How the mighty have fallen...

[Bearface]

This is another from Fleetwood (the wrecks on the Wyre estuary to be precise), although not from the last visit a few weeks ago; this one's a few months old.

The dominance of the hull, the (fairly) dramatic sky and the distant, colourful wreck seemed to gel nicely, so I was exited to finally get around to processing the image last week. When you stand next to these hulls and consider that they were regularly working out at sea less than ten years ago, you can't help but feel saddened by their undignified demise. This is a feeling somewhat challenged by the fact that they still have presence and a certain beauty which nobody really noticed when they were working boats. I dunno, I'm just rambing...

On our last visit, a salty sea dog (a bloke in wellies...) came over and said that the oldest of these wrecks had lain here for probably six or seven years, which is hard to believe when you look at the decay (especially with the wooden boats), but he helpfully pointed out that the salt water, the power of the tides and the fact that many vital parts were removed prior to the boats being dumped here........contributed to this perception. I'd originally guessed that they'd been here for thirty or forty years, so it's a good thing nobody is relying on my archeological expertise...

Anyway............if this image gives you even a hint of the environment and the atmosphere here, then I'm really pleased. If it doesn't, then please feel free to tell me why - all feedback is appreciated.

Thanks

[coupekid]

Re: How the mighty have fallen...

wonderful shot Tim, with bags of atmosphere. Another potential candidate for 'Timeless' me thinks, hehe!

I love the texture of the boat, and the composition, the way you have postitioned yourself low and to include both boats. You can tell that this is a well thought out shot.

The only slightly negative thing I would add, is it looks unaturally sharp, possibly a tad over sharpened?

[Stephen]

Re: How the mighty have fallen...

wonderful shot Tim, with bags of atmosphere. Another potential candidate for 'Timeless' me thinks, hehe!

I love the texture of the boat, and the composition, the way you have postitioned yourself low and to include both boats. You can tell that this is a well thought out shot.

The only slightly negative thing I would add, is it looks unaturally sharp, possibly a tad over sharpened?

I'd have to agree with you Ben, whether its sharpening or selective increase in contrast, it does look almost unatural. But as you say its a great angle and composition. There is also great clarity to the image, esp round the water.

You may also see some lens distortion round the keel and propellor shaft. No doubt the result of a 17mm full frame shot

[Tinka]

Re: How the mighty have fallen...

Hi Bearface,
Never mind the technicalities, this is a great shot and I like the low viewpoint from where the image is taken, superb.

[Bearface]

Re: How the mighty have fallen...

Ben, I think the localised sharpening I used on this image seems to vary in appearance depending on which screen you're using. I had a look on my partner's monitor for example, and it looked considerably sharper than it did on my own. But nevertheless I think I need to tone down my sharpening for the web

Stephen, thanks for pointing out the wide-angle distortion on the ship's keel . Yes, I used the 17-40 f4L at 17mm for this, so it was inevitable that the image would bend from this perspective. Fortunately I wasn't using my 1D Mk2 on the day, otherwise I'd have struggled to make the shot from this distance...

Tinka, I appreciate your comment; thanks . In fairness to other critics, I'm posting here for critique, so I have expect honest feedback and some negative observation, especially when it's considered and perfectly reasonable.

[Stephen]

Re: How the mighty have fallen...

Stephen, thanks for pointing out the wide-angle distortion on the ship's keel . Yes, I used the 17-40 f4L at 17mm for this, so it was inevitable that the image would bend from this perspective. Fortunately I wasn't using my 1D Mk2 on the day, otherwise I'd have struggled to make the shot from this distance...

Yer just gorra step back a tad with my beast thats all

Tinka, I appreciate your comment; thanks . In fairness to other critics, I'm posting here for critique, so I have expect honest feedback and some negative observation, especially when it's considered and perfectly reasonable.

I prefer to call it FYI, just to keep yer feet on the ground my son you full framers need to be kept in check tha knows

[Archangel]

Re: How the mighty have fallen...

This is another from Fleetwood (the wrecks on the Wyre estuary to be precise), although not from the last visit a few weeks ago; this one's a few months old.

The dominance of the hull, the (fairly) dramatic sky and the distant, colourful wreck seemed to gel nicely, so I was exited to finally get around to processing the image last week. When you stand next to these hulls and consider that they were regularly working out at sea less than ten years ago, you can't help but feel saddened by their undignified demise. This is a feeling somewhat challenged by the fact that they still have presence and a certain beauty which nobody really noticed when they were working boats. I dunno, I'm just rambing...

On our last visit, a salty sea dog (a bloke in wellies...) came over and said that the oldest of these wrecks had lain here for probably six or seven years, which is hard to believe when you look at the decay (especially with the wooden boats), but he helpfully pointed out that the salt water, the power of the tides and the fact that many vital parts were removed prior to the boats being dumped here........contributed to this perception. I'd originally guessed that they'd been here for thirty or forty years, so it's a good thing nobody is relying on my archeological expertise...

Anyway............if this image gives you even a hint of the environment and the atmosphere here, then I'm really pleased. If it doesn't, then please feel free to tell me why - all feedback is appreciated.

Thanks

Tim,

I like the shot and the detail too.
I'm with the rest of the guys on this shot in terms of comments.
In my monitor it does look a little over sharpened too.
Maybe a very slight desaturation would make the shot slightly more dramatic.

What I'm interesting to know regardless of the shot is:
Where exactly is this place, what exactly is it (dried lake, or dried river) and how come these ship wrecks are left and exposed like that there?

Regards

George

[Bearface]

Re: How the mighty have fallen...

