Sunset at Seton Sands

Chilliman · 14-05-2008, 02:20

Seton Sands last night

fionaB · 14-05-2008, 07:22

thats nice............. although the saturation looks a bit high?
Fi

**Markulous** · 14-05-2008, 07:23

Nice enough sunset but think you've fiddled with the sea just above the rocks

Willow5075 · 14-05-2008, 08:38

I wondered if there was some moisture on the lense? lovely colours BTW

JMitchell · 14-05-2008, 10:01

Yeah I was caught between photoshopping and there being water on the lens. Kinda spoils the shot, but the colours you've got are very nice

Chilliman · 14-05-2008, 10:55

Was not a very good sunset last night and it was my first attempt at blending 4 different exposures to try and make something and the journey worthwhile. I've taken some of the saturation out of the previous pic and as for the water above the rocks it was a half hearted attempt at blurring the water which did not turn out right, obviously forgot to remove it.

I'd be interested in any comments on this pic now tho' to me the clouds don't look as strong, is it any better than the first one ?
I'm still trying to get to grips with some of the pp techniques and the camera, it seems mostly hit or a miss with me, mostly misses.

Maybe I should get a different hobby.

Chilliman · 14-05-2008, 13:52

Bump!
Quite a few more views since my previous post but no replies, obviously a crap photo then. Maybe it's time for a change of hobby.

**Markulous** · 14-05-2008, 13:59

'Tis much better!

Done a mod, not because there's anything wrong with yours but to show what can be done - but ultimately the original shot has to be there - which this is!

Added a graduated layer to add a touch of drama

Charlotte · 14-05-2008, 14:33

Chilliman, stick with it, and don't get disheartened! It would be nice if we could all be 'good' photographers overnight, but it ain't gonna happen. What it takes is practice, practice + more practice. I'm in the same boat, i.e. still learning, and have had to learn patience

Right, to your image ... I love it! Great composition + colours. Just needed a few tweaks is all. As it's often easier to 'do' than to tell just by looking, I had a play. All I did was bring in the black point in levels, increase the contrast in curves, desaturate a bit. That last bit might sound odd, that I desaturated but it looks saturated. This is because the curves action effectively increases saturation naturally and more evenly than if you use the saturation slider. The image is quite dark now, but that's ok (IMO) as it's at sunset, so things are expected to be darker than in bright daylight. Just my take on it, but here it is ...

EDIT: Maybe a bit too dark in the FG now, how come my pic's always look different after I've uploaded them

**Dabhand16** · 14-05-2008, 18:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chilliman

Bump!
Quite a few more views since my previous post but no replies, obviously a crap photo then. Maybe it's time for a change of hobby.

Don't get disheartened if you don't get too many replies from the number of views. Could be that guests have been looking and they are not able to post.

I think the less saturated ones do look better - more natural. A minor thing that I would have done is to colour-key the inner border that you have white. I think the white is too stark in the context of the rest of the picture.

I like the picture

it just needs the right processing to bring out the best in it.

fionaB · 14-05-2008, 22:01

yeah the reposted shot is a lot better and much more natural........ have to say i have rarely seen Seton Sands looking so good! lol

Fi

water · 15-05-2008, 10:43

Hi Chilliman

.By jings you jumped in at the deep end here 'cause sunsets are not the easiest of photos to take.First off,I am not familiar with HDR and have to say that if not done carefully can leave a picture looking 'not quite right'.Charlottes' pimp is nearer the mark for me and I may have darkened the sky even more.Personally I expect to see shadows and even blacks in a sunset shot.I try to use a gray graduated filter for this type of shot and,if possible,like some kind of distinctive sillouhette [how do you spell that anyway

] breaking the skyline.
You have done really well here and the thing to do now is not to think it's too difficult [this type of shot is difficult as I said] but get out and take more of the same and study the results.I may get slated for this but I would say,for the time being,forget the HDR and get a square graduated filter and tripod and experiment with single exposures to understand, and see,what effect different exposures have.I fell into the trap myself of thinking that digital and Photoshop could cover for sloppy exposures [ it can to an extent].But with accurate exposures in the first place,and subtle use of Photoshop,that is the way forward on the technical side.The artistic/composition bit is up to the individuals own 'taste'

.
If you live locally and are interested I can recommend Musselburgh Camera Club,a friendly bunch of people of all abilities.

JMitchell · 15-05-2008, 11:14

Hi Chiliman, I know this may not be to your or anyone else's taste, but I did my own edit...

water · 15-05-2008, 11:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMitchell

Hi Chiliman, I know this may not be to your or anyone else's taste, but I did my own edit...

Thats pretty much how I personally see this scene.As you say,everyone has their own ideas of what is 'right' but this will give Chilliman another take on what is in his photo just waiting to be drawn out.

Chilliman · 15-05-2008, 15:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by water

Hi Chilliman

.By jings you jumped in at the deep end here 'cause sunsets are not the easiest of photos to take.First off,I am not familiar with HDR and have to say that if not done carefully can leave a picture looking 'not quite right'.Charlottes' pimp is nearer the mark for me and I may have darkened the sky even more.Personally I expect to see shadows and even blacks in a sunset shot.I try to use a gray graduated filter for this type of shot and,if possible,like some kind of distinctive sillouhette [how do you spell that anyway

] breaking the skyline.
You have done really well here and the thing to do now is not to think it's too difficult [this type of shot is difficult as I said] but get out and take more of the same and study the results.I may get slated for this but I would say,for the time being,forget the HDR and get a square graduated filter and tripod and experiment with single exposures to understand, and see,what effect different exposures have.I fell into the trap myself of thinking that digital and Photoshop could cover for sloppy exposures [ it can to an extent].But with accurate exposures in the first place,and subtle use of Photoshop,that is the way forward on the technical side.The artistic/composition bit is up to the individuals own 'taste'

.
If you live locally and are interested I can recommend Musselburgh Camera Club,a friendly bunch of people of all abilities.

