First 2013 trip out
Discussion
Slightly unplanned but I and a fellow tog took a journey down to Durdle Door yesterday afternoon.
Some interesting light but it didn't last long!
There have been landslides on the door side that have destroyed the steps down to the beach, possibly to climb down but was a bit precarious and rather muddy.
It was quite high contrast between the low sun and the shadows, so took a fair bit of editing, did I do ok or are they a bit brutal?
General C&C welcome too !
1) Arrival

Durdle Door by c20let, on Flickr
2) Up top

Durdle Door by c20let, on Flickr
3) Contemplation.

Durdle Door by c20let, on Flickr
4) Long Exposure. 10 stop + 0.9 GND to calm the sky down. Had a colour cast that I've sort of removed

Durdle Door by c20let, on Flickr
5) The door. I haven't done any extra sharpening but the sea looks over done ?

Durdle Door by c20let, on Flickr
6) Abstract. Don't think it works, no lead in ?

Durdle Door by c20let, on Flickr
Some interesting light but it didn't last long!
There have been landslides on the door side that have destroyed the steps down to the beach, possibly to climb down but was a bit precarious and rather muddy.
It was quite high contrast between the low sun and the shadows, so took a fair bit of editing, did I do ok or are they a bit brutal?
General C&C welcome too !
1) Arrival

Durdle Door by c20let, on Flickr
2) Up top

Durdle Door by c20let, on Flickr
3) Contemplation.

Durdle Door by c20let, on Flickr
4) Long Exposure. 10 stop + 0.9 GND to calm the sky down. Had a colour cast that I've sort of removed

Durdle Door by c20let, on Flickr
5) The door. I haven't done any extra sharpening but the sea looks over done ?

Durdle Door by c20let, on Flickr
6) Abstract. Don't think it works, no lead in ?

Durdle Door by c20let, on Flickr
I like them.
They're good, but could've been better if you'd ND'd the first 3 to allow for a brighter foreground, 3 especially.
The two people sitting there are almost lost to the scene, rather than as your title portraits being a main focal point of it.
In lieu of appropriate ND filter, you could've chosen bracketed exposure or taken another shot or two with exposure compensation knocked up (by 2/3-1 EV?), and then merged in post.
That's my take on it, others with more experience and a better eye may suggest other ways you could've tackled the scenes.
They're good, but could've been better if you'd ND'd the first 3 to allow for a brighter foreground, 3 especially.
The two people sitting there are almost lost to the scene, rather than as your title portraits being a main focal point of it.
In lieu of appropriate ND filter, you could've chosen bracketed exposure or taken another shot or two with exposure compensation knocked up (by 2/3-1 EV?), and then merged in post.
That's my take on it, others with more experience and a better eye may suggest other ways you could've tackled the scenes.
Thanks. The first one was taken with a 0.9 GND, which is why the light is diffused (I think).
Yeah the people are a bit lost but going any tighter didn't work (at least to my eye) because much of the cliff and shore was out of shot.
Maybe I'll have a re-edit and try to lift the shadows further.
Yeah the people are a bit lost but going any tighter didn't work (at least to my eye) because much of the cliff and shore was out of shot.
Maybe I'll have a re-edit and try to lift the shadows further.

There's one possible expression - I notice your camo bag is sat there on the right, would've been nicer obviously if it wasn't.
That's just a quick mess with various levels in Pixelmator on a semi-calibrated 21.5" iMac - I offer it only as an idea of cropping to put the people more in focus and pull up hidden detail in the underexposed foreground region, as you can see from the pattern and hood of their coats.
Any objection, and I'll happily remove the image.
Edited by PJ S on Friday 4th January 10:28
Prefer pic1 with a different crop

IMHO both pic1 and pic2 lool a little too heavily recovered in the shadow areas - the contrast is too great for me
pic3 - the light is ok on the rocks but as already said - too much dead ground behind the people (and the bag...!)
pic4 - think I'd prefer less sky - it's neither here nor there for me = a bit wishy washy

I think with this longer exposure you'd see a more dramatic effect nearer the sea
And - what about setting a custom white balance to eliminate the colour cast?
pic5 - I don't mind the sharpness but feel it would benefit from a similar crop to above and less shadow recovery ?
pic6 = not into the crop or colours tbh - esp the loss of half a rock at the bottom - maybe if you were lower down/more constrast/brighter colours/b/w? - but not really a keeper for me
All IMHO - no offence intended!

IMHO both pic1 and pic2 lool a little too heavily recovered in the shadow areas - the contrast is too great for me
pic3 - the light is ok on the rocks but as already said - too much dead ground behind the people (and the bag...!)
pic4 - think I'd prefer less sky - it's neither here nor there for me = a bit wishy washy

I think with this longer exposure you'd see a more dramatic effect nearer the sea
And - what about setting a custom white balance to eliminate the colour cast?
pic5 - I don't mind the sharpness but feel it would benefit from a similar crop to above and less shadow recovery ?
pic6 = not into the crop or colours tbh - esp the loss of half a rock at the bottom - maybe if you were lower down/more constrast/brighter colours/b/w? - but not really a keeper for me
All IMHO - no offence intended!
Edited by Lucas CAV on Friday 4th January 06:38
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