Mona Vale Beach - Sunrise Shoot

[Wocka]

Gidday,
These were taken at Mona Vale Beach on Sunday 31/7/05.
Please give feedback, I'm still beginning and maybe half my issues are the Photoshop processing.











Cheers
Warwick[/list]

[rokkstar]

Mate!!
2,4 and 5 are sublime. The colours are wonderful and the compositions perfect.
The horizon is a little crooked on #2 but other than that I think these are terrific shots.

[Wocka]

Another Panorama.

[Wocka]

Thanks Rokkstar,

Should you always have a perfectly horizontal horizon for a good image?
I can always try and skew the image in PS and make it straight.

Cheers
Warwick

[petermmc]

Hi Wocka

Serenity plus. Great shots with beautiful colour.

I would consider the rule of 3 for a couple of the shots. At least play with it when cropping. The rule is about looking at thirds of the photo eg two thirds land and one third sky. A couple of the shots are centred and while they are excellent in their overall composition they could be dramatised more by using this old rule.

I would probably apply it with the first, fourth and fifth. Some of it can be done simply by cropping.

Great work.

Peter Mc

[famish]

Wocka...

i love the composition of the shots. Nothing wrong with slightly crooked horizons when it's balanced with strong linear foreground. I think it can add interest.

How did you process them in PS?

Fiona

[rokkstar]

Thanks Rokkstar,

Should you always have a perfectly horizontal horizon for a good image?
I can always try and skew the image in PS and make it straight.

Well, I don't really know. I guess if it's intentional to make the horizon not straight then cool. If however, to me, it looks as if it's meant to be straight but isn't then I would correct it. Sometimes though it takes others to point it out. I took a shot the other day, thought the horizon was straight, and the police told me to straighten it. Would have completely slipped past me otherwise.

[Wocka]

Thanks Peter,

The first shot I actually cropped the other way 2/3 of sky and 1/3 land. I did this because I preferred the colour of the sky compared to the dark forground. I can change it easily enough.

I have heard of the 2/3rd's rule before. Is it always 2/3rd's land that I should compose my images when shooting? I guess the sky isn't very intersting usually.

Cheers
Warwick

[Wocka]

Hi Fiona,

I'm very new to this DSLR and PS stuff.
Basically I changed the colours using the Image / Adjustments / Auto Level and Auto Contrast. I only did this cause, someone at work walked behind me and asked have I tried these 2 options. So I did, and liked the result.

I think I sharpened a little using the auto sharpen tool. But I don't know when I'm going too far on these images. Time will tell.

Cheers
Warwick

[Matt. K]

Warwick
You have an eye for sublime colours and creamy smooth tones. Very nice images...looks as if they have had a touch of Pprocessing. I would like to see them as prints.

[stubbsy]

Warwick. These are a great bunch. A little criticism first. I feel cheated that such great shots are so small here I can't see them in their true glory. I'd suggest a link to a large version also so we can see the detail better. This is particularly the cae for the first image where the detail is very hard to appreciate.

I think the colours in the second one are fantastically well contrasted. You have the orange of the sky blending into the rusty colours of the railing and the blue into the pool. They work in concert to really draw you into the scene and the leading lines round out the effect beautifully. Well composed and well processed.

I also really like the fourth one for the strong use of leading lines.

[petermmc]

Thanks Peter,

Warwick

You can go the other way around and you can add and subtract accordingly ie I have seen very effective shots with 10-20% land. It is usually about what is the most interesting part. The more I look at your photos the more I think you have probably got them right the first time.

Peter Mc

The first shot I actually cropped the other way 2/3 of sky and 1/3 land. I did this because I preferred the colour of the sky compared to the dark forground. I can change it easily enough.

I have heard of the 2/3rd's rule before. Is it always 2/3rd's land that I should compose my images when shooting? I guess the sky isn't very intersting usually.

Cheers
Warwick

[Geoff]

Great shots Wock! I only just stumbled upon this post! Would love to see larger versions .

[glamy]

First, I like them all. Second I do not think the rule of 3 is a must, you would have had too much dark foreground and the colours are nicely balanced as it is.
Cheers,
Gerard

[Slider]

Great shots Wocka, I particularly like the composition and colours of number 2. Very nice.

[jethro]

nice stuff wocka, did use a polariser at all? they look as if a filter was applied

[stephen]

Great shots Wocka can you supply some exif data please?.

[Wocka]

Thanks for all the kind words guys.

Matt K: I'm definitely thinking of sending some of these off to be printed. Which leads me to a Q: Is there a tutorial for preparing images for print? I have done a quick search on the forum. All I know if that it needs to be 300dpi when sent.

Geoff & Stubbsy: I'll upload larger images to pixspot and post the links. The panorama's are 15MB, So I'll cut them down a little.

Stubbsy: The first / second image was helped by a nice orange flood light that keeps the pool illuminated. You can see it in the first picture.

Jethro: No filters were used on the lens itself. And only Photoshop actions as stated before. Eg Auto levels and Auto Contrast.

Stephen: Here is the EXIF data
Picture 1:
Exposure Time: 25s
Exposure Time: 4.5
ISO: 100
ShutterSpeed: 15s
Focal Length: 35mm
Using: Exposure Program

Picture 2:
Exposure Time: 6s
Exposure Time: 4
ISO: 100
ShutterSpeed: 4s
Focal Length: 22mm
Using: Exposure Program

Picture 3:
Exposure Time: 1/800s
Exposure Time: 8
ISO: 400
ShutterSpeed: 0.001250s
Focal Length: 41mm
Using: Action Program

Picture 4:
Exposure Time: 1/500s
Exposure Time: 5.6
ISO: 100
ShutterSpeed: 0.002000s
Focal Length: 55mm
Using: Exposure Program

Picture 5:
Exposure Time: 1/125s
Exposure Time: 5.6
ISO: 100
ShutterSpeed: 0.008000s
Focal Length: 18mm
Using: Exposure Program

Picture 6:
Exposure Time: 1/13s
Exposure Time: 13
ISO: 100
ShutterSpeed: 0.076923s
Focal Length: 31mm
Using: Exposure Program
[/b]

[Wocka]

Gidday,

Larger images can be found here.

http://www.pixspot.com/thumbnails.php?album=597

Cheers
Warwick.

[Finno]

Fantastic Wocka! I reallo love the pool shot with chain fence on the left.

[big pix]

very good...... I like all these as sunrises have some great colours, If you have shot in RAW you should be able to get more from these with ACR, if not, try using some saturation in PS......

but you have set the bar rather high for yourself....... well done