PM sent regarding club.

14-05-2008, 02:20	#1 (permalink)
Chilliman Getting Comfy Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Scotland Posts: 152	Sunset at Seton Sands Seton Sands last night

14-05-2008, 07:22	#2 (permalink)
fionaB Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 5,413	Re: Sunset at Seton Sands thats nice............. although the saturation looks a bit high? Fi

14-05-2008, 07:23	#3 (permalink)
Markulous Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Peak District Posts: 9,690	Re: Sunset at Seton Sands Nice enough sunset but think you've fiddled with the sea just above the rocks

14-05-2008, 08:38	#4 (permalink)
Willow5075 Been here a while Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Adelaide, South Australia- best place in the world Posts: 375	Re: Sunset at Seton Sands I wondered if there was some moisture on the lense? lovely colours BTW

14-05-2008, 10:01	#5 (permalink)
JMitchell Feet under the table Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London, England Posts: 3,498	Re: Sunset at Seton Sands Yeah I was caught between photoshopping and there being water on the lens. Kinda spoils the shot, but the colours you've got are very nice

14-05-2008, 10:55	#6 (permalink)
Chilliman Getting Comfy Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Scotland Posts: 152	Re: Sunset at Seton Sands Was not a very good sunset last night and it was my first attempt at blending 4 different exposures to try and make something and the journey worthwhile. I've taken some of the saturation out of the previous pic and as for the water above the rocks it was a half hearted attempt at blurring the water which did not turn out right, obviously forgot to remove it. I'd be interested in any comments on this pic now tho' to me the clouds don't look as strong, is it any better than the first one ? I'm still trying to get to grips with some of the pp techniques and the camera, it seems mostly hit or a miss with me, mostly misses. Maybe I should get a different hobby. __________________ MyFlickr Last edited by Chilliman : 14-05-2008 at 11:02.

14-05-2008, 13:52	#7 (permalink)
Chilliman Getting Comfy Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Scotland Posts: 152	Re: Sunset at Seton Sands Bump! Quite a few more views since my previous post but no replies, obviously a crap photo then. Maybe it's time for a change of hobby.

14-05-2008, 13:59	#8 (permalink)
Markulous Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Peak District Posts: 9,690	Re: Sunset at Seton Sands 'Tis much better! Done a mod, not because there's anything wrong with yours but to show what can be done - but ultimately the original shot has to be there - which this is! Added a graduated layer to add a touch of drama

14-05-2008, 14:33	#9 (permalink)
Charlotte Loves the place Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Romsey, Hampshire Posts: 5,731	Re: Sunset at Seton Sands Chilliman, stick with it, and don't get disheartened! It would be nice if we could all be 'good' photographers overnight, but it ain't gonna happen. What it takes is practice, practice + more practice. I'm in the same boat, i.e. still learning, and have had to learn patience Right, to your image ... I love it! Great composition + colours. Just needed a few tweaks is all. As it's often easier to 'do' than to tell just by looking, I had a play. All I did was bring in the black point in levels, increase the contrast in curves, desaturate a bit. That last bit might sound odd, that I desaturated but it looks saturated. This is because the curves action effectively increases saturation naturally and more evenly than if you use the saturation slider. The image is quite dark now, but that's ok (IMO) as it's at sunset, so things are expected to be darker than in bright daylight. Just my take on it, but here it is ... EDIT: Maybe a bit too dark in the FG now, how come my pic's always look different after I've uploaded them __________________ Work Smarter, Not Harder

14-05-2008, 22:01	#11 (permalink)
fionaB Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 5,413	Re: Sunset at Seton Sands yeah the reposted shot is a lot better and much more natural........ have to say i have rarely seen Seton Sands looking so good! lol Fi

15-05-2008, 10:43	#12 (permalink)
water Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 674	Re: Sunset at Seton Sands Hi Chilliman.By jings you jumped in at the deep end here 'cause sunsets are not the easiest of photos to take.First off,I am not familiar with HDR and have to say that if not done carefully can leave a picture looking 'not quite right'.Charlottes' pimp is nearer the mark for me and I may have darkened the sky even more.Personally I expect to see shadows and even blacks in a sunset shot.I try to use a gray graduated filter for this type of shot and,if possible,like some kind of distinctive sillouhette [how do you spell that anyway] breaking the skyline. You have done really well here and the thing to do now is not to think it's too difficult [this type of shot is difficult as I said] but get out and take more of the same and study the results.I may get slated for this but I would say,for the time being,forget the HDR and get a square graduated filter and tripod and experiment with single exposures to understand, and see,what effect different exposures have.I fell into the trap myself of thinking that digital and Photoshop could cover for sloppy exposures [ it can to an extent].But with accurate exposures in the first place,and subtle use of Photoshop,that is the way forward on the technical side.The artistic/composition bit is up to the individuals own 'taste'. If you live locally and are interested I can recommend Musselburgh Camera Club,a friendly bunch of people of all abilities. __________________ Cheers, John. Last edited by water : 15-05-2008 at 10:54.

15-05-2008, 11:14	#13 (permalink)
JMitchell Feet under the table Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London, England Posts: 3,498	Re: Sunset at Seton Sands Hi Chiliman, I know this may not be to your or anyone else's taste, but I did my own edit...