Black and Blue

Gallery: LandscapePosted September 5, 2010343 views26 comments

From Furlong Gulch, on the Sonoma Coast. One of those really drab sunrises with no clouds, and no color. I was there so what the heck. I thought this was too plain ,and too heavy in the cyans since taking it over a year ago. But I keep thinking the water dynamics overcome that???? It's grown on me, what do you think? Is the color too wierd? I've tried to balance it out a bit, but this was still a while before sunrise, and there wasn't much beyond this blueish light. I have been frustratingly busy with work this past few weeks, and apologize for my lack of participation! I hope you don't hold it against me

A large version is included as well. Thank you for your thoughts.

D200,
18-70mm,
about 3/4sec,
Some GND,
Thanks,
Chris

Comments

26 comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on September 5, 2010 at 12:33 PM

I really like this. Some very cool water motion you've captured and the rocks stacks are nicely composed.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by Larry Fischer on September 5, 2010 at 1:26 PM

I agree, the water motion IS this shot.
Nice capture.
the fisch

Registered on July 28, 2008, 155 Posts, 874 Comments

Comment posted by Buck Ward on September 5, 2010 at 1:30 PM

I like it. I think Ive not seen a wave caught quite like this before. It's unique.

Registered on December 8, 2003, 96 Posts, 1917 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on September 5, 2010 at 1:42 PM

The water action is fantastic Chris. The color looks typical of early morning beach and does not appear off at all.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on September 5, 2010 at 1:56 PM

The water here is excellent. A clean, simple and effective image !
While I like frames, I think this one overwhelms the image. A thin blackouter mat with this white inner mat might work better.
Sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on September 5, 2010 at 2:33 PM

Aside from wanting just a little more sky interest, that is a WINNER!!!!!!

Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments

Comment posted by Bruce King on September 5, 2010 at 2:37 PM

The curl of the leading wave is very cool. The sky doesn't add anything but it doesn't distract either. A keeper IMO.

Registered on January 14, 2010, 276 Posts, 2212 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on September 5, 2010 at 2:40 PM

Chris,

Wow, this is awesome! I get the same painting impression of the sea as I did with Eva's recent image. But the dynamics of this with the soft, artistic impression of the waves juxtaposed with the stark and static reality up top makes this image succeed as a whole; so it's much more than just the wave action, IMHO.

BTW, I think you did very well with your choice of processing and coloration. The blue/greens are soft and subtle and the sky color seems spot on for the time and conditions. well done Chris!

No more stunning Yosemite images to pull out of your back pocket?

jk. Glad to see you posting.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Pete Bengeyfield on September 5, 2010 at 2:44 PM

I agree about the water motion being dominant and I think that tells the story. The contrast with the sea stacks is nice as well.

Registered on December 2, 2003, 1247 Posts, 3439 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on September 5, 2010 at 3:00 PM

Wow! I love that wave, Chris! Its color and texture are excellent. There appears to be a halo around the rocks, and the sky looks a bit cyan to me. The graphic nature of the rocks, in contrast with the translucency of the wave, works well for me. I think this would make a nice print.

--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on September 5, 2010 at 3:09 PM

chris, i like the motion and don't mind the colour. i find the blending/dodging in the rocks/stacks a little distracting as the edges are pretty dark.

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments

Comment posted by Jason Denham on September 5, 2010 at 4:08 PM

Chris, I think this is a great image. As it stands, the colors give it a wild/undiscoverd/loney feel. I think the wave action in particular is what is great here. This would, in my opinion, make a great black and white image.

Jason Denham
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasondenham/

Registered on February 27, 2009, 10 Posts, 51 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on September 5, 2010 at 5:17 PM

Great idea, great execution. No nits here, a big sky would probably just distract.

Registered on September 17, 2005, 780 Posts, 8091 Comments

Comment posted by Andrew Finlayson on September 5, 2010 at 5:24 PM

Interesting shot, this has a very dark almost wild mood.

Registered on July 29, 2010, 26 Posts, 404 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on September 5, 2010 at 8:06 PM

Relax, Chris. This is a fantastic image. You caught that wave at the perfect instant and that essentially overrules everything else, which you seem to to managed perfectly anyway. Rocks are real nice too.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on September 5, 2010 at 8:37 PM

This is very nice. I think the wave action is impressive, and the color looks very good too. I really like looking at the large version. Don't think I have seen a wave captured quite like this. Good work, Chris.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on September 5, 2010 at 9:43 PM

Chris,

You shouldn't second guess yourself. The water action is what makes this image, color or not. Really nice.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Duval on September 5, 2010 at 10:54 PM

The power of this image overcomes the monochromatic tones of early dawn light. Chris if you'll excuse me I'm inspired to post my own wave image, it was a 10ft swell say at Pt. Vincente and the blurriness of your image due to low light is mimicked by a long lens shot tracking the wave. I'm guessing it's motion blur not long exposure. I'm not so much into lon exposure soft focus wave but this is really nice Chris.

Paul

Registered on June 30, 2009, 508 Posts, 1907 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on September 6, 2010 at 1:41 AM

Works great for me Chris. That breaking wave makes the shot! (I have just returned from a week to the Croatian coast, but no such water action there...

) The color of the water is fine for me. The sky looks a bit strange, but its not off balance and I do not mind the lack of clouds or "sweet" color. As usual this is composed with elegance and humble-ness (a word?).

Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on September 6, 2010 at 9:58 AM

Excellent sense of movement and rhythm. Nice comp and moment. The colors are a bit strange, but not to the point of distraction.

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Anil Rao on September 6, 2010 at 1:40 PM

This has turned out very nicely in my opinion. The water action and the placement of the rocks make this a delightful scene. I also think that the simple sky is a blessing here.

Good work, Chris.

Registered on November 15, 2003, 234 Posts, 4923 Comments

Comment posted by Russell Colletta on September 6, 2010 at 11:25 PM

Facinating shot Chris. The cool colors are perfect. Really great moment nicely captured.

Registered on October 31, 2009, 114 Posts, 1008 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on September 7, 2010 at 10:10 AM

I think the color looks fine on my work monitor, but what really makes the image is the water action of course. Perfect shutter speed for the waves and excellent comp.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Rudy Ruberti on September 7, 2010 at 12:22 PM

Great shot, Chris. The wave motion really makes this for me and the color is perfect. Nicely done.

Registered on October 28, 2008, 179 Posts, 1875 Comments

Comment posted by Ingrid Vekemans on September 10, 2010 at 3:57 PM

Very inspiring...thanks for sharing!

Registered on August 2, 2010, 138 Posts, 780 Comments

Comment posted by Darren White on September 11, 2010 at 12:37 AM

Awesome timing with the curl of the wave......I like the muted tones in this one as it gives a very natural feel to a coastal shot

Registered on May 29, 2006, 193 Posts, 855 Comments