Love the comp and colors. Its got a just a little too much vignetting for my tastes though. I would make that a little bit more subtle.
Posted by Andy Drumer on April 11, 2007 at 2:28 PM
Absolutely outstanding, imo. The darkening is only slightly bothersome to me in the upper right corner. The illuminated grass, the colors on the water, and the wave patterns are what make this for me. Must have taken a lot of mornings to get a sky like that, bravo!
Posted by Marc Adamus on April 11, 2007 at 2:36 PM
I agree with the vignette comments. Here's the re-work. Andy - somewhere between 6 and 8 sunrises or sunsets as I recall.
Posted by Marc Adamus on April 11, 2007 at 2:56 PM
And just in case anyone prefers this version without the waves up close, let me know. Thanks!
Posted by Ned Fenimore on April 11, 2007 at 3:23 PM
I like version two of the first post immensely... the swept back tree on the left is my favorite element of the entire composition..
Posted by Josh Anderson on April 11, 2007 at 10:01 PM
I definitely prefer the wave (1st or 2nd image). This shot brings back many memories from last summer. Great work Marc!!
Posted by Vinu Lakkur on April 12, 2007 at 2:49 AM
Just wanted to point out that even though the wave is a nice tough in the 2nd version of the first image, the beach reflects the redish hues of the sky nicely in the second image which makes it more peaceful. Also a nice touch!
Posted by John Lehmkuhl on April 12, 2007 at 3:13 AM
Beatiful and I'll take the version with the wave and less vignetting. Truly beautiful !!
I like the middle version. I agree with Ned about that tree on the left. Do the trees on the right really tilt from being windblown or is it distortion from the lens? Over all a pleasing image.
Marc, I've thought this over for several days now---and in the end I just can't get away from feeling a bit dizzy with this image, because of the wide-angle effects at the edges of the image. That being said, and if anyone is still viewing this thread, I'd vote for the third version, the one with the wave out and the reflections in the wet sand. IMHO also, the formation of the clouds didn't help you any, their shapes sort of cantilever at the corners which unfortunately emphasizes the wide-angle distortion.
I like the reflection in the water in #3 but prefer #2 because of the sense of motion imparted by the wave. The best part about this is the sweeping curve from upper right coming down and across to the lower left. So often the cliff edge just shows up as a straight edge across the bottom or even worse cutting off a corner. Here, the dark beach on the bottom adds nice continuation to the sense of the bluffs.
Discussion
12 replies5D, 17-40 at 17mm, 2 seconds at F18, polarizer + 2-stop GND.