Riding out the storm

Image Critiques Landscape Critiques
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Rainbow #4, 12 min prior

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Rainbow #5, 16 min later

Critique Style Requested: Standard

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

Description

A few more images from our February trip to the Monterey Penninsula. These are actually in Pacific Grove, located between Monterey and Carmel/Pebble Beach.

Apologize for including more than one image. I had previously mentioned this glorious day on the Pacific Coast where another “atmospheric river” was rolling thru and we got to experience nasty, biting winds, rain - and sunshine… of course producing rainbows! I won’t soon forget this day.

I’m posting the stormy wave image for the primary feedback. The other two are simply for context of the day… The first rainbow posted was taken just 12 minutes before the stormy wave image, and the second rainbow was 16 minutes later after the wave image. It was just a crazy day… driving along keeping out of the rain… then a rainbow appears in the rearview mirror… U-Turn… pull over for rainbows… Turn back around, step out quickly in the element to grab a few wave images inbetween squalls… then head back around… another rainbow… pull over!

Specific Feedback

Mainly looking for feedback on the stormy wave image. I was going to title this, “Whippin’”, referencing the water spray whipping off the top of the wave. But then I kept noticing the bird in the water. I want it so bad to be a Pintail duck… but alas, only a common Cormorant…

One question I have, Is the bird too small and irrelevant? Or does it enhance or help tell a story? ie. “Riding out the storm” idea?

I did a fair amount of processing here. the turquois color is real in the main wave and that color is also present near the foreground in the unprocessed RAW image. I tamed down the aqua in the near surf and enhanced a bit inthe wave. I also used a gradient and b&w layer for above the wave to remove any color cast and emphasize the storm. Does that work?

Speaking of the little birds, should I clone out the gull in the last image?

Of course all comments and suggestions welcome. Thank You!

Technical Details

All images Nikon Z7ii with 24-200mm
Wave image: 200mm f/7.1 1/1250th @iso400
Rainbow #4: 77mm f/11 1/250th @iso160
Rainbow #5: 85mm f/11 1/400th @iso160

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1 Like
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The third image, in my opinion, is the best of the three. And it’s not due to the rainbow. In fact it might look better without it. I just like it’s minimalist composition, the tones, and how that white foam is situated in the comp. It’s the most elegant of the three. My order of preference is 3,1,2. I think number one is a well caught moment but it’s the type of image we see fairly often. Number 3 seems to have a bit of a greenish tint to it.

I’ve never seen a pintail on the ocean. All the ones I’ve seen were on marshes. I guess I could look it up but am too lazy.

1 Like
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What a cold, wet, wonderful day on the Carmel coast. I love the first one. It shows the wind, the power of the waves, and the beautiful color of the water. I like the chosen pano look to that image as well. I can feel the cold and wet spray hitting me in the face as I look at this image.
In the other two I think they would both be better with a longer exposure to smooth out the water so you can focus on the bows but I love the pictures nonetheless. That second image definitely says Carmel/Monterey coast. Love these Lon. Thanks for sharing all of them. It makes me want to take my wife there for a romantic getaway. It’s her favorite place.

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Hi Lon,
All three images are quite nice, but I am loving the first one. It shows off nature doing what nature does. You have the wind induced waves and the spray spilling over the waves is pure gold. The pano format works beautifully and the processing looks very natural for my tastes. I also love the turquoise color of the incoming surf. I say leave the cormorant and let viewers discover it as they look around the image. This had to be a wonderful experience for you and your wife!

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For me, it’s #1 for sure! The spindrift / rooster tails are an uncommon element, depending on strong offshore wind against the wind far offshore that is driving the waves. The pano comp is perfect and the FG spent waves add a lovely grounding. And the spirit bird is a great element – it is whatever you wish it to be! After this one, the rainbows are simply very nice.