Yer just gorra step back a tad with my beast thats all

Yeah, just mind that ditc............oh dear

I prefer to call it FYI, just to keep yer feet on the ground my son you full framers need to be kept in check tha knows

Full-frame or not, you should know better than to even consider keeping me in check

[Bearface]

Re: How the mighty have fallen...

Tim,

I like the shot and the detail too.
I'm with the rest of the guys on this shot in terms of comments.
In my monitor it does look a little over sharpened too.
Maybe a very slight desaturation would make the shot slightly more dramatic.

Some desaturation would certainly change the mood of the shot, but I like the contrast between the naturally occuring colours and the man-made ones, if that makes sense? I think you're right about the sharpening though - I think my monitor (LCD) shows it up less that most people's.

What I'm interesting to know regardless of the shot is:
Where exactly is this place, what exactly is it (dried lake, or dried river) and how come these ship wrecks are left and exposed like that there?

It's an estuary running past Fleetwood and into northwest Lancashire on the NW coast of England. It's known as the Wyre estuary and these wrecks are located on the southern side, about a mile from the rivermouth to the Irish Sea. It's dramatically affected by the tides and so one has to choose carefully when to venture out onto the flats, because a couple of photographers were recently stranded on the featured (steel) boat overnight. In fact the tide had just receded when this shot was taken...

The estuary is close to a large fishing community / industrial area and these boats were simply stripped of valuable or reusable parts and then sailed down the estuary to this location for retirement. Locals I've spoken to seem to think that this happened fairly routinely six or seven years ago (a decline in the industry, probably); there are three groups of such wrecks spread out along this stretch for about half a mile.

[lumix]

Re: How the mighty have fallen...

Some desaturation would certainly change the mood of the shot, but I like the contrast between the naturally occuring colours and the man-made ones, if that makes sense? I think you're right about the sharpening though - I think my monitor (LCD) shows it up less that most people's.



It's an estuary running past Fleetwood and into northwest Lancashire on the NW coast of England. It's known as the Wyre estuary and these wrecks are located on the southern side, about a mile from the rivermouth to the Irish Sea. It's dramatically affected by the tides and so one has to choose carefully when to venture out onto the flats, because a couple of photographers were recently stranded on the featured (steel) boat overnight. In fact the tide had just receded when this shot was taken...

The estuary is close to a large fishing community / industrial area and these boats were simply stripped of valuable or reusable parts and then sailed down the estuary to this location for retirement. Locals I've spoken to seem to think that this happened fairly routinely six or seven years ago (a decline in the industry, probably); there are three groups of such wrecks spread out along this stretch for about half a mile.

Just had a look at them on Google Earth. Is that one from a group of four?

[Bearface]

Re: How the mighty have fallen...

Just had a look at them on Google Earth. Is that one from a group of four?

One of a group of four intact boats, yes. There are also three or four smaller wrecks at the same location which have either sunk into the mud or fallen apart. The other wrecks are about 100 metres further up the estuary and there are two close to the rivermouth itself.

[Pol]

Re: How the mighty have fallen...

It's dramatically affected by the tides and so one has to choose carefully when to venture out onto the flats, because a couple of photographers were recently stranded on the featured (steel) boat overnight. In fact the tide had just receded when this shot was taken...

.

I'm amazed to learn the wrecks are so recent as I'd always assumed they'd been there for decades. All very fascinating and all the more so knowing this is the boat where they spent the night.

It just so happens I have the links to the two pictures + comments from the time when they were marooned out there for the night.

For anyone not familiar with the DJN blog template .... open the comments by clicking on the 'comment' link along the top of the page.

First shot + brief account of events HERE

Second shot + comments HERE

I think it's all been said regarding yer own shot, Tim. Superb angle though and I can't help wondering how you managed to stay dry getting the shot .... but I'm glad you didn't end up spending the night in there!

Pol

[Stephen]

Re: How the mighty have fallen...

I'm amazed to learn the wrecks are so recent as I'd always assumed they'd been there for decades. All very fascinating and all the more so knowing this is the boat where they spent the night.

It just so happens I have the links to the two pictures + comments from the time when they were marooned out there for the night.

For anyone not familiar with the DJN blog template .... open the comments by clicking on the 'comment' link along the top of the page.

First shot + brief account of events HERE

Second shot + comments HERE

I think it's all been said regarding yer own shot, Tim. Superb angle though and I can't help wondering how you managed to stay dry getting the shot .... but I'm glad you didn't end up spending the night in there!

Pol

Nothing a good pair of wellies can't cope with Pol.

Now I have a question.
That picture of John Washington on top of the boat. Why has he got his tripod legs splayed out like that?? Just doesn't make sense to me. If he wants to get really low, why bother having the centre column where it is.

[Bearface]

Re: How the mighty have fallen...

...I think it's all been said regarding yer own shot, Tim. Superb angle though and I can't help wondering how you managed to stay dry getting the shot .... but I'm glad you didn't end up spending the night in there!

Pol

No problems with getting wet; I had Stephen carry me on his back. Just wish he'd learn to stop shaking during longer exposures

I could never spend the night in a place like that. There are no kebab shops and all that rusty steel reminds me too much of a prison I was in for a while in Columbia...

[Bearface]

Re: How the mighty have fallen...

Now I have a question.
That picture of John Washington on top of the boat. Why has he got his tripod legs splayed out like that?? Just doesn't make sense to me. If he wants to get really low, why bother having the centre column where it is.

I agree. And while we're on the subject, why do people keep insisting on using tripods to mount their cameras onto, when it's quite obvious that they're designed to either hang your bag on when out on location, or to dry one's "smalls" back at home.