North Head

[gleff]

I just got back from North Head.

It would have been a better photo if I wasn't rushed.. It started to rain, and there must have been a million flies up there.. I was only there a total of about 3 minutes.

Taken with my kit lens stitched to a panoramic using The Panoramic Factory (4 shots).





Geoff

[avkomp]

looks like a nice stitching job but the blown highlights in the sky keep drawing my eye.


I saw a shot from there a while ago and seem to remember that the cliffs seemed not as vibrant as this.

Did you increase saturation in PP or was it just a phenomenon of light today??

I went out today for a few shots also but got rained out. so I only got the one shot.

Steve

[rokkstar]

I like the aspect of it Geoff, but I would be tempted to try it in B&W. The sky colour isn't great and might benefit from a mono feel.

[gleff]

looks like a nice stitching job but the blown highlights in the sky keep drawing my eye.


I saw a shot from there a while ago and seem to remember that the cliffs seemed not as vibrant as this.

Did you increase saturation in PP or was it just a phenomenon of light today??

I went out today for a few shots also but got rained out. so I only got the one shot.

Steve

Yeh.. next time I'll have a bit more time to adjust the camera and try and lock the exposure somewhat..

I did do a little of Shadow/Highlight adjustments in Photoshop, but that's all.

[avkomp]

you could even take 2 exposures for each to be joined, one exposed for the sky and one for the land.

do a hdr combine of each on photoshop and blend those suckers!! that would teach the sky for being so bright.

nothing like a rain squall to make us want to run away though.

In my case today I still had to walk 1km but at least the back kept the toys try.

Steve

[gleff]

I like the aspect of it Geoff, but I would be tempted to try it in B&W. The sky colour isn't great and might benefit from a mono feel.

I just had a fiddle and converted to black and white, but it didn't really improve it any.

I hope the weather is better this weekend though.. want to get out and do some practicing.

[gleff]

you could even take 2 exposures for each to be joined, one exposed for the sky and one for the land.

do a hdr combine of each on photoshop and blend those suckers!! that would teach the sky for being so bright.

nothing like a rain squall to make us want to run away though.

In my case today I still had to walk 1km but at least the back kept the toys try.

Steve

When I left, I was more concerned about the damn flies than the drizzle. I can't believe how many flies there were all over north head. I didn't dare open my mouth or I would have swallowed a few.

[avkomp]

I felt like I was carrying 10kg of flies today also.

better be getting some aeroguard.

Steve

[maca]

Nice shot , early morning there is great , gates open at 5am. Alot different
colours in the rock face in different light

[wendellt]

The stitching job is great usually when you start takin ghte first photo then end up taking the last during that tiem the waves change thus when it comes to stitch these programs have trouble aligning the differences in the waves on the water, looks like everything looks right, did you use the clone tool to fix up the uneaven waves, or did you take the 4 shots so quickly that you managed to capture the waves in a pretty static state?

composition is fine, i suggest you seek out better light, take it at a prettier more seductive time like late afternoon or early morning.

[gleff]

Ok.. just did a bit of PP on it.. I think it looks a lot better now. Still not as good as if I'd had time to take it properly, but pretty good nonetheless.

[avkomp]

looks nicer now, but I would clone out the fence at bottom right or crop it out and
when time permits, seek out sweeter light.

but panofactory is fun to use!

Steve

[gleff]

looks nicer now, but I would clone out the fence at bottom right or crop it out and
when time permits, seek out sweeter light.

but panofactory is fun to use!

Steve

Thanks, it was easier to crop it.. fixed

[sheepie]

Hi glef - the second is certainly much better, although I find the distortion on the left a little offputting.
As an example of what you could do with this one, I've had a quick play (hope you don't mind)...



I may have gone a little far, but it was designed to show what you could retrieve from the sky, etc. This was a quick 2-minute play, on which you could improve dramatically with the original file and a bit more time

Now, some will probably say this is not the picture you took, that it's not the original photo anymore. All I've done is have a play with levels and curves - and a little selective dodging of a layer around the cliff face. No special filters or animals were harmed in the creation of this!

I reckon this is a pretty special spot - you'll have to share it with us sometime

[gleff]

Hi glef - the second is certainly much better, although I find the distortion on the left a little offputting.
As an example of what you could do with this one, I've had a quick play (hope you don't mind)...

I may have gone a little far, but it was designed to show what you could retrieve from the sky, etc. This was a quick 2-minute play, on which you could improve dramatically with the original file and a bit more time

Now, some will probably say this is not the picture you took, that it's not the original photo anymore. All I've done is have a play with levels and curves - and a little selective dodging of a layer around the cliff face. No special filters or animals were harmed in the creation of this!

I reckon this is a pretty special spot - you'll have to share it with us sometime

No problems.. The beauty of PP is you could do a great deal with the shots.. I'm pretty happy with my second one though considering the circumstances.

As for the area. It's just one of the lookouts at north head. Just watch out for the flies. I don't think they liked me.

[sheepie]

...The beauty of PP is you could do a great deal with the shots.. I'm pretty happy with my second one though considering the circumstances.

I'd be pretty happy with it too Gleff - it's come up pretty good. The PP work I did was something I've been reading about lately, and I'm trying all sorts of pics to see where it can and can't be used. I'll share it with everyone once I'm more comfortable with it

Keep playing with the things mate, they're a bunch of fun

[Marty]

Great shot and a great location for taking photos.
If you are very keen, although I have yet to do this, there is a path at the bottom which runs all the way around North Head..
You can start at Shelley Beach (Manly side) and walk completely round the bottom of Nth head, just above sea level. It finishes at the harbour side of Manly. Of course you could walk the other direction.....
I was told it takes a few hours to walk around, but I am positive you will get some awesome shots looking up and along the cliffs.
But dont try the walk if it looks like rain, there isnt any quick way back to your car....
There is another way down, from the top of North Head to sea level. Its used by fishermen, but I dont have the nerve to try it. If anybody needs the location, let me know.......

[Muzza22au]

Great shot! But my only critique is that the sea is on a slope! But I am picky with horizons!!!

Cheers

Scott