Breaking Surf

Image Critiques Landscape Critiques
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Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

I enjoyed a couple hours watching the breakers charge and play with the rocks. The crashing thunder and rolling rhythms were hypnotic. Mesmerized by the beauty, energy and relentless power in front of me, I felt a sense of awe, wonder and timelessness. I’m not sure I captured all that, but I hope maybe a little. The breaker is about 5-6 feet. The surfers are gone as the boat harbor and jetties constructed 50 years ago put an end to the “Killer Dana” long-board surfing site. The area is now a Maritime Preserve, and many come for tide pool explorations, sunsets and peace. It is close by and one of my favorite photography haunts.

Specific Feedback

Do you get a sense of the energy and sound of the of the ocean ? Is there a good balance between the elements of sky, beaker, surf and stone? During processing I wondered if I was enhancing the whites of the surf too much and tried to balance them with the sky. I think they work in together?

Technical Details

Nikon Z5, Nikon Lens 16-85 @35 mm; f11 @1/320ss; ISO 160; handheld

All processing in Lightroom with sharpening in Topaz. I used the Lr Sky mask with texture and highlights sliders for better definition in the sky. Radial filters also used in two area of the sky to bring up the whites. Used a brush with texture, contrast and highlight adjustments to the surf . And a mask to reduce and soften the look and feel of the foreground stones.

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2

Looks like a great place to hang out. I love tide pools and all the lovely life within them. I like the line of surf you have going and the wave coming in. It isn’t exactly awe inspiring though, but more of a typical ocean shot and the relentless endless rhythm. The surf and sky work well together in terms of tonality, but I find the odd angle with so many rocks a bit baffling as they have so much weight in the photo. Was getting more parallel with the waves not possible? Sometimes it isn’t and so including so much foreground becomes inevitable. For me there is a bit too much sky as well. The heart of the picture is the ocean and it seems to be a bit subsumed by everything else in the frame.

3

@Kris_Smith . Thanks for your comments and observations, Kris. It’s possible to move to another location but one would do some serious scrambling and at my senior age that can become a bit of a bother and risk. For me this was the most easily accessible location to shoot the surf from. Yes it is rock heavy but for me they are part of the story. I did try a crop to reduce the sky but came away not liking it as much. I felt it was squeezing the beaker. I appreciate your input on the image.