Grytviken Whaling Station

[stubbsy]

One of the highlights of my recent Antarctic trip was the three days we spent on South Georgia where one of the unexpected delights was the old whaling station at Grytviken (click HERE to see in Google maps). Ernest Shackleton's grave, lots of rusty old whaling equipment and beached boats made for a very unusual photographic experience. Below are some images from my time there. A lot more can be found in my gallery HERE.

The Petrel is an old whaling ship built in 1928.

[Remorhaz]

I quite like #3 - if I was to be picky at all it would perhaps be to suggest to have slightly less DoF?

With #2 I love the repeating pattern and textures - I think it could be rotated ever so slightly to the right.

[aim54x]

That whaling station does look like it would hide a lot of treats!

Love #2 and #3

[Alex]

I really like the first one, Peter. Very interesting series and looks like a very photogenic place. Very interesting patterns and textures in no. 2 and 3.

Alex

[Murray Foote]

What an amazing photographic location! The last three are more successful compositions but the first one is just a stunning artefact. Pity about the light. Perhaps you needed to get in closer or round the other side. I think my favourite from your gallery is the chains with rocks and flotsam.

[gstark]

Peter,

Stunning images here.

The second and third provide some great texture and interest, with the second looking to me to be reminiscent of a wine rack of some sort. I think there's also some optical chicanery going on in this one as well: it looks like it's not quite straight ... but I think it is. I'm unsure of what's the deal here ... but I like it.

Murray's comments about the light for the first image are correct; this is an image where some fill flash would have been useful. Sadly, I doubt that that was a practical option. Have you perhaps tried something like D-Lite on this image?

[bigsarg7]

the 3rd is my pick, I like the lighting you've captured it with, its amazing what the right light can do, and i've think you've nailed it. Well done!

[stubbsy]

Ah yes, the light in image #1 - you guys had to mention the light didn't you

I'm annoyed at myself for that. We landed about 4 pm and Grytviken is nestled against some high mountains that shadow the town as the sun sets. When we landed if I had a brain I'd have turned right and taken shots of the two beached whalers and the town proper while it was still in full sun. Instead I turned left and headed to the cemetery on the hillside. By the time I worked my way back to the town 40 minutes later it was in shadow while the cemetery stayed in light for maybe another hour. grrrrr

Here's what I started with for that image and below that a second attempt at recovering the shadows - pushed a little harder. Is this new version better or have I gone too far?

The original


Rework #2


We had 3 hours in Grytviken. I could have done with twice that - it's a fascinating place. There's even a helicopter wreck up in the hills from the Falklands war (South Georgia was invaded as well), but I had no time to go there.

[Murray Foote]

No, I think that's too far. You've lost contrast in the ship. The only thing I can think of is to leave the ship in colour and make the foreground and the background to be mono. You would then probably have to darken and reduce contrast in the background, but treating the three regions differently. Toning in the mono areas might then also work, even perhaps different (even subtley different) toning in different regions.

[zafra52]

2 & 3 for me. I like the repetition and
the paterns of the shapes.

[surenj]

#1 is a very interesting subject!

I agree with Murray.

It would need some wicked masks to get any meaningful edits to this image. In addition to what murray has suggested, I would also suggest a very small amount of blur and mist in the background to further seperate it from the subject.

Perhaps also try BW.
Imagine if you could light paint this location....

Would you happen to have any other compositions of the ship?

[stubbsy]

#1 is a very interesting subject!...Would you happen to have any other compositions of the ship?

Yep - How's this - closer and with a bit better processing I hope.



And from in front:

[biggerry]

#1 is a very interesting subject!...Would you happen to have any other compositions of the ship?

Yep - How's this - closer and with a bit better processing I hope.

And from in front:

both are sh$tloads better, awesome ones actually.

[gstark]

Peter,

These two are much better.

[surenj]

Peter these are very nice indeed. I wouldn't even bother with #1.

[gstark]

Peter,

Just re-looking at these ....

In the second of these newer images: do you have one in portrait orientation or made with a wider angle lens? It's be nice to see more of the mast, and perhaps also where the anchor chain leads. Perhaps that's something to not for when you return to this location?

Also ... for a bit of fun ... you should photochop the vessel's name.

[ozimax]

#3 is a sterling heap of rust, most striking. They're all good Peter. It must have been a wonderful experience.

Ozi.

[zafra52]

I like these last two also!

[Murray Foote]

Also ... for a bit of fun ... you should photochop the vessel's name.

You mean change it from Petrel to Peter Stubbs?

[gstark]

Also ... for a bit of fun ... you should photochop the vessel's name.

You mean change it from Petrel to Peter Stubbs?

Well, from "Petrel" to "Peter".