Posted by Andy Shepherd on August 3, 2010 at 3:54 PM
Filey Brigg, silhouetted against the rising sun. Can I start with that I know absolutely nothing about landscape photography, so therefore I would like some advice on the subject.
I was on Filey beach sunday morning to photograph Dunlin, so whilst waiting for the light and the tide I had a crack at the sunrise. I would like to know if the elements of the shot work, things like position of the sun in the frame, the silouetted Brigg and just the general composition.
The image was taken with my Canon G11 point and shoot, I don't own a dedicated landscape lense and would now like to invest in one. So if anybody has any recommendations ( £500 budget, I think this puts me out of the market for a Canon, so maybe one of the Sigma's will have to do ) I would be most grateful.
Processed in DPP / CS2
Canon G11, Handheld
1/320th @ f4 -1/3rd iso80
Andy...
Posted by Paul Rosser on August 3, 2010 at 4:03 PM
High Andy, landscapes/seascapes are not easy, like all photography. The sky in this shot works for me, well exposed, and plenty of cloud detail too. ND Grad Filters help to lengthen the exposure, producing blurry water, which I like(not everyone does though). The small waves form lead in lines drawing the eye into the image too. I'm no expert though. As for lenses, you could get a 2nd hand Canon 17-40mm, or a Sigma 10-20mm is also an option.
Regards,
Paul.
Posted by David Taylor on August 3, 2010 at 4:19 PM
Andy, an excellent image with plenty of atmosphere. I particularly like the way the shape of the sunrise emulates the shape of the Brigg to a certain degree. I even like the slightly blurry sea, which I am not normally a fan of, along with blurry waterfalls which I dislike intensely.
As a Sigma user {cameras and lenses) I use both my prime 24mm EX DG macro and 50mm EX DG macro for landscape purposes, taking multiple images if need be and stitching them with AutoPanoGiga2, a superb program IMO. Cheaper than paying £500 on a new lens and more satisfying when seeing some of the panos you can achieve.
Nice one mate, i like the simple lines. I'm just trying my hand at landscapes too! The sig 10-20 is no good to you on your 1d but fine for a 7d. I just purchased the 17-40, not the sharpest lens according to other web users on a full frame but i think ok for 1.3 or 1.6 crop, it certainly won't be the lens that holds me back!
Posted by Austin Thomas on August 3, 2010 at 7:52 PM
Hi Andy, I am no landscape expert but I would say that if this is an early attempt from yourself then you are well and truly on the right track.
I think it has all of the basic ingredients. Maybe it needs a stronger foreground subject, but I'll leave that up to the experts to confirm or deny.
Again I'm no expert, but for me it is suffering from "50:50itus" both portrait and horizontally. The main subjects are all competing equally and so losing impact as a result.
It really needed a stronger rule of thirds in framing up - try masking the current image with a sheet of A4 to see what I mean. Either more beach or more sky and depending on what was happening left, more silhouette
Don't get too "hooked up" on usig a wide angle lens for landscape work, nearly all my and my wif'es best shots have been used with mid to long telephoto lenses. I haven't used anything sub "28mm" for years now - landscape=wide angle lenses is a bit of a myth in my opinion.
I have done a bit of landscape work. Your image is fine from a point and shoot, but to get the best out of a scene you need to think about the foreground mid ground and horizon.
Wide angle lenses let you focus the viewers eye on the foreground interest first whilst allowing the middle ground and background to remain sharp (ish). Most good landscape images have the required foregroung interest that leads the viewer to where you want them to look.
If you have a Canon full frame camera then it will have to be an L series lens, I have the 17-40mm and is sharp. If you have a cropped sensor then the Sigma 10-20mm is also a very good lens for the money.
Going back to your posted imgage I would look to cropping some of the shore as there is not much to attract the viewer but there is in the rising sun and in the sky. The sky looks pretty dramatic to me.
Looks OK to me but I would get rid of a bit of sky
Mind you most of my landscape efforts go in the trash bin
Posted by Andy Shepherd on August 4, 2010 at 11:15 AM
Thanks for the comments and advice guys, cheers
Eh up Mr Snape, I would have liked a 17-40, but unless I can find a good secondhand one then it's a no go for Canon.
There are quite a few notable landscape togs on this forum, it would have been appreciated if they would have offered their opinions on this image, but it looks like that is not to be.
Andy...
Posted by Lee Newman on August 4, 2010 at 11:44 AM
Very nice image Andy, well worth your visit to Filey.
From what I can see in this landscape shot I dont see how you could had done it any better, every thing is as it should be.
I think the only thing I might try to improve the image is to go with a pano crop as the main strength in this image is the lovely colours in the middle. I would then darken the bottom corners to push the eyes right into the middle of the image.
I have hard a little go and added an image for you to have a look at hope you dont mind.
