Foggy morning on the Stour

Rob Barron · 10-02-2007, 19:57

There is no place to get this particular shot (Christchurch) without including the wall at bottom right unless you are prepared to stand in the middle of the river (and I wasn't!) but I felt it contrasted nicely with the foggy atmosphere and so used it and the over-hanging branches to frame the scene. This was not too long ago when we had a load of fog. I have taken shots from this same vantage point loads of times and have got loads of differtent photos because of the way it changes with seasons, weather, etc.

I've done very little in post-pro other than small adjustments to contrast and so forth. The colour is how it came out of the camera, not a toned mono shot. I loved the lighting that morning (about 7am) which is why I went for it. See what you think and any advice or feedback very welcome.

Cheers,
Rob

nichpr · 10-02-2007, 21:17

Rob, a very appealing shot. I like the warm colors and the overall balance of the composition.
You may want to clone out the branch sticking up from the wall at the bottom of the frame in the middle and that odd branch at the top right.
My eye seems to settle on the central part of the waterway near where the two ducks are as a focal point. I wonder what it would look like if you reframed or cropped in such a way to put those ducks a bit more off center to the right. Looks like you would still have the framing with the branches to the left and the wall to the right but the focal point might then move to the boats lining the shore on the left.
Like the shot and wish I had a place around here I could shoot such a scene.
- Paul

cotter · 10-02-2007, 21:22

Spot on Rob. Really like this shot...very moody. The wall is not an issue seems to add to the image.

Charlotte · 10-02-2007, 21:25

Wow! LOVE this one Rob

Was going to say "I wouldn't change a thing", but then spotted two tiny weeny bits that are a bit distracting for me : a small squiggle at top edge of the frame on RHS + something else I can't identify on the wall near the centre of the bottom edge of the frame. Aside from those 2 niggles (a bit of cloning?), it's an excellent shot with lots of moody atmosphere of the subtle shades of sunrise, but also tension from the dark natural frame + from the contrast between the two effects. Compo is great, with lovely soft reflections on gently rippling water, boats at rest, + soft haze all contributing to a tranquil scene showing the quietness of the sunrise. (Sigh). I think your frame has set it off well too. Very well done

**Dabhand16** · 10-02-2007, 21:35

I'm liking this, Rob

I can see where Paul is coming from, but I'm not sure that a crop from the right would work as it would mean that the pale colour behind the trees would tend to lead out in this area due to the tapering shape.

I like it as is.

P-E · 10-02-2007, 21:36

I'm liking this one as is also

skipper954 · 12-02-2007, 02:28

Very evocative shot, Rob.

I feel a bit lonely, sad, dreamy, but strangely peaceful with this scene.

I really like the sun at the upper right...one gets the feeling that it is going to burn off the fog and create a great day for sailing.

The fg dark objects frame the scene well, and the eye is drawn up the water to the ?ducks?. Other than that, there seems to be no focal point, but in this case, I think that isn't important. What is important is the tranquility one gets from this buccolic image.

From a technical standpoint, the thing that niggles is the fg mast on the left side. Easy enough to lose.

But a knockout pic.

skip

Gary Bagshawe · 12-02-2007, 13:02

very soothing rob

well taken

sweet_sac · 12-02-2007, 16:10

I really love this shot. I am not put off by the wall but I feel you should take the leap of faith and wade in

lol

It reminds me of my summer in Delaware where all the houses in the bay had boats instead of cars!

Rob Barron · 12-02-2007, 17:31

Thanks everyone for your comments, very helpful. I do agree about the single branch at top right, I think I'll clone that out in the printing version. I think I agree also about the twig sticking up at left of the stone wall in FG but not certain, in one way I quite like it. Probably will go though

Skip, excellent comments as always. Confused on a couple of things though, are you seeing the picture backwards? The sun is clearly at top left and not top right but I ask because I am not sure which mast is causing you a problem. Is it the one an inch or so in from the left? If so, what is it that you don't like as I haven't considered that one a prob. It might be that it is a bit sharp compared with the rest that are in the foggy area but not sure.

Thanks again all,
Rob

fionaB · 12-02-2007, 17:39

beautiful, tranquil and serene......... full of warmth and feeling. IMO capturing an image like this means you have really made it as a photographer!

Fi

**Sonsey** · 12-02-2007, 19:03

Sorry Rob, no real critique here!

Get it mounted on the wall of your home, pour a glass of wine... then just sit and appreciate it.

Great shot, don't touch it

water · 12-02-2007, 21:52

Lovely

Flipster · 15-02-2007, 12:21

i can only echo what everyone else has said here, lovely shot and i for one would like this on my wall (can i have a copy?? lol), it reminds me of the times i had on my familys boat as a child, waking up early morning going up top and seeing the mist over the water...beutiful

10-02-2007, 19:57	#1 (permalink)
Rob Barron Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Poole, Dorset Posts: 5,200	Foggy morning on the Stour There is no place to get this particular shot (Christchurch) without including the wall at bottom right unless you are prepared to stand in the middle of the river (and I wasn't!) but I felt it contrasted nicely with the foggy atmosphere and so used it and the over-hanging branches to frame the scene. This was not too long ago when we had a load of fog. I have taken shots from this same vantage point loads of times and have got loads of differtent photos because of the way it changes with seasons, weather, etc. I've done very little in post-pro other than small adjustments to contrast and so forth. The colour is how it came out of the camera, not a toned mono shot. I loved the lighting that morning (about 7am) which is why I went for it. See what you think and any advice or feedback very welcome. Cheers, Rob __________________ Rob Barron robbarron@aol.com If you look down on other people, don't expect them to look up to you!

