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I was recently in Melbourne for a weekend and took the opportunity to check out the sights and sounds at dawn. Thanks to pucara (Carlos) for showing me around.

I was surprised to find footy fans gathering around at 0900 on a Sunday to watch a game?? WTF?

Anyways here are some selections from the day... The balloons were a pleasant surprise indeed. Has anyone done this tour?? Would be amazing sights especially if the sunrise is also good.

For your C&C.

I like the 3 different types of movement in the last image. The water, the rower and the ducks(?).
I find myself distracted a little by what i'm guessing are mark buoys above the rower? I'd clone those out.

I like the last as well....but yes clone out those bouys!

An interesting take on Melbourne, I hope you enjoyed your time down there

I liek the first one, the collage of colours in teh water offset by the movement in the clouds works nicely, I love the blurred effect of the water and teh sharpness of the buildings and light. I would clone out that black bit in teh lower left.

The second one does not rock my world.

The third one is interesting and I am sure you were limited in composition due to teh position of the balloon. Maybe cropping tighter to draw the viewer into teh balloon more rather than the bridge and peripherals?!

The last is a winner, a little clonage and adjustment to bring out the detail of teh ripples etc and correct cast (or change it?) and you have a very nicely executed image with great use of space and movement.

Gerry,

Your version of this image (I presume that's what you've added to this thread) is throwing an "access denied" message from your server.

Suren,

I like all of these pretty much as they are. In the fourth image, I don't think I'd clone out those marks, but perhaps I might be inclined to crop out the partial bird right at the bottom. You should be able to crop at a line just above its location.

gstark wrote:Gerry,

Your version of this image (I presume that's what you've added to this thread) is throwing an "access denied" message

all good from my end thanks for that, fixed up now

Thanks to all your responses. Much appreciated.

biggerry wrote:the collage of colours in teh water offset by the movement in the clouds works nicely

This one was a blue hour shot which I quite like. Thanks to Carlos for taking us to this location in time.

Wink wrote:mark buoys above the rower? I'd clone those out.

aim54x wrote:but yes clone out those bouys!

gstark wrote:crop out the partial bird right at the bottom.

Thanks guys you have given me a few ideas. This one is my favourite as well.

biggerry wrote:The second one does not rock my world.

Fair enuf. There isn't a lot of interest in it now that I look at it again!

biggerry wrote:The third one is interesting and I am sure you were limited in composition due to teh position of the balloon. Maybe cropping tighter to draw the viewer into teh balloon more rather than the bridge and peripherals?!

Hmm interesting. I was trying to show the softness of the balloon against the unexpected harshness/urbanness of the city. I must say I didn't expect any balloons to be around in the city so wanted to juxtapose the unusual sight into the cityscape. so I included more cityscape and just enough balloon.

Thanks for your edit Gerry. You have increased the slight color gradient across the image which is interesting. I did increase the warmth of image in post. Just wanted to make it feel more sunrise like...
Interesting that you have also cropped the bottom bird like Gary suggested!

On a side note, it's interesting how the image that Gerry posted is much sharper than my version. My version is also sharp when viewed in flickr. (I have really increased the sharpening to counter the apparent softening effect that the forum software has on the images)

I wonder why it's softer?

surenj wrote: that you have also cropped the bottom bird like Gary suggested!

I think Gerry has cloned it out, rather than cropping it.

But here's a thought for you ...

Crop this image much more harshly ... remove the one and a half birds at the bottom, and turn this image into a pano.

Crop it so that the rower end up midway between the top and bottom of your image on the rh side, with just the two birds on the left. I think such a crop will make this a very compelling image.

Thanks for all ya suggestions.

Here is the cropped version...

surenj wrote:Thanks for all ya suggestions.

Here is the cropped version...

I like it!!! nice balance has been created by the birds!

aim54x wrote:I like it!!! nice balance has been created by the birds!

I agree. Who would have thought that ducks could improve any image!!?