Below are a couple of images from that trip. I took about 300, and the light was rubbish for about 2/3 of the time we were out there. Then, the sun broke through and we had 30 mins of glorious light, followed by a fantastic sunset.
Let me know what you think. More to follow when I get through the RAWs…
Cheers
Ivan
3 comments:
This is an email chain between G and I, which I thought should go on the blog..
Just had a look at the blog. The first is *very* Ivan. The only problem with it for me is that the contrast is low at the horizon which makes it hard to discern. So your eye settles for the next best
line which makes the whole thing look very wonky. I don't know if you can fix that because the rest of the image is very nice (and should do well in competition).
The beach people shot is OK but not quite so strong for me. A bit contrasty and silhouetty and the balance feels a bit out of kilter. Maybe try a different crop?
G
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Interesting comments - I can see what you mean about the contrast/ horizon in the first image. Will see what I can do. I converted the same RAW file, one for sky, one for land, and blended, so perhaps
there's something that can be addressed in the blend.
In the second, I wanted contrasty and silhouetty, and I cropped it that way so that the sea/wet sand shapes would balance the land, and the people were in the top right third. The sky was cropped to make it less dominating, so I am really pleased with it. Perhaps - when you have time - tell me what it lacked for you, or expand on your
comments, as I always value them?
Cheers
Ivan
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OK, for the second, the problem for me is the dominance of the dark band of sand in the left-middle portion of the frame. It becomes the
subject. It's not the subject. The subject is really the delicate play of light on the reflective surfaces of the sea and the beach, and the figures are there in a supporting role to give scale. So the composition is fine, and where the figures are is also fine - and I take back what I said about cropping - I don't think it needs cropping.
I tell you what it is. It feels very low-key and heavy. There's no white in there and there's very little in there above heavy shadow. If the figures were in heavy shadow but the dry stretch of sand were lighter, it would work better for me. I don't know if it's possible to dodge the sanded area to lighten it but at the moment it feels unbalanced.
Hope that helps,
G
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Me again - if I lighten up the dark band of sand, will it not cease to be distinct in it's own right, and merge into the sea? I'll try it, but it just struck me that it is a complimentary shape and tone to the sea..
Proof of pudding is in the eating.
Ivan
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You need to be careful to avoid this. It should be darker than the sea, but also just considerably lighter than it is now.
This image has a very compressed tonal range. There are no whites or even light greys. The highlights are mid-greys. Did you choose this on
purpose? It gives the image a very heavy, sombre feel. Actually no, I think it gives it a muddy feel because the composition doesn't shout
"sombre", just the tonal range which is where the conflict arises. All completely subjective of course but this is part of what's troubling me with it I think. If you expanded the tonal range you could afford to put the sea and sky in light grey, the sand in mid grey and keep dark grey for the horizon detail and the upper part of the sky and the true blacks for the figures. But this might destroy the whole feel you're after - I don't know.
G
Ivan,
Yes the first is very much an Ivanite. I absolutely love the hue of the light on the sand. The soft texture is there too. Very nice. I want to put my foot in it. The sky is also great too but does not steal from the foreground.
By the way, the three landscape shots below that you were thinking of submitting are really great. I think you need to start selecting the best Ivanites and create one of those photo books.
As for the second shot. Less of an impact for me. People are a tad too small as is the dog. The beach is very dominant and steals the show. I can see what you are trying to portray but it isn't quite there.
Damian
Wow, good discussion cahps. Not much one can add. i have to agree. i love the dunes shot - very Ivanesque. i do like the B&w as well but not as much - I agree with D that the people are a little too small. Having said that, it does remind me of walks along the norfolk coast so job done?
A
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