Dolphin (slightly creative)

Down at the dolphins a couple of nights ago in crappy conditions and thought I'd try something different, to try to impart an impression of the animals movement and the way they blend in perfectly with their watery environment.

When its grey and drizzly, high shutter speeds require wide apertures (so limited dof) and/or high ISO's (so can be noisy too). SO instead I opted for a small aperture and whatever slow shutter speed resulted. The advantages are huge dof and (sometimes) nice movement in the water and the dolphins.

Most images go in the bin though, but occasionally there's one that seems to work and captures something of the animals and also their liquid surroundings.

1DMk3, 500 f4, fortnight @ f29, ISO250, RAW to b&w jpg in Lightroom, tripod, full goretex and wellies, gloves and all the rest of my summer clothing.

Very creative John, you do get the feel of movement and it looks drizzly and grey. well captured
Bronia

Yup, works for me. Good stuff.

Edwin

I think it'd add more interest had the title being 'shark' and not dolphin. For me it's an almost shot - you've definitely captured movement here but whenever I think dolphin I think of smooth, streaking/panning type of lines as opposed to this quite chaotic water motion. If you know what I mean...

Regards,

Des

Good initiative Phil. Works pretty well I think.

Hi John,

Fantastic image and it works really well in black and white. I have trouble attributing a message to it which I like because I just enjoy it for being nice to look at. Sometimes that lack of complexity really works.

Chris

Hi John,

works for me on all levels

Been back to this a few times. And I've decided I like it !!
JR

Works for me,the blur,waves,and fin trail has created a sense of mystery and fear of the unknown to the image IMO Brilliant and very,very thought provoking image John

I was hoping someone would mention the 'mystery' bit. The composition obviously has the animal going out of the frame, and its body under water is definitely already out of the left of the frame. That was deliberate as I wanted to hint at the fact that once these rascals go under water we have no idea what they're up to and why.

I like it as it is too John. It suits the mono treatment very well and although the fin certainly gives the image an added dimension, I'd still like it even if it was just of the waves

I like it it John, I'm not sure why? but I deffinately like it, could be the mystery element but not sure. From what you have described in your thinking behind the shot, I would say that you have achieved the image you were after.

Andy...

Thumbs up from me John. Great sense of movement and speed through the water. I see what you are saying about the fin and I agree it is the right place because, for me, it puts those splashes/spray trails in the foreground in just the right place to suggest more dolphins closer to the camera. So much of what we see in the wild is momentary. Our brains fill in the detail because we never really saw any of it and leaving the viewer to add his own detail gives any fleeting glimpse a more personal feel. Good art always makes the viewer think imo.
eric

Love it.

David