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With regard to the first image:

Dear Dom, thank you for sharing this powerful image. The luminances of the image are in the high end of the midtones (Z4-7?), and I wonder if it would serve the image with its narrative, about powerful natural forces, if the contrast were increased? The contrast is bigger in the third image, and I really like the rendering of the wave here. Back to the first image: To me, the turquois colour in the wave and the B&W above the wave seem a bit odd. To answer your question, I find that the duck is one of the key elements in the image — primarily because it is placed at a prominent position; in front of the the broad white triangle of white water pointing directly towards it. As the image stands, there are two competing elements in the image, at least to me: The breaking wave coming in from far away (we see the horizon), and the duck placed in front of the triangle of white water. Would it benefit the image if the image were cropped so that focus was restricted to one of these elements? For instance, if the image were cropped at the top, just below the horizon, the viewer’s eyes would not move out of the frame at the top, but downwards towards the duck. Would that work? Again, thanks for sharing this image of a powerful scene.

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I really like the first photo. Regarding the little bird, it took me a while to notice it kinda of like finding a prize at the bottom of a cereal box. I like it as it gives a sense of scale, though I would have liked it to be a little center left.

I would leave the gull. I think it ties in with the rainbow as a symbol of hope, success or future or something.

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Hi Lon,

Rough weather always provides the best conditions for photography and this series is a great example of that.

I like how you processed the main photo of the wave. The cormorant is kind of small to really have much impact in the story, although maybe it would be more impactful in a larger print. Perhaps if it was in the white water behind the FG wave it might have shown up better.

Otherwise, in the second rainbow, keep that seagull for sure. The symbolism there with the gull is fantastic.

Nothing much to say about the first rainbow photo, other than to say, the photo did capture the variation in the brightness of the sky beneath the rainbow versus above the rainbow. A fascinating phenomenon.

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Although the rainbow in the second is very nice, I’m really enjoying the first and third. The spindrift really makes that first image. I really enjoy the color, and I think the bird is great (although 3 or 4 more would have been cool; but then photographers are always greedy).

I think the processing looks very good as well. Your trick with the black and white looks good to my eye, and very natural. I could see adding just a touch of darkening/contrast to the distant sea and the foreground foam, while leaving the wave as is, to add just a bit more emphasis on that wave.

I would definitely keep the gull in 3!

LOL, love that Lucky.

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Lon, the spume blowing off the breaker is great as is the color in the wave. The bird is a fine bonus that’s pretty amazing because it seems so calm even as wave action emphatically says stormy. Both rainbow views look good with the gull in #3 another fine addition. #3 does have me wondering if you burned in the sky under the bow. The optics of rainbows says that the area just outside the main bow should be darker than the area inside the bow (it’s called Alexander’s Dark Band), yet both look about the same to me in #3. Yes, that’s a technicality that the vast majority of folks won’t know… BTW, #2 shows this effect well. :laughing:

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Wow, @Lon_Overacker…dropping some real fine work as a trio! Of the three, the middle one is my favorite. There’s a lot to explore and the rainbow is just icing on the cake. The first one is a lovely wave image, with fantastic color. The third one is my least favorite, but I do still enjoy it. I don’t think the bird is too small and actually believe that without it, the image would be far less interesting. What a great collection!

12

Number one for sure Lon. This is a wonderful Northern California Coast set. I love the rainbow too.

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Thank you @Igor_Doncov , @David_Haynes , @Ed_Lowe , @Diane_Miller , @Leo_Catana , @lucky , @Youssef_Ismail , @John_Williams , @Bret_Edge , @Mark_Seaver and @Ed_Williams

Sorry folks, been busy last few days and haven’t had a chance to respond.

I’m sorry, I should have chosen my words and requests better. I really only tossed in the other images for context about the photo day I was having. I think in the future, I won’t frame the supporting images and be more clear on my feedback request.

But for sure, I want to thank all those who commented on all the images. I mentioned in my original post a couple weeks ago this was a day of numerous, different rainbows. I knew I couldn’ show all of them because it would get redundant! Anyway… maybe I’ll share just one more.

Thanks David! We’ve stayed at most of the hotels in the area, including the nice ones for birthdays and anniversaries. Let me know and I can makes some recommendations!

I will be 100% honest - I had never heard or new the meaning of “spindrift”. Ironically though, the hotel with the bay window overlooking Monterey Bay, is called the Spindrift Hotel. Learn something more every day! Now actually our stay at the hotel means so much more! Thank you.

Thank you so much for the comments and observations! Much appreciated!