The contrast is what works here, for me. I've enjoyed your entire beach series!

Could resist another photo from the series? ;) None the less, that doesn't matter because it's yet another great image. I still think the first one of Rho is my favourite - I love that one! :)

Jem: lol. Actually I didn't consider this one part of the series, but I guess it is. Oh, and my favourite was the second one closely followed by the third.

Part of the series or not - still a nice shot. The people, once again, add a huge amount of interest to the photo for me.

I stumbled across your site this afternoon, and have been more and more inspired with every new page I open! I love so many of the pictures: compostion, exposure, etc. (this is a classic example!), but most of all the deep, deep contrast and saturation of the colours--something I've been trying very hard to achieve in my pictures for a long time, though usually ending in a posterised parody of what I was after...

Would you be prepared to reveal a secret or two?! So far, Velvia Vision and curves have been the most productive, but I couldn't imagine how I'd get even close to the sky in the top right, the sand in the foreground, and that handle of the spade...!

Great stuff... look forward to be being a regular visitor.

The contrast is very nice, and yes, simplicity works a lot here. But, for me, tha people fading away in the background make the shot.

wonderful! sorry if it's the only word I can use to leave a comment on your pics... I don't think it's just a problem with my english... your pics leave me without words to say! very good, really :-)

the composition is nice, and it's cool how the handle and the people fight back and forth for your attention. soothing colors too

What's with the comment counter on the top left side of main page's menu? it says "no comments yet1 comment8 comments" ..

miklos: it was a temporary glitch. I've been troubleshooting my MT installation and disabled the plugin the generates the comment count. It's re-enabled now.

This photograph says to me "screw work, let's go play." Perfect capture.

Excellent for its simplicity. Although I'd be tempted to remove the two people. The colours are amazing too.

The whole beach series has been very good, although my personal favourite has been #1.Then, in order of preference, #4, #2, #3.

Even the grains in the handle of the spade is matching the background very well... nice photo. the starkness of colors captures the heart. And the two people behind in blurred form provides the 'liveliness' dimension to the photo. Perfect!

Great simple shot, i like the 2 people there though, i wouldnt get rid of them. Brilliant.

I discovered your photoblog recently and I really like your work. As many of your viewers/readers, I'd like you to explain with some detail how do you get this fantastic contrast and vivid colours in your images. I'm trying to learn to manage the curves (and other things) in Phososhop to get results like yours, but I'm going nowhere. Have you thought about making a brief tutorial with some example of your post-processing tasks? I'd love to see some of the original photos before and after this processing, just for curiosity ;-). Last but not least... Do you use some filter polarizer to get such colors?

See you (everyday) ;-D

Wow that yellow is almost too yellow to be true. Beautiful

A great series of photos Dave - My favourites are first and second - well done.

Excellent depth of field and the colors are so warm and rich. I love the wide angle shots that you are getting with the 17-40mm. Have you tried the 10-22mm yet? Another very striking picture, love your work... it is very inspiring.

what happed to the little girl?

Following to what javipas has said... Have you thought of writing tutorials and charging for them? You can make a lot of money you know...

I just keep looking back at this its great, and i just noticed the hover thing when you put your mouse over something, that freaked me out at first.

Just wondering, are we still on for Thursday? I hope the weather holds out.

I agree about the tutorials. I'd be very interested in learning some better post-processing techniques. Any help you can offer is greatly appreciated!

I'm guessing part of your success getting the vibrant color in this pic is by using gentle fill flash to brighten up the foreground, and stopping down a little to gently underexpose for maximum detail. It's not all in the post-production -- you've set yourself up to have a rich image with which to work. And the composition is elegant, including the figures along the horizon. But do tell how you've tweaked the image to make it pop!

Thanks everyone.

Arthur: I mostly use a combination of Curves, Selective Color, Hue/Saturation and the Channel Mixer. At some point, as per javipas's and Ryan's comments, I'll put a couple of tutorials together but it's likely to be later in the summer before I have the time.

Audrey: no problem, "wonderful" works for me :-)

kim: no, I haven't tried the 10-22, mostly because I can't afford one at the moment :-/

SteveO: the 'hover thing' is a new addition.

Nice pic. I would like to see it without flash.

This is brilliant! I love the colors and the distance between the people and the shovel. The whole scheme is just really innocent, supremely clean and almost vibrant too. I love this! It would make a great book cover, among other things. :-D Fantastic as always!

I really like the composition of this and (of course) the colours are stunning. I must admit, my photos have improved a bit since being an avid viewer of your site & reading your comments about how you adjust them. I've been using (and teaching) photoshop for around 10 years now & you've taught me a thing or two!

Many thanks for consistently delivering pictures that inspire others!

Where can i get a shovel in bright yellow? and a nice beach?

I've been lurking here for ages but i think its now time to say the obvious "You really have talent!"

I'm looking forward to your tutorial! I'm starting to learn Photoshop but it's kidna hard because my copy is in Japanese...

Like many said before: the colours are amazing! The yellow stands out so nice aiganst the very blue sky. I've been trying to get colours like this for months but I somehow loose loads of detail...You pictures are are big inspiration! cheers.

The people need to be in a bit further, much too close to the edge, the whole balance is thrown out, despite the intensity of the yellow.