Posted by Andy Shepherd on August 7, 2010 at 2:49 PM
Hi Guy,
Thanks very much for the input and advice, the pano crop works well.
hello andy, i bumped into you at bempton last year (or more) I know of 2 top pros whom use the camera that you have taken this shot with so its not the kit that you may need to buy but keep playin about with what you have, get some good NDs and work with longer exposures on your tripod. then you would be able to get shots at least half an hour earlier than this when the lighting may be better. I am not to far from you so if you wana do a bit more landscape work give me a ring on 07852 712599
nice image but could do with a bit more foreground interest and maybe a longer exposure also try portrait as this gives the feeling of being able to walk into the image..
Lewis www.wildshots.org.uk
Posted by Brian Davis on September 27, 2010 at 5:34 AM
I am often left dumbfounded by some peoples comments on landscape images on here but on this occasion there are some good comments and differing viewpoints. I dont really do landscapes but when I saw your pic I thought it was really nice. Then I took on board a few of the comments and saw it from their perspective and I think it does look good in Pano crop, but then you lose the bit of beach. and for me a landscape image works better if I can picture myself there and, if you like, in the picture. so the beach was an important factor in your pic, so I might have been tempted to leave a little more beach and remove a little sky. But thats just my viewpoint and i know nowt.
Great image though.
Discussion
13 repliesFiley Brigg, silhouetted against the rising sun. Can I start with that I know absolutely nothing about landscape photography, so therefore I would like some advice on the subject.
I was on Filey beach sunday morning to photograph Dunlin, so whilst waiting for the light and the tide I had a crack at the sunrise. I would like to know if the elements of the shot work, things like position of the sun in the frame, the silouetted Brigg and just the general composition.
The image was taken with my Canon G11 point and shoot, I don't own a dedicated landscape lense and would now like to invest in one. So if anybody has any recommendations ( £500 budget, I think this puts me out of the market for a Canon, so maybe one of the Sigma's will have to do ) I would be most grateful.
Processed in DPP / CS2
Canon G11, Handheld
1/320th @ f4 -1/3rd iso80
Andy...
Regards,
Paul.
As a Sigma user {cameras and lenses) I use both my prime 24mm EX DG macro and 50mm EX DG macro for landscape purposes, taking multiple images if need be and stitching them with AutoPanoGiga2, a superb program IMO. Cheaper than paying £500 on a new lens and more satisfying when seeing some of the panos you can achieve.
I think it has all of the basic ingredients. Maybe it needs a stronger foreground subject, but I'll leave that up to the experts to confirm or deny.
Cheers
Austin
It really needed a stronger rule of thirds in framing up - try masking the current image with a sheet of A4 to see what I mean. Either more beach or more sky and depending on what was happening left, more silhouette
Don't get too "hooked up" on usig a wide angle lens for landscape work, nearly all my and my wif'es best shots have been used with mid to long telephoto lenses. I haven't used anything sub "28mm" for years now - landscape=wide angle lenses is a bit of a myth in my opinion.
I have done a bit of landscape work. Your image is fine from a point and shoot, but to get the best out of a scene you need to think about the foreground mid ground and horizon.
Wide angle lenses let you focus the viewers eye on the foreground interest first whilst allowing the middle ground and background to remain sharp (ish). Most good landscape images have the required foregroung interest that leads the viewer to where you want them to look.
If you have a Canon full frame camera then it will have to be an L series lens, I have the 17-40mm and is sharp. If you have a cropped sensor then the Sigma 10-20mm is also a very good lens for the money.
Going back to your posted imgage I would look to cropping some of the shore as there is not much to attract the viewer but there is in the rising sun and in the sky. The sky looks pretty dramatic to me.
I hope this helps.
Shaun
Looks OK to me but I would get rid of a bit of sky
Mind you most of my landscape efforts go in the trash bin
Thanks for the comments and advice guys, cheers
Eh up Mr Snape, I would have liked a 17-40, but unless I can find a good secondhand one then it's a no go for Canon.
There are quite a few notable landscape togs on this forum, it would have been appreciated if they would have offered their opinions on this image, but it looks like that is not to be.
Andy...
Lee
From what I can see in this landscape shot I dont see how you could had done it any better, every thing is as it should be.
I think the only thing I might try to improve the image is to go with a pano crop as the main strength in this image is the lovely colours in the middle. I would then darken the bottom corners to push the eyes right into the middle of the image.
I have hard a little go and added an image for you to have a look at hope you dont mind.
Hi Guy,
Thanks very much for the input and advice, the pano crop works well.
Andy...
nice image but could do with a bit more foreground interest and maybe a longer exposure also try portrait as this gives the feeling of being able to walk into the image..
Lewis www.wildshots.org.uk
Great image though.