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Hi all - been for a bit of a drive today...

It wasn't the best of conditions for good picture taking, but I'm overall reasonably happy with what I got.
I'll get around to putting descriptions on these soon, but in the meantime, any critical comments or suggestions welcome.








More at: http://sheepie.smugmug.com/gallery/358900

Thanks!

Love that second one - the angles are quite poetic in a way...

First one needs an explaination IMO (What am I looking at?), the third had me scrutinising for a buzy bee or small flying creature...

G'day,
The first loses me as though the distance or haze(?) loses my attention, maybe PP local contrast???

The second I really like, interesting angles and a different take on an everyday subject, very interesting enjoyed it... Dunno if the people in the background add or subtract, might be worth playing with the clone in PP just to see the difference it makes... Wonder if the moodiness in the sky cold be brought out more, or made more dramatic?

The third I dunno, needs something but I don't know what...

Dunno if that's of any help though, I'll be the first to admit I don't have a very good eye or any creative skill when it comes to composition, so take anything I say with a grain of salt

Really liked that second one though...

Cheers,
Mudder

sheepie

If you have iNova’s actions he has a dehaze filter that might improve the look of this photo

I must agree with the others that shot 2 is very good. I like the perspective you have shot and I would say that it follows the rule of 5ths. The 2 characters on the top third right hand side add to this picture.

I think the 3rd photo would have worked better with even less DOF, closer and not centred

Hope that helps

Chris

I like the haze in the 1st pic. It gives the shot a sense of perspective. I do feel though that it needs something in the left hand foreground. The second one I like, and the third one could do with perhaps a tighter crop.

Just my humble observations
Regards
Meic

I Like the second one but wonder what it would have looked like a little further back and wider showing another corner of the pool...

Lovely cool (on a warm day) colours

mudder wrote:... Wonder if the moodiness in the sky cold be brought out more, or made more dramatic?

Thanks for all the comments people

I had a quick play with the sky and came up with this....



I think it's a big improvement for not much extra work

sheepie wrote:
I had a quick play with the sky and came up with this....



I think it's a big improvement for not much extra work

Much, Much better.... Excellent.

This image has gone form a great shot to print it out and hang it on the wall.

Can I ask where the pool is?

W00DY

I had a quick play with the sky and came up with this....

I think it's a big improvement for not much extra work

Sheepie , good work mate !
I thought like MHD about the composition, but I think it really works for you, our minds are engaged to complete the image - and makes those diagonals really strong.

thanx !

Yep... as per the others... the second shot is a keeper.
Not a big fan of the coastal type shot ala number one pic... done plenty myself in the past and always fine them hohum... they never tell a story and can just about be of anywhere in the world do they just about always find their way to the round filing cabinet.
As per Chris's comment on number 3 shot... a little more scene with an offset composition and less dof is usually the best presentation for these... you lose the flower amongst all the rest in this one. Nice flower though

Michael.

Agree with all of the above comments on your second photo MJ. The green really contrasts against the warm rocks around the pool.

Sheepie, did you do a ND filter PS techinique (i.e. layered on a duplicate copy of the original image (with those levels adjusted) + graduated it onto the original photo?)

I think the idea behind the first photo works but I think the weather let you down. Maybe with different weather or at a different time of day this would really work. The second one is definitely my favourite for the composition and I really like what you've done with the repost. Definitely a lot moodier. I agree with the other comments on the third pic.

Good one sheepie!

Sheepie
I like the PP work on the pool. You've sweetened that image up beautifully.

I like the reworked 2nd picture, where abouts is that pool located.

And is the first pic taken from Sublime point?

The pool shot is great.
I love it, especially with the PP.
Did you try removing the fishermen..????

I love the WA shot of the pool - it's very evocative.

I don't agree that the pic would be improved if the fishermen were PSed out of the image.
I feel they give the viewer some sense of scale, and also emphasise the relationship between the pool and the ocean which could be lost if they were not there.

Well done!

G'day,
The PP you've done on the report of the "pool" shot really gives the image a much more dramatic feeling. PP seems really well done...

Cheers,
Mudder

brembo wrote:I like the reworked 2nd picture, where abouts is that pool located.

And is the first pic taken from Sublime point?

The 'surf pool' is at Stanwell Park or Coalcliff - not sure where one finishes in relation to the other. I came across it almost by accident, looking for a view of the beach there with the cliff faces behind. Didn't know there was this pool there until I got down to it!

You're right, the lookout view is from Sublime Point, on a very cloudy day (the clouds at times were being blown up the hill to the top). A couple of times they cleared long enough for a 'not bad' snapshot-type pic.

Interesting, with this talk about taking photo's on beaches - I would have to admit to being acutely aware of the controversy when I took the surf pool pic, as there were kids in and out of the pool. I was very mindful of making sure I didn't look like I was taking photo's of them. Unfortunate thing is this meant I ended up not having anyone in the pool - would have liked to see it with someone doing laps perhaps.

sheepie wrote:You're right, the lookout view is from Sublime Point, on a very cloudy day (the clouds at times were being blown up the hill to the top). A couple of times they cleared long enough for a 'not bad' snapshot-type pic.

I go down to Stanwell/Bald Hill a few times a week, and it's almost impossible to see any great distance down over the Illawarra/Wollogong either due to cloud cover, or the (at times) overpowering haze/smog that sits over it. It's a shame really, it's a great area, but it's hidden away most of the time.

There is also some great rocky areas around Coalcliff and the surrounding areas. I've been meaning to go down there early one morning for some long exposure sunrise shots.

When I was a chil PP and pools were not to go together!!