Sea view

[annie12]

Took this as I passed the beach this afternoon. Have been trying to get shot with sand in foreground, rockyoutcrop in mid and lighthouse (just visible) at the back. Trouble is I can't get it to 'pop' the way I see it in my head.

Could someone tell me how to improve - is it time of day/weather/ my position/ my settings or my equipment?

Thanks:confused:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/23103829@N03/2240016010/" title="08 02 03 galley view by annie12pics, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2304/2240016010_3df449a0b1.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="08 02 03 galley view" /></a>

Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture: f/10
Focal Length: 52 mm
ISO Speed: 220
Exposure Bias: 0/6 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

[Matthew James Norman]

Hi annie12,

It is very rare to capture an image exactly how you see it as the camera (however complex it and the lens is) sees differently from human eyes. Did you shoot this on full auto , landscape mode or another?

I don't know whether you're familiar with the rule of thirds at all, but you have that pretty well caught in this image, so the composition is fine. The thing with landscapes is that there's so much land to capture there's no real true position for you to position yourself.

Do you have any image editing software? If you do you may want to try adjusting the levels or curves, especially with the sky in order to making it a little darker and the clouds to stand out more.

I'm sure others with far more experience and knowledge here can also add their own, better comments.

[jiminyClickit]

annie12,

By the dark shadow on the rock formation center left, I'll guess Sun was in front and to your right? This is going to cause less color and good lighting than if Sun were behind and to your left. That darkness stops some pop, and stuff on the beach is lit from slightly behind as well. There are some really good color areas, but they're small and not overcoming the darker ones. Can you go back out in the morning?

[Sela]

You might want to try using a wider angle (18mm etc) to capture more detail in the foreground. I think you need to get your camera angle looking 'down' more instead of straight out at the sea which makes the water into just a tiny strip, look at this angle for an example:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/166/375349881_7b5e66e094.jpg?v=0
This way we're brought more into the scene instead of just feeling like we're viewing it from a distance. Just an idea, of course. :)
And actually, this photo doesn't follow the rule of thirds, the horizon is pretty much right smack in the middle.

[KathrynWilson]

I don't know whether you have Photoshop, but I would firstly recrop to straighten the horizon (and possibly chop a bit of the sand off so the horizon falls at the bottom third), then color pop it to get some color in the sky. Some sharpening would also make the sea pop a little more.

[belamar]

Took this as I passed the beach this afternoon. Have been trying to get shot with sand in foreground, rockyoutcrop in mid and lighthouse (just visible) at the back. Trouble is I can't get it to 'pop' the way I see it in my head.

Could someone tell me how to improve - is it time of day/weather/ my position/ my settings or my equipment?

Thanks:confused:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/23103829@N03/2240016010/" title="08 02 03 galley view by annie12pics, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2304/2240016010_3df449a0b1.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="08 02 03 galley view" /></a>

Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture: f/10
Focal Length: 52 mm
ISO Speed: 220
Exposure Bias: 0/6 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

i also have the nikon d40 kit and i find it really interesting. it is my first dslr and i have some pics much like yours. i love pics of the sea. so quite a lot of my pics are from there. my next fav is flowers. i got loads of great shots from the "glagow day" in the summer last year. i'm still not happy with indoor dark pics, but experimenting. i have not had much time so far to explore all the camera can do in the 10 months since i got my camera but i your pic has reminded me how much i like phtos and want to take good ones, so thank you!

[Amira]

One thing you may want to try is cropping the shot so the horizon is not so centralized. I've found that shots with the horizon on the "rule of thirds" lines have a more interesting feel to them than those that have the horizon mostly centered as is in this shot. Try a few different crops and see if that does anything to enhance the image.

[annie12]

Thanks everyone- couldn't get here for a few days and was amazed by how helpful you all were in my absence!!

annie12,

By the dark shadow on the rock formation center left, I'll guess Sun was in front and to your right? This is going to cause less color and good lighting than if Sun were behind and to your left. That darkness stops some pop, and stuff on the beach is lit from slightly behind as well. There are some really good color areas, but they're small and not overcoming the darker ones. Can you go back out in the morning?

I could jiminy but because of the angle the sun would just be on the right and would cast the lighthouse on the horizon into shadow - I've tried - would be a nice silouhette - when I'll have a zoom lens - or a boat!!

You might want to try using a wider angle (18mm etc) to capture more detail in the foreground. I think you need to get your camera angle looking 'down' more instead of straight out at the sea which makes the water into just a tiny strip, look at this angle for an example:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/166/375349881_7b5e66e094.jpg?v=0
This way we're brought more into the scene instead of just feeling like we're viewing it from a distance. Just an idea, of course. :)
And actually, this photo doesn't follow the rule of thirds, the horizon is pretty much right smack in the middle.

Like where you're coming from Sela - do you mean actually physically get higher and look down or am I missing something with the tilt of the camera - like your pic. That's the idea I would like - with the headland in!

I don't know whether you have Photoshop, but I would firstly recrop to straighten the horizon (and possibly chop a bit of the sand off so the horizon falls at the bottom third), then color pop it to get some color in the sky. Some sharpening would also make the sea pop a little more.

thanks kathryn - yes to the photoshop (didn't straighten - glasses must be on crooked again - I didn't notice!!) I had tried upping the colour a bit, but could have been a bit tentative!! I couldn't make up my mind whether to lose the foreground interest or the sky so didthered and did neither!!

i also have the nikon d40 kit and i find it really interesting. it is my first dslr and i have some pics much like yours. i love pics of the sea. so quite a lot of my pics are from there. my next fav is flowers. i got loads of great shots from the "glagow day" in the summer last year. i'm still not happy with indoor dark pics, but experimenting. i have not had much time so far to explore all the camera can do in the 10 months since i got my camera but i your pic has reminded me how much i like phtos and want to take good ones, so thank you!

I'd love to take good ones! I can see in my head how I want them to look but unfortunately the camera - while it may not lie - doesn't always see eye to eye!

One thing you may want to try is cropping the shot so the horizon is not so centralized. I've found that shots with the horizon on the "rule of thirds" lines have a more interesting feel to them than those that have the horizon mostly centered as is in this shot. Try a few different crops and see if that does anything to enhance the image.

Mentioned already my inability to decide on which part should go. Apparently 'indecision is the key to flexibility' - if so I should be a contortionist!

[Sela]

Like where you're coming from Sela - do you mean actually physically get higher and look down or am I missing something with the tilt of the camera - like your pic. That's the idea I would like - with the headland in!


Hi Annie-- You would have to get much closer to the water of course and then tilt the camera down, you would most likely lose a bit of the sky but to get more foreground detail I think it'd be worth it.

[annie12]

Hi Annie-- You would have to get much closer to the water of course and then tilt the camera down, you would most likely lose a bit of the sky but to get more foreground detail I think it'd be worth it.


might try that - thanks