10-02-2007, 21:17	#2 (permalink)
nichpr Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 849	Re: Foggy morning on the Stour Rob, a very appealing shot. I like the warm colors and the overall balance of the composition. You may want to clone out the branch sticking up from the wall at the bottom of the frame in the middle and that odd branch at the top right. My eye seems to settle on the central part of the waterway near where the two ducks are as a focal point. I wonder what it would look like if you reframed or cropped in such a way to put those ducks a bit more off center to the right. Looks like you would still have the framing with the branches to the left and the wall to the right but the focal point might then move to the boats lining the shore on the left. Like the shot and wish I had a place around here I could shoot such a scene. - Paul

10-02-2007, 21:22	#3 (permalink)
cotter Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Lauder, Scottish Borders Posts: 609	Re: Foggy morning on the Stour Spot on Rob. Really like this shot...very moody. The wall is not an issue seems to add to the image.

10-02-2007, 21:25	#4 (permalink)
Charlotte Loves the place Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Romsey, Hampshire Posts: 5,795	Re: Foggy morning on the Stour Wow! LOVE this one Rob Was going to say "I wouldn't change a thing", but then spotted two tiny weeny bits that are a bit distracting for me : a small squiggle at top edge of the frame on RHS + something else I can't identify on the wall near the centre of the bottom edge of the frame. Aside from those 2 niggles (a bit of cloning?), it's an excellent shot with lots of moody atmosphere of the subtle shades of sunrise, but also tension from the dark natural frame + from the contrast between the two effects. Compo is great, with lovely soft reflections on gently rippling water, boats at rest, + soft haze all contributing to a tranquil scene showing the quietness of the sunrise. (Sigh). I think your frame has set it off well too. Very well done __________________ Work Smarter, Not Harder

10-02-2007, 21:35	#5 (permalink)
Dabhand16 Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Dunstable Bedfordshire UK Posts: 8,988	Re: Foggy morning on the Stour I'm liking this, Rob I can see where Paul is coming from, but I'm not sure that a crop from the right would work as it would mean that the pale colour behind the trees would tend to lead out in this area due to the tapering shape. I like it as is.

10-02-2007, 21:36	#6 (permalink)
P-E Loves the place Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sheffield, S.Yorkshire UK Posts: 7,503	Re: Foggy morning on the Stour I'm liking this one as is also

12-02-2007, 02:28	#7 (permalink)
skipper954 Feet under the table Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Southeast Florida USA Posts: 1,721	Re: Foggy morning on the Stour Very evocative shot, Rob. I feel a bit lonely, sad, dreamy, but strangely peaceful with this scene. I really like the sun at the upper right...one gets the feeling that it is going to burn off the fog and create a great day for sailing. The fg dark objects frame the scene well, and the eye is drawn up the water to the ?ducks?. Other than that, there seems to be no focal point, but in this case, I think that isn't important. What is important is the tranquility one gets from this buccolic image. From a technical standpoint, the thing that niggles is the fg mast on the left side. Easy enough to lose. But a knockout pic. skip Last edited by skipper954 : 12-02-2007 at 02:29. Reason: can't tell my right from my left

12-02-2007, 13:02	#8 (permalink)
Gary Bagshawe Rep Point Winner 07 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Sheffield UK Posts: 2,232	Re: Foggy morning on the Stour very soothing rob well taken

12-02-2007, 16:10	#9 (permalink)
sweet_sac Getting Comfy Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Prestwick, Scotland Posts: 218	Re: Foggy morning on the Stour I really love this shot. I am not put off by the wall but I feel you should take the leap of faith and wade in lol It reminds me of my summer in Delaware where all the houses in the bay had boats instead of cars!

12-02-2007, 17:31	#10 (permalink)
Rob Barron Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Poole, Dorset Posts: 5,200	Re: Foggy morning on the Stour Thanks everyone for your comments, very helpful. I do agree about the single branch at top right, I think I'll clone that out in the printing version. I think I agree also about the twig sticking up at left of the stone wall in FG but not certain, in one way I quite like it. Probably will go though Skip, excellent comments as always. Confused on a couple of things though, are you seeing the picture backwards? The sun is clearly at top left and not top right but I ask because I am not sure which mast is causing you a problem. Is it the one an inch or so in from the left? If so, what is it that you don't like as I haven't considered that one a prob. It might be that it is a bit sharp compared with the rest that are in the foggy area but not sure. Thanks again all, Rob

12-02-2007, 17:39	#11 (permalink)
fionaB Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 5,453	Re: Foggy morning on the Stour beautiful, tranquil and serene......... full of warmth and feeling. IMO capturing an image like this means you have really made it as a photographer! Fi

12-02-2007, 19:03	#12 (permalink)
Sonsey Pixalo Crew Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: N. Ireland Posts: 7,242	Re: Foggy morning on the Stour Sorry Rob, no real critique here! Get it mounted on the wall of your home, pour a glass of wine... then just sit and appreciate it. Great shot, don't touch it

12-02-2007, 21:52	#13 (permalink)
water Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 674	Re: Foggy morning on the Stour Lovely

15-02-2007, 12:21	#14 (permalink)
Flipster Quite Chatty Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 80	Re: Foggy morning on the Stour i can only echo what everyone else has said here, lovely shot and i for one would like this on my wall (can i have a copy?? lol), it reminds me of the times i had on my familys boat as a child, waking up early morning going up top and seeing the mist over the water...beutiful

15-02-2007, 13:23	#15 (permalink)
WOODY PLEASE NOTE I TYPE USING CAPITALS DUE TO A DISABILTY THANKS FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: ORPINGTON KENT Posts: 1,178