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A couple of entries ago I said that my previous would be the last I'd be posting from my various trips out with Craig a few weekends ago, as I'd looked through the hundreds of shots we had taken and couldn't see anything else that would work. Anyway, Craig posted this shot a few days ago, and as I'd shot much the same sequence of images I thought I'd see how mine turned out.

As with my previous couple of shots this is an HDR, constructed with Photomatix Pro, but I've tried to keep the tone mapping quite moderate with this one. It's not entirely what I was after, but in this case I couldn't quite work out how I wanted the final image to look. Initially, I was going for a colour version - much as Craig did - but I just couldn't get the balance between the pier and the sky looking anywhere near natural.

Anyway, to cut a long story short I ended up going for a black and white version that I toned with a Curve.

As always, let me know what you think.

Oh, and in case you haven't seen this structure before, it's both bits of the pier at St. Annes.

Finally, my next HDR class with PPSOP (the Perfect Picture School of Photograph) will be starting on Friday (i.e. the 6th), so if you want to learn a bit more about constructing HDR images you might want to take a look. Alternatively, you can take a look at either or both of my HDR tutorials (details about part one are here, while details about part two are here).

 
3x2 + piers [St. Annes] + fylde coast [scenic]
comment by Alan at 07:35 PM (GMT) on 4 February, 2009

This seems to have a very soft feel to it. I think the tones are good and work well but it looks slightly unnatural in places especially the shops on the extreme left (they look a bit ghostly even!). But I love the sky and the perspective.

comment by Mirko Herzner at 07:42 PM (GMT) on 4 February, 2009

Quite a nice shot. I agrre with Alan that it has a soft feel. It might also be because of this slighty violet toning... Very nice.

comment by Carlos Garcia at 07:52 PM (GMT) on 4 February, 2009

Yes! Back at the shore. Beautiful composition...peaceful and intimate. It looks like the pier is marching out to sea.

comment by djn1 at 08:06 PM (GMT) on 4 February, 2009

Alan/Mirko: I"ve added a small amount of extra contrast to the building on the left as you're right, it was a bit soft in comparison to the rest of the image.

comment by LightningPaul at 09:45 PM (GMT) on 4 February, 2009

Stunning!
The tone mapping is spot on. It looks very close to perfect. The way it looks is much better than any "normal" image, because it closer to the perception of the eye and brain.
Coloring and composition are excellent.

comment by Sophie Asselin at 10:12 PM (GMT) on 4 February, 2009

A nice shot and the colors are soft. I like. Good work !

comment by Dan Kaufman at 11:20 PM (GMT) on 4 February, 2009

The final "tone with a curve" was what struck my as the image opened. I've never done much toning other than the semi-traditional sepia, but you are such a master at it that I'm intrigued to try it out. (hmmm, back to the tutorials I think!)

comment by Briony at 02:48 AM (GMT) on 5 February, 2009

beautiful...i love how soft the sky and water are...great job!

comment by The Life Lab at 11:53 AM (GMT) on 5 February, 2009

Very nice - not overdone at all. I especially like the way the pier itself came out, and the different shades of light on the sea.

I won't pretend to know what "toned with a curve" means, but it sure looks nice. Sort of mellow, like a memory.

comment by Ilan at 12:01 PM (GMT) on 5 February, 2009

Beautiful.
The small touch of those beams of sunlight above the pier adds to the somewhat nostalgic feel of the photo, enhanced by the tones of the frame.

I also enjoy the fact that it's not easy to see/understand whether it's sand or water below the pier.

Great work on this one, no criticism from me :)

comment by Justin Photis at 12:09 PM (GMT) on 5 February, 2009

David, it's another shot I really like. The last couple have really changed my view on what an HDR shot can look like. The toning gives it a nice feel in my opinion.
The buildings on the pier look almost fuzzy giving it a slightly ethereal feel.

comment by mooch at 01:24 PM (GMT) on 5 February, 2009

I do like this. Great tones and a beautifully tranquil looking scene. Quite a bit of sky though.

comment by aurore at 04:38 PM (GMT) on 5 February, 2009

très pur et zen, une jolie photo

comment by Craig at 08:19 PM (GMT) on 5 February, 2009

It's very gentle, soothing in fact. The light is soft and the tone compliments it perectly. I'm not sure I would have laid money on it being an HDR, a great result!

comment by Adam Stevens at 08:25 PM (GMT) on 5 February, 2009

Love the color. cool with the sun. Nice detail too. Another hang-able piece of art.

comment by lightseeker at 07:48 AM (GMT) on 6 February, 2009

Interesting result - it could almost be a traditional lith print.

comment by will pattison at 08:15 AM (GMT) on 6 February, 2009

beautiful! this has a very painterly feel to it, david, and i really like the tones. i can honestly say i've never seen it done in...plum? blackberry? very nice!

wp.

comment by Kristian at 12:46 PM (GMT) on 6 February, 2009

Cool stuff David. I do agree with Alan's point of view - the shops do look a bit ghostly. But then again - in my mind this is a dreamscape, the shops are almost hovering above the planks. Beautiful tones indeed!

comment by djn1 at 05:34 PM (GMT) on 6 February, 2009

Thanks everyone :)

comment by ApoChromatic at 06:10 PM (GMT) on 6 February, 2009

Excellent composition. Very soft.

comment by Westy | P H O T O N O M Y at 11:19 PM (GMT) on 8 February, 2009

excellent once again.. how much money do yo make from selling these as say canvas prints.. i love the idea of dreaming for summer