The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Bowfiddle Rock, Portknockie, Moray, Scotland.
This place is pretty close to where I live and if the conditions are good I will often pay it a visit. It was predicted that their would be a sea Haar (mist) that would roll in from the North sea, where warm air meets cold water, but they got it wrong. The sunrise was very calm and serene and of exceptional colour and I chose my favourite lofty viewpoint position for a 4.15am sunrise, this being taken about 30 minutes prior to sunrise.
Specific Feedback
Any comments or views welcome
Technical Details
Fuji GFX 50S, Fuji GF 32-64mm zoom, 0.6ND Reverse grad + 0.9ND Soft grad the latter being set deeper than the first. +0.9ND polariser backed off to about 20% to modify the reflectance of the water and naturalise its tonal fall off. I chose a longish exposure of 15 -20 seconds to eliminate the white ghosting streaks of the Kittiwakes and Fulmars continually flying through the frame.
f/18 at 16 Seconds, ISO 160 approx wide angle end.
Critique Template
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Thank you Sandy, glad you like it. I think I was there for about 90 minutes and spent most of my time in the exact same position just enjoying the most perfect of Summer sunrises.
Ian, a gorgeous image! What a sense of peace this brings…
The light and sunrise colours are stunning, and the detail in the rocks exceptional. Perfect comp as well, with the center off-set rock.
Very compelling!
Wow, Ian! I am loving this image. Very pretty reflected colors in the water and speaking of the water, not a ripple in sight anywhere. Terrific long exposure. The detail in the foreground rocks is superb and you have terrific leading lines into the scene. What a great composition as well. I can even see a possible vertical image. The little hole in the midground rock catches my attention in a good way. I love it and it’s below the horizon. Well done. I think the only thing I could mention is to maybe lighten the very dark clouds so they are not so pronounced. The rest of the sky is so soft and beautiful that those dark, almost black streaks are at odds with the rest of the sky.
Interesting, I thought the same thing yesterday evening and I was actually going to do that this morning and just clean forgot. I will go back to the original file and finish it off and maybe repost it below.
Wow, Ian! I am loving this image. Very pretty reflected colors in the water and speaking of the water, not a ripple in sight anywhere. Terrific long exposure. The detail in the foreground rocks is superb and you have terrific leading lines into the scene. What a great composition as well. I can even see a possible vertical image. The little hole in the midground rock catches my attention in a good way. I love it and it’s below the horizon. Well done. I think the only thing I could mention is to maybe lighten the very dark clouds so they are not so pronounced. The rest of the sky is so soft and beautiful that those dark, almost black streaks are at odds with the rest of the sky.
The color depth and richness are fantastic in this photo. I also love the details on the FG rock that you are perched on , it adds so much to the over all photo. I also love how sharp the rocks are at the water’s edge, it almost gives the sense that the rocks are floating above the water. If I were to do any edits to this it would be to slightly didge the very tip of the rock on the left side. It seems that the ND might have caught that tip and made it darker than the rest of the rock. Excellent choice for the shutter to smooth out the water, it is so smooth I would almost think it should be a mirror, but as is it gives the phot a bit of surrealism. Nice work as always.
Wonderful light on this scene, Ian. I can definitely go with the crop @David_Haynes shows in his post. That vertical works best for me on this sunrise seascape. Looks like the reverse ND did it’s job very well too…
Splendid image, very tranquil, peaceful and inspiring… and I can see you staying there for a long time just enjoying the scene and the moment… I like both version, the larger horizontal view and the vertical crop, maybe with a slight preference for the original version where the central rock is not so dominant…
This is quite dramatic and peaceful at the same time. The light is gorgeous. I prefer the original crop and composition. I do agree a bit of lightening of the dark clouds is in order. Your chosen shutter speed was perfect and allowed the reflected light to really shine.
Ian, You are rewarded for lack of sleep. I ditto @Sandy_Richards-Brown’s accolades. Superb image. I would not crop the image as David Haynes suggested as the water and rocks on the right contribute to the visual leading lines. The smoothness of the water creates wonderful mood. You certainly have mastered using ND filters.
Hi Ian,
What a lovely composition and tranquil scene, and well worth waking for at such an unsocial hour!
I agree with the comment about gently lifting the darkest shades of black in the distant clouds - and possibly the further isolated rock on the LHS, too.
I have a question for you. Having shot with you on numerous occasions, and agreeing completely with your ethos of getting the image correct ‘in-camera’ to leave the absolute minimum of post processing, if you could re-live the exact moment would you have made any in-camera or filter adjustments when taking the shot…or was it just a case of perhaps looking at the monitor too long and your eyes over compensating?
Thanks, Nigel
I think it’s more a case of getting it as close as possible with the filters I had available and then making minor adjustments to the highlights and shadows. The contrast ratios are about right and pretty much match what I was seeing with my own eyes. The one area out of my control in terms of filtering was the line of clouds near the horizon and the tip of the stack itself, but overall I am very happy with the finished result. I would however just lighten those horizon clouds a little in Post.
Hi Ian,
What a lovely composition and tranquil scene, and well worth waking for at such an unsocial hour!
I agree with the comment about gently lifting the darkest shades of black in the distant clouds - and possibly the further isolated rock on the LHS, too.
I have a question for you. Having shot with you on numerous occasions, and agreeing completely with your ethos of getting the image correct ‘in-camera’ to leave the absolute minimum of post processing, if you could re-live the exact moment would you have made any in-camera or filter adjustments when taking the shot…or was it just a case of perhaps looking at the monitor too long and your eyes over compensating?
Thanks, Nigel
I usually always find something to complain about! Not here! The spot is fantastic, I’ve been there once. I envy you for where you live. To the point! The image is fantastically composed and reflects this spot in a unique way. I really like the orange tones and, of course, the balanced depths that are so typical of the GFX 50S. Great work, Ian! And, of course, congratulations on the EP!
I usually always find something to complain about! Not here! The spot is fantastic, I’ve been there once. I envy you for where you live. To the point! The image is fantastically composed and reflects this spot in a unique way. I really like the orange tones and, of course, the balanced depths that are so typical of the GFX 50S. Great work, Ian! And, of course, congratulations on the EP!
Hi Ian, catching up with this section after some time away. I’ve been caught by your image on my feed. As some as say, so peaceful image light and lie&ding lines are perfect. I prefer the landscape orientation to the vertical as proposed. The more I look at your image and the more I think it will benefit to have the rock below the horizon. As you are living close, I would give it a try one day. But you are right, a lot to do in this place. Thank for sharing your image. Cheers.
Thank you Arnaud. I do agree with you. I would love to have dipped the Bowfiddle Rock just below the horizon and ideally be just a little further to the right as that would just open the arch of the rock a fraction. Alas I would need to use a drone to achieve that. I was literally perched on a finger of rock that juts out from the cliff top at its highest point. The usual view is from the beach but I have always eschewed that viewpoint as the elements just come together better from up high.
Hi Ian, catching up with this section after some time away. I’ve been caught by your image on my feed. As some as say, so peaceful image light and lie&ding lines are perfect. I prefer the landscape orientation to the vertical as proposed. The more I look at your image and the more I think it will benefit to have the rock below the horizon. As you are living close, I would give it a try one day. But you are right, a lot to do in this place. Thank for sharing your image. Cheers.
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