Beach life.

Got a thin skin? Then look elsewhere. Post a link to an image that you've made, and invite others to offer their critiques. Honesty is encouraged, but please be positive in your constructive criticism. Flaming and just plain nastiness will not be tolerated. Please note that this is not an area for you to showcase your images, nor is this a place for you to show-off where you have been. This is an area for you to post images so that you may share with us a technique that you have mastered, or are trying to master. Typically, no more than about four images should be posted in any one post or thread, and the maximum size of any side of any image should not exceed 950 px.

Moderators: Greg B, Nnnnsic, Geoff, Glen, gstark, Moderators

Forum rules
Please note that image critiquing is a matter of give and take: if you post images for critique, and you then expect to receive criticism, then it is also reasonable, fair and appropriate that, in return, you post your critique of the images of other members here as a matter of courtesy. So please do offer your critique of the images of others; your opinion is important, and will help everyone here enjoy their visit to far greater extent.

Also please note that, unless you state something to the contrary, other members might attempt to repost your image with their own post processing applied. We see this as an acceptable form of critique, but should you prefer that others not modify your work, this is perfectly ok, and you should state this, either within your post, or within your signature.

Images posted here should conform with the general forum guidelines. Image sizes should not exceed 950 pixels along the largest side (height or width) and typically no more than four images per post or thread.

Please also ensure that you have a meaningful location included in your profile. Please refer to the FAQ for details of what "meaningful" is.

Beach life.

Postby owen on Sat Feb 25, 2006 1:27 pm

Here's another shot from this morning. I took this because although the foreground is empty I like the lines leading into the image. To me the foreground is calm and it leads you to the crashing waves of the surf.

Comments welcome.

:)

Image

Regards,
Owen.
http://www.ausphotos.com - My Gallery

http://www.doesgodexist.com - a very interesting site.
User avatar
owen
Senior Member
 
Posts: 1699
Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 3:21 pm
Location: Nowra, NSW

Postby marcotrov on Sat Feb 25, 2006 1:49 pm

Owen the image is generally well thought through and I can see what you were trying to do but for me the individual elements i.e. the sand gullies, the waves and the sky are just not strong enough to pull it off. The sky also is a little distracting, despite its good proportions relative to rest of scene, because of the unevenness of the toning. Did you use a polariser?
As a suggestion perhaps the use of a neutral density grad may have evened out the sky and prevented blowout in the left side.
A standout wave or single obvious break with say a set of footprints walking the ridge between the 2 left side gullies disappearing into the water may have produced a stronger compositional image. I think to achieve the sense of tranquility you were after perhaps a little closer to dusk with a little more colour in the sky may have also helped but I can see where you were going with it. Certainly worthy of another crack at it.
Hope this is useful? :)
cheers
marco
marcotrov
Senior Member
 
Posts: 2577
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 2:21 pm
Location: Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Postby owen on Sat Feb 25, 2006 1:56 pm

Absolutely marco, thanks for the advice. I'm a bit of a cheapskate so I don't have a ND filter... but I did use a polariser. The sky was uneven but I tried to lessen that by adding a colour gradient. Thanks for the helpful advice.

Cheers,
Owen.
http://www.ausphotos.com - My Gallery

http://www.doesgodexist.com - a very interesting site.
User avatar
owen
Senior Member
 
Posts: 1699
Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 3:21 pm
Location: Nowra, NSW

Postby mudder on Sat Feb 25, 2006 2:49 pm

G'day mate,

I like it :)

The sand shows good texture and nice side light, looks a little cool in WB maybe? Great foreground, it's all it needs as it has great interest in the textures and shapes, missing something in either middle or background but I just can't put my finger on it... Some form of subject, or primary focus... Dunno, just rambling...

The gradient works well, did you use "overlay" blending on the gradient?
Aka Andrew
User avatar
mudder
Senior Member
 
Posts: 3020
Joined: Fri Oct 29, 2004 5:58 pm
Location: Melbourne - Burwood East

Postby Mitchell on Sat Feb 25, 2006 3:04 pm

I really like the shot. The foreground texture really caught and held my attention, although I agree it might be a little cool on the white balance. The background does feel like it is lacking something, but I think that is only relative to the great texture in the foreground.
User avatar
Mitchell
Member
 
Posts: 238
Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2006 3:16 am
Location: Île Saint Louis, Paris

Postby mudder on Sat Feb 25, 2006 3:24 pm

Hey mate,

I just had a thought (strewth it always hurts the first time) why not just try a fairly strong, very softly feathered vignette? That might be all it needs to keep the viewers eye in the frame...
Aka Andrew
User avatar
mudder
Senior Member
 
Posts: 3020
Joined: Fri Oct 29, 2004 5:58 pm
Location: Melbourne - Burwood East

Postby owen on Sat Feb 25, 2006 6:50 pm

Thanks very much on the comments guys. I actually desaturated it a bit because after adjusting the curve of the image it didn't look right, maybe I lost some of the warmth by doing that. I'll look at warming it up a bit and also adding a vignette once I get a bit more time (When my wife stops playing the sims! :) )
http://www.ausphotos.com - My Gallery

http://www.doesgodexist.com - a very interesting site.
User avatar
owen
Senior Member
 
Posts: 1699
Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 3:21 pm
Location: Nowra, NSW


Return to Image Reviews and Critiques