Whitby Pier

[Stephen]

Another shot taken on the South Pier at Whitby, with the E-P1 and processed in Lightroom2

[Gina]

Re: Whitby Pier

Hi Stephen,

I'm not 'feeling' this one. I don't quite know why, but my eyes are all over the place. I like the colours of sky and the lighthouse though. I think the stones/rocks are overpowering the shot and the tilted black post is a def distraction. I bet you were freezing.

By the way, do you make your own presets in LR?

Gina

[Stephen]

Re: Whitby Pier

Hi Stephen,

I'm not 'feeling' this one. I don't quite know why, but my eyes are all over the place. I like the colours of sky and the lighthouse though. I think the stones/rocks are overpowering the shot and the tilted black post is a def distraction. I bet you were freezing.

By the way, do you make your own presets in LR?

Gina

Thanks for the comments Gina, I do appreciate it. Whereas it was cold I was well wrapped up and when you are involved with the picture taking I suppose you don't feel it so much. As for the LR presets, I have created the odd one, but actually I never used one in this shot, instead created the effect I wanted from scratch.

[Gina]

Re: Whitby Pier

Out of interest Stephen, what do you think of the aforementioned post sticking out of the rocks?

[Stephen]

Re: Whitby Pier

Out of interest Stephen, what do you think of the aforementioned post sticking out of the rocks?

Gina I can understand why it may be considered distracting, though personally I don't have a problem with it, and think it offers a little more height to the left side whilst at the same time countering the vertical nature of the lighthouse.

[Josh Bear]

Re: Whitby Pier

Gina I can understand why it may be considered distracting, though personally I don't have a problem with it, and think it offers a little more height to the left side whilst at the same time countering the vertical nature of the lighthouse.

Hi

saw the thread and thought I would chip in. Over the years I have collected a small library of photography books, one of my fav's was by Charlie Waite. In it he talks you through various aspects of a picture and asks you to place a finger over a certain elements to show how it can substantially change a picture. If I place a finger over the big post then I think the picture becomes even better. I love the colour tones already but the post is a little dark. It tends to dominate the other various interesting elements.

Best Regards

Josh

[Autumn]

Re: Whitby Pier

Hi Stephen. I'm afraid this picture does not work for me either. It isn't only the post, it is the black objects to the left of the post. On my screen there is no detail in either it is completely dense. This is why I did not comment earlier, because I did wonder if it was showing up too dark on my screen.

I agree with Josh, that if the post is covered, it completely transforms the image and makes it softer and the lighthouse more obvious. The rocks are a wonderful colour and the texture shows well, making a good foreground to the image. I like the portrait orientation.

Was this as is, or have you desaturated the image somewhat?

[Horacio]

Re: Whitby Pier

Very beautiful shot stephen. Regards, horacio

[ekkl]

Re: Whitby Pier

I am not going to post 'critique' because I am not good enough for that.

I will say however, I like the big post on the left as you then look at the medium sized Lighthouse then look at the small tower on the right. It draws me to the 'small medium and large' so to speak.

I also like the rocks in it too, lots of great detail there to look at.

As for the black objects to the left of the post well, I don't know what to think of them. I just see a well composed picture there. Oh, and the sky looks good too.

The dark bits are a bit too dark so would I be right in thinking it was over exposed a bit before you put it through Lightroom?

[Gina]

Re: Whitby Pier

I am not going to post 'critique' because I am not good enough for that.

You just wrote a critique - a very good one.

I wish there were more people critiquing our work, it's so useful to find out different perspectives other people have on an image. I believe critique has been one of the most important aspects of my learning and most of it has been from DPN members.

[Stephen]

Re: Whitby Pier

You just wrote a critique - a very good one.

I wish there were more people critiquing our work, it's so useful to find out different perspectives other people have on an image. I believe critique has been one of the most important aspects of my learning and most of it has been from DPN members.

I couldn't agree more Gina. I realise it can be hard sometimes to comment constructively on all photos put up for critique, but it can't be stressed too much that its important that people that do submit work get some feedback. I really appreciate anyone commenting on my efforts, and I try to respond to people that do.

[Stephen]

Re: Whitby Pier

Many thanks to Audrey, Horacio and Ekkl for commenting on my photo. There does seem to have been a mixed back of comments here, and as Gina mentioned its all useful feedback to get.

As I've already implied the shot has been processed in Lightroom in order to achieve the dark and dramatic look. The original was rather flat and boring by comparison. Consequently by the very nature of altering exposure slightly and increasing contrast, it had the effect of losing some detail in certain areas. There really was no advantage in retaining any detail in these areas so far as I could see, and in my view what I have added to the image in terms of mood etc. compensates for this.

Anyway, its all personal taste at the end of the day, but in order to show you the original out of the camera shot I've attached it here.

[Autumn]

Re: Whitby Pier

Anyway, its all personal taste at the end of the day, but in order to show you the original out of the camera shot I've attached it here.

I actually prefer the softer tones, but it was obviously not what you were looking for Stephen. However, I still cannot appreciate the black post which imo drags my eyes away from the other more interesting features.

If you'd stayed a little longer, you may not have been able to see the post. The snow in Worksop is more than we have had for years, but still not as much as many people have had, however, it is very icey.

[Tom]

Re: Whitby Pier

I think you have created a great mood here Stephen.
I think the black structure on the left could be a real asset here, but only if the the black post was removed allowing the black structure to reveal itself and become more prominent in the image.. If there was a little detail to be extracted from the structure that would be better but even without, it is fine.. A little space to the left of the structure would also benefit.
The foreground is dealt with really well with the rocks.
This is a cold, tough image but not without some beauty.

[Stephen]

Re: Whitby Pier

Many thanks for your considered thoughts Tom. The picture is I suppose mainly about the mood created in the processing. The original photo is the bare bones or raw material for the end result, and sometimes there are things that creep in that ideally you would prefer not to be there, but they are. I think I can live with the flaws in this one though

BTW its time we saw some more of your photography isn't it?