Posted by Marc Adamus on April 25, 2009 at 11:13 AM
I was taken by these unusually contrasty patterns in the sand while backpacking the Olympic coast this past week. I'd like to get your thoughts on this abstract.
1Ds III, 70mm, f/22, 1/80 at ISO 400. Sharpening for web has been tough on this one. My sharpening methods work well unless sand is involved.
Posted by Darren White on April 25, 2009 at 11:45 AM
I don't see a sense of scale here...patterns are nice but not one I would think you would keep in your portfolio
Posted by Marc Dilley on April 25, 2009 at 12:17 PM
This is attractive, but I have trouble placing this on the shore. Almost looks like wood grain to me.
I know what you mean about this one being a challenge with your sharpening technique. I find that I have to globally sharpen certain images only once, then hand sharpen selected areas.
Posted by Mark Windom on April 25, 2009 at 2:32 PM
What's appeals to me about this one is that if you hadn't told us what it was I would have had a hard time figuring out what it was....abstracts are more effective that way, IMO.
The sense of scale is provided by the pebbles in the sand so that is not an issue for me.
I'm kinda on the fence re: the sharpening. I think the lack of it helps add to the abstract quality and focuses more of the viewers attention on the patterns. Yet part of me would like to see the individual grains of sand.....
Weird. I just took some shots that were nearly identical to these the other day. I had imagined the rocks and their sand patterns as being little fishes and composed them similar to this as if they were swimming upstream. In the end, I thought the idea was good but the end result wasn't there. I think this probably is feeling the same way for you. The sand is a bugger to sharpen, and the glimmer doesn't translate well in photos either. This isn't a bad one, but not really holding my attention much. I think maybe a longer focal length showing more of the two prominent pebbles might have worked better. I dunno. These are tough.
Posted by Zack Schnepf on April 26, 2009 at 1:43 AM
I actually like it a lot Marc, I love the abstract nature, and contrast of the sand pattern.
Hey Marc, I think what this shot is about is patterns and contrast. You have the patterns but the contrast is lacking. You have the makings of an interesting image here but it needs some boosting, specially in the whites...maybr some toning down in the midtones?
Posted by Cliff Dodge on April 28, 2009 at 2:27 PM
Nice eye. I like the diaganol comp leading you up and right. :)
Posted by John Williams on April 28, 2009 at 7:37 PM
Looks like a personal taste type of shot. I find it interesting, but not attractive.
Discussion
8 replies1Ds III, 70mm, f/22, 1/80 at ISO 400. Sharpening for web has been tough on this one. My sharpening methods work well unless sand is involved.
I know what you mean about this one being a challenge with your sharpening technique. I find that I have to globally sharpen certain images only once, then hand sharpen selected areas.
The sense of scale is provided by the pebbles in the sand so that is not an issue for me.
I'm kinda on the fence re: the sharpening. I think the lack of it helps add to the abstract quality and focuses more of the viewers attention on the patterns. Yet part of me would like to see the individual grains of sand.....