Interesting -- I think I actually like this one better, not that I don't like the other one. The sepia works really well.

quasi: thanks. One thing I was going to add to my description, but decided it was a bit presumptuous, was that I've been wrong before about some of the landscape shots I've put up. Well, not wrong, but I've said I didn't think something was too great (for example, this shot) and other people have really liked it.

You know, I have always had trouble photographing zoos, but never really could figure out why. I think you may be onto something there though... somehow the artificiality comes through and the discordance between what you EXPECT to see and what is actually there is disconcerting. The colors are all wrong, the textures are all wrong, but then the animals seem normal enough. Your eye can't make sense of it all.

As for this photo, I like it. You always get your toning just right. I wonder abou the depth of field though. I find myself either wanting to see more detail in the background or less detail in the lower part of the waves. I like the sharpness of the grass though. Very peaceful and a little ominous as if a storm is coming.

Sweet picture
wonderful

j-luc ;-)

I agree with quasi on his comments. This photo is quite relaxing and pleasing to the eye. One thing is it's a bit grainy.

-Tristan (picture life)

Grainy? I can see that on my small LCD, keeping angled lines sharp is always a problem, but I think this photo is stunning. Love the sharpness, composition, and coloring.

Tristan: yes, you're probably right. The version that's now up has been run through Noise Ninja and is a bit smoother.

What are you doing with your camera ??????
Your photos are so unbelievable. .....

The leaves in this shot seem quite sharp. I like the effect.

>> I’m not too sure what to make of zoos....I can’t help feeling as though the whole thing is an entirely unnatural phenomenon

I agree! I'm always disappointed even to discover that other people's pictures were taken at a zoo. The proverbial fish in a barrel -- it's like shooting stuffed animals!

>> but I’ve said I didn’t think something was too great (for example, this shot) and other people have really liked it.

Yeah, you WERE wrong that time. That shot still looks beautiful to me.

Today's shot is beautifully composed, and I do like it, but part of me craves the greens and blues I imagine you've drained from it. As for depth of field -- I wonder if picturegirl's dissatisfaction wouldn't be solved if the photo were in color...

Joe: the colour version just didn't work, at least not in my opinion. The different areas of the image were better delineated – brown sand, white waves, blue-grey sky – but the the grass seemed pale and washed out, the sand seemed more mud-like than it should ... it just generally didn't work. Part of the problem was the light; i.e. it was already starting to get dark and I'd missed the last of the evening sun, and I ended up with this shot. It's something of a compromise, but it's growing on me.

"Tristan: yes, you’re probably right. The version that’s now up has been run through Noise Ninja and is a bit smoother."

Ah, yes. Now the only thing that's grainy is the sand (This is not a criticism) ;)

-Tristan (picture life)

I was thinking of you and your beach pictures from yesterday when I hit the beach around here. I am going through those shots right now and I don't think I have what I was looking for. I tried a shot similar to this but yours blows it away.

I don't like zoos. Always makes me wonder who's on which side of the bars- until I get to the tiger, pacing.

Nice shot. The sepia is exactly right. The grass almost look like eyelashes.

peterv -- you nailed it, the grass makes me think of eyelashes! nice capture David, i really like the sepia tones.

I think on balance I like this more than the one a couple of days ago.

I like the tone, and it's a cleaner composition with less grass, but more of it in focus with no distracting out of focus stems near the lens.

beautiful.
relaxing.

It's a pleasant image and certainly technically competent. I find the toning adds to the the calming mood and fits the scene well. Overall though it lacks a central focus point and I think there is insufficient to engage for long. It reminds me of a type of visual 'musak', as it is easily recognisable and pleasant but doesn't stimulate the viewer (me). Something one is perhaps happy to have in the BG but would'nt care to place in prime position on the wall?

simple. gorgeous.

I love this it really, i feel the water and the breeze..Nice capture...
I enjoyed you thoughts about zoos, I have the same feeling's, i wonder how common those feeling's are? The zoos get better but could be a lot better if the aminals were given a millons acres. I would like more animal sanctuarys.
Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary
http://www.gwtc.net/~iram/about/index.htm

i love this shot. i would hang it up on my wall.

So simple and yet so wonderful. Very nice work.

I like the tone, how you achieved it? can you discolse your common post-processing techniques?

very relaxing - like the tones and depth of field - well done!

Thanks everyone.

Carlos: this was toned using the Hue/Saturation. The settings were 45, 10,0.

Nice although use of a spirit level and ripod would have ensured that the horizom were horizontal!

This picture looks so clean, and yet so dark and emotional.

lovely shot