMT) on 23 November, 2008
Amazing range of colors! it is cold wet and feels like autumn!
comment byDeepcut at 09:17 AM (GMT) on 23 November, 2008
The feel of this photo is quite metallic and pleasant. The contrast was indeed much needed when compared to the original. It surely catches the eye and invites one to admire the image.
comment byaurore at 09:31 AM (GMT) on 23 November, 2008
superbes couleurs, superbe photo!
comment byLightningPaul at 09:58 AM (GMT) on 23 November, 2008
Beautiful dramatic image, though I still prefer the original more (something in between would have been the best). This one is a bit overdone.
comment byJennifer at 04:03 PM (GMT) on 23 November, 2008
I'm with Paul - really love the original - great capture, do like the processed version but the original is gorgeous. You have my sympathy on the wet feet front - I had my hand in the Trent & Mersey yesterday (for Verity to photograph!) it was so cold it was painful :-?
comment byRobbie Veldwijk at 09:52 PM (GMT) on 23 November, 2008
comment bybirgit at 08:29 AM (GMT) on 24 November, 2008
isn´t it amazing how colors work for us. they just set the mood !
comment bydjn1 at 11:31 AM (GMT) on 24 November, 2008
Thanks everyone :)
comment byROB at 11:38 AM (GMT) on 24 November, 2008
Know that... ohhh fuugit I am about to get soaked feeling. Actually I am surprised how rich the colours are in the original. I though it was a misrepresentation until I had seen that version.
comment byAl at 12:42 AM (GMT) on 25 November, 2008
Brilliant David. Perhaps you might consider to combine this with the other post (The Light Show image) you are going to use for your next tutorial?
comment by sara batting at 02:35 PM (GMT) on 1 December, 2008
gosh David, what a fantastic pic...I missed it earlier last week.
Sara.
comment byBram at 09:24 AM (GMT) on 3 December, 2008
Wow, is this place on earth, superb! I'm very impressed.
Bram
comment by Katherine Elizabeth Walker at 02:27 PM (GMT) on 4 December, 2008
How might I be able to save this image to my favorites in flickr? It is so rich I would like to study it. I can't purchase no credit card.
I managed to get down to the beach today – 20 minutes before the sun went down, just as the tide was coming in – and took a lot of shots of this sunset. This is my favourite of the set, shot with a 3 stop ND Grad, and was taken about five minutes before I got soaking wet. The tide on Blackpool beach comes in at around walking pace, so taking photographs at the waves' edge means shooting, then moving quite quickly, then shooting again, and so on. And that would have been fine if the beach had been flat flat. Unfortunately though I was shooting from a raised section of beach and hadn't realised that the tide, in addition to coming towards me quite quickly, had already swept around behind me. By the time I did realise there was quite a lot of water between me and the shore. Fortunately, it wasn't too deep. Unfortunately, I was wearing a good pair of shoes. But I did get this shot, so I can't complain too much :)
Oh, and if you're interested, I've linked the original below – not to make any points about the post-production, but to demonstrate that the colours are pretty faithful to the original scene:
.../archives/the_evening_fire.php
As usual, I'd be interested to hear what you think.
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/4.5
1/10
aperture priority
-1/3
evaluative
100
no
RAW
ACR
minor
Wonderful sunset David. The PP does justice.
Dave, just a quicky re:ND grad in the dying light, was this just a test?, a conscious decision because of the contrast between forground and sky, I mean it worked, because you have retained an amazing amount of detail in this contrast boosted final cut, and I love it, but I never seem to be able to achieve that range. Also do you think the -1/3 helped in this in terms of the histogram? I need to get back to the roots again.....good effort on an evil cold day........csj
csj: I bought two sets of ND Grads quite some time ago, one set with a hard transition and another with a soft transition. I've been using them quite a bit recently, for the reason you mention, and find it makes the final post-production quite a bit easier. The reason for the -1/3 was to stop the highlights in the sky burning out. So, in terms of the basics: I was trying to expose to the right, maximise the amount of data in the shot (by using the ND Grad), while also making sure I didn't clip any of the highlights.
Beautiful work as usual. It's an extremely vivid photo...almost like I could jump right into it.
After a recent soaking myself, this is a classic illustration of my new motto "Good shots come to those who dare" A direct rip off form the SAS, but has been so apt in the past.
Thank god you were still able to wade through to shore. Would have been quite a lot less funny if you found yourself in deeper water with a backpack of camera gear. Almost been there myself one day, not recommendable. But well, the passion of photography has probably brought most of us in less comfortable situations anyway. And that's the beauty of it, the fact that it can be so immersing that it captures us completely.
Great shot David!
Great sea landscape...light, color, composition...ALL WELL DONE!
Me gusta mucho tu trabajo, la profundidad de campo que consigues en tus fotografias es bestial, por no decir de tu toque personal con el tratamiento, saludos
Gorgeous image David. I love the rich colors and textures of the clouds and beech. Wonderfully shot and processed. An outstanding image in all respects!
Great shot - almost looks like a painting!
Well worth the wet feet! ;-)
Just stunning! I love how the different colors and textures of the sky, sand, clouds and the sea are harmonizing with each other.
Once again, your photography takes my breath away. I LOVE this one. I've spent many, many evenings at the waters edge, but never with this view. It is just wonderful!
Lovely original, David. The posted version of the sky seems a bit too harsh for your landscape style... both the colors and the contrast. The reflection in the lower section, however, is amazing.
Titus
Brrr... that water must have been cold considering it's November and you're in the UK. The shot looks great though and I love the way the white clouds just about the horizon almost look like waves. I haven't tried ND grad filters yet but now I see why I should try them :)
Amazing range of colors! it is cold wet and feels like autumn!
The feel of this photo is quite metallic and pleasant. The contrast was indeed much needed when compared to the original. It surely catches the eye and invites one to admire the image.
superbes couleurs, superbe photo!
Beautiful dramatic image, though I still prefer the original more (something in between would have been the best). This one is a bit overdone.
I'm with Paul - really love the original - great capture, do like the processed version but the original is gorgeous. You have my sympathy on the wet feet front - I had my hand in the Trent & Mersey yesterday (for Verity to photograph!) it was so cold it was painful :-?
Very nice colours!
This is so dramatic!!! I like it a lot!
isn´t it amazing how colors work for us. they just set the mood !
Thanks everyone :)
Know that... ohhh fuugit I am about to get soaked feeling. Actually I am surprised how rich the colours are in the original. I though it was a misrepresentation until I had seen that version.
Brilliant David. Perhaps you might consider to combine this with the other post (The Light Show image) you are going to use for your next tutorial?
gosh David, what a fantastic pic...I missed it earlier last week.
Sara.
Wow, is this place on earth, superb! I'm very impressed.
Bram
How might I be able to save this image to my favorites in flickr? It is so rich I would like to study it. I can't purchase no credit card.