The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
It was an overcast day at the coast. Originally we wanted to photograph high waves.
But then a few rocks caught my attention, washed by the waves. So I played with different shutter speeds.
Specific Feedback
Any feedback is welcome!
Technical Details
I combined two exposures here to add some water streaks at the upper part of the rocks.
LR for basic adjustments, additionally some texture, clarity and dehaze. Some contrast work in PS (including TK Lights Triple Play).
Very nice timing on the water! When I first looked at the image without reading your description, I wondered why some of the water appeared sharper, then read that you blended two images. Did you hand blend with a brush on a mask in areas you wanted sharper water?
Yes, I blended the layers with a brush (no luminosity mask). But the shots were taken with the same shutter speed in the same burst-mode sequence within seconds. Which areas stand out in this regard in your opinion? Maybe I added too much contrast there.
Beautiful capture! I think the blending in at the upper part really adds to the dynamism of the scene! I can really feel the chaos of the water! Spectacular; I canât think of any improvements!
Looking at your beautiful image again today, the flat black rock in the ULC is a strong anchor point, so the brightness of the rock in the very top of the ULC adds to to the pull perhaps a bit too much.
BTW, the flat black rock in the ULC is what makes this composition excellent IMO, in that it provides a break in the flowing patterns. The static flat rock and rapid liquid flows enhance each other by contrast.
Thank you very much for pointing that out. I agree with you and I really like your subtle edit.
Btw, this image here was shot with the exact same tripod position and camera settings as this: Water on the rocks + Repost
I just rotated the last mentioned 90 degrees. Itâs interesting how water can change a scene within seconds.
Hi Jens: Image impact - The most striking thing about this image is the strong contrast, not unlike a chiaroscuro pattern (basically alternating black and white). This is definitely an image for bracketing exposures from long (30 secs +/-) to short (1/60 sec +/-), although with this type of movement, shorter exposures can show the power and speed of the flow. I also like how the water enters the frame from both sides , all converging at the bottom and exiting the frame. There are many ways to smooth the water if itâs a bit too active. An easy way is to reduce clarity to about -40. Itâs not dramatic, but does reduce some of the confusing intersections on the table area. I would be shooting this for at least an hour. Great subject!
One of the most interesting things about it is the rich black rock, itâs almost like coal in that itâs pure black.
The other thing is the flow of water, itâs not the typical waterflow that weâre so used to seeing. I see where you mention that this was âwashed by the wavesâ so I assume that the water is âbackflowâ from where the wave hits it and this is the outflow or draining part of the cycle between waves?
That would explain why some parts appear to have water coming right out of the rock itself rather than water flowing across it from a source above.
I like the water coming from the left, center and right, then converging at the lower portion of the frame. The water at the bottom is pleasantly chaotic (churning?), itâs going in all directions at the same time.
I âreallyâ like the clean look created by the black rock and white water, so for me itâs a very vibrant B&W image without having been converted to B&W (it wasnât converted to B&W was it?).
It would seem kind of tough to choose the right shutter speed since the water is flowing at different speeds (depending on what stage this was shot at) (and if Iâm correct about this being backflow from crashing waves).
Iâm probably the only one to not know the story about the water flow, itâs probably obvious to everyone else
At any rate, this is really interesting and very appealing!
I bet this would look awesome printed on aluminum.
@Merv
Thank you very much for your feedback and kind words.
You really have an eagle eye, Merv
Itâs exactly like you described. âbackflowâ of waves is a good term for that.
It was very funny to shoot it⌠the rocks were the same all the time (of course). But each wave was different, so the same shutter speed had very different effects on the various shots.
Thanks for the confirmation, Jens!
I could see myself spending an unusual amount of time capturing many images at different stages of backflow just to see how many different effects it might produce and I imagine that you did that very thing.
Iâm really enjoying the reveal of Iceland through your lens and personal perspective.
Very well done, Jens!
Thanks again!
P.S. I like your rework image as suggested by Tony!
