City of Refuge w/ Reposts

Gallery: LandscapePosted May 28, 2011691 views20 comments

I just got back from a 2 week vacation on the Big Island of Hawaii. I wish I could have stayed forever, I love Hawaii. This is a very special location for me, I lived on the Big Island when I was a kid and I used to swim in the tide pools here. My family and friends would watch the sunset while we soaked in the ocean. That's exactly what I did on this night, I soaked in the waves as they ebbed and flowed wearing just a pair of shorts and capturing the action. Aloha Hawaii, till next time :)

While I was on the Island I also met up with Tom Kualii and Bruce Omori. They gave me a tour of their gallery Extreme Exposure. It's a gorgeous gallery and their printed work is amazing. I highly recommend stopping in if you are on the Big Island.

This is 4 exposures blended together using my advanced photoshop blending techniques. I am producing a video detailing these techniques. It will finally be ready in June, sorry for the wait. I'll announce it here when It's available for sale.

Comments

20 comments

Comment posted by Tom Kualii on May 28, 2011 at 6:56 PM

Unbelievable work Zack. Really wish you had more time to shoot more of the island. Family time is just as important and hope you'll get back here soon to shoot more. Thank you for meeting up with us. It was awesome to be around a pro-class photographer. Cant wait to get your videos and a hold of those camera backpacks too. Aloha from the Big Island

Registered on November 24, 2010, 53 Posts, 139 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on May 28, 2011 at 7:03 PM

Zack, sounds like you had a great time! Nothing quite like Hawaii! Also, I'm glad you met up with Tom and Bruce. Great people who do killer work.

I really like the image here. Love the cool to warm tones and how you got that dark rock vs blue water that is Hawaii in long exposure effect.

I think I might want to see a very slight graduated luminance adjustment upward (prob in raw) on the right side to balance the tones there. Aside from that, everything is silky smooth.

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

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on May 28, 2011 at 7:38 PM

Very nice, Zack. It leads the eye around the scene beautifully. I personally would consider taking some cyan out of the water and making the sun area a bit brighter to be more of a focal point but it's all just individual taste I'm sure.

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

Comment posted by Zack Schnepf on May 28, 2011 at 8:16 PM

Thanks for the feedback fellas. Here is another version with a brighter lower sky and sun area. Let me know what you think. I left the cyan in there because it really was that intense.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 403 Posts, 2528 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on May 28, 2011 at 9:14 PM

I think the lighter sky works well. I would keep the Cyan because after seeing that water I think it could almost be stronger. I still think a slight graduated luminance boost on the right would help it not feel slightly weighty there.

Killer image though.

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

Comment posted by Stan Rose on May 28, 2011 at 9:28 PM

Cool! The repost is definitely an improvement--i think i might take down the water highlites just a tad (so its clear that the sun is the focal point here) and it will be perfect. Awesome setting and comp!

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on May 28, 2011 at 9:39 PM

Very dramatic! And you and me both about Hawaii! I would so live there if I could afford it!
Gorgeous color and light and the wave action is a great lead in. The repost is even better.

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

Comment posted by Richard Teller on May 28, 2011 at 11:02 PM

Looks like a painting. The colors and blur are very other worldly. I like this very much.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Schnepf on May 28, 2011 at 11:14 PM

Mark I agree, I reduced the darkness on the right side a tad to help balance the tonality.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 403 Posts, 2528 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on May 28, 2011 at 11:30 PM

Beautiful! What a nice composition. The sunset is sweet, but the foreground pool and cascades is awesome too. I've seen such blues in the water there myself. Never been to the Big Island, but would love to sometime.

Chris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments

Comment posted by Shaun Mazurek on May 29, 2011 at 12:45 AM

You could not ask for a better foreground! I love the movement of the water drawing you into the scene:)

Registered on June 12, 2010, 21 Posts, 162 Comments

Comment posted by James Fougère on May 29, 2011 at 1:08 AM

This is a really nice scene! you have put it together quite well. It looks like a painting. A place I must visit soon

Registered on October 25, 2010, 41 Posts, 831 Comments

Comment posted by Bruce Omori on May 29, 2011 at 1:43 AM

Awesome shot, Zack!! Beautifully dynamic scene you've captured here!

It was a real pleasure meeting you, and glad we were able to squeeze in that shoot as well! Do let us know when you're headed this way again, and of course, we'll let you know when there's some HOT lava action!!

Take care and I look forward to seeing you again soon, my friend!

Aloha,
Bruce

Registered on December 6, 2010, 6 Posts, 175 Comments

Comment posted by Abdullaziz Bin Ali on May 29, 2011 at 5:57 AM

lovely light captured by a great photographer
love it

Registered on May 31, 2009, 112 Posts, 1590 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on May 29, 2011 at 6:35 AM

A terrific seascape - the water motion and composition pull you into the scene. Each version is subtly an improvement.

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

Comment posted by Matt Anderson on May 29, 2011 at 9:53 AM

Hi Zack.
I've mentioned this a hundred times. But I love the Hawaiian Islands as well. Been there several times, and always counting the days till I get back. If I'm lucky, it'll be my final place to live.

I like the repost fixes, I still see some small blotchy remnants on the right side. I being quite critical which I think is appropriate for your level of work and skill of hand. Definitely a marketable image with a few last 5% tweaks. Also, the transition on the left, the top rocks, I think needs to be a little more gradual, and a little less "burnt-dark". Like I said, I'm being extremely critical, only because I think this is a definite keeper, and you have the talents to tweak that last small bit to make the image "perfect" for a 1 meter print. Your body of work is on a very high level.

Nice work my friend. Love seeing your images.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 346 Posts, 2696 Comments

Comment posted by Margaret Summers on May 29, 2011 at 11:08 AM

Zack, that's a beautiful scene as you've captured it. I especially like the movement of the water into the rocks. Looks like when the water goes out it would just lead you into the sea.

Registered on May 24, 2011, 54 Posts, 99 Comments

Comment posted by Sarah Marino on May 29, 2011 at 12:50 PM

Hi Zack - everything about this image is appealing and wonderful. The sloping of the rocks on the right side of the image adds an interesting dynamic with the water flowing into the sea and the rocks sloping on the opposite direction. I like the cyan in the water because it helps communicate that the image is from a tropical location.

Registered on November 10, 2008, 23 Posts, 393 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Anderson on May 29, 2011 at 8:47 PM

Wow! Killer image Zack! A perfect portait of Hawaii, with the gorgeous aquamarine waters of the tropics so perfectly showcased in the scene.

Registered on January 31, 2006, 228 Posts, 3072 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on June 1, 2011 at 10:55 AM

Sorry I missed this earlier. A gem of a shot from such a beautiful area. The wide angle and apparent uphill flow of the water, especially on the right threw me initially. That is a widea angle lense for you. I must appologize - I inadvertantly credited Steve Sieren with your upcoming blending videos in a post to someone else's photo seeking some blending recommendations. Whoops!

I look forward to check out your tutorials when available. If I can remember who was looking for the info, I will be sure to send them your way!

Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments