Power of Water

[steevdavis62]

This photo was a real experience trying to take. I dont rememeber all the technical information of how it was taken, but it was the process i had to go through to get that shot, that stands out to me.

I was at Caves beach, Swansea, New South Wales. And i was taking some photo's for my photography series, which was part of a uni assingment. It was just before i got my own camera so i was borrowing a college camera, which was a fairly small canon, cant rememeber the make though.

Anyhow, the sea was actually alot rougher then it looks, because this photo was taken on a rocky outcrop, quite high up. anyhow, my friend and i saw this rocky outcrop on in the ocean, maybe 20-30m's away. And being the considerate friend she is, she suggested i walk out there to get some photo's of the ocean crashing into it. So i head out there, with wind and waves crashing around me, while trying to keep my very unwaterproof, borrow camera dry. My clothes get soaked as im making my way slowly out to this rocky out crop. And just as i reach it and start to climb the rear side, i almost slip, and fall into the water. Anyhow i manage to climb onto of the rocks, completely soaked, except for the camera.

I tried to stand close to the edge as in only had a 28-100mm lense. I would wait till a wave crashed, then run towards the edge of the outcrop and try and take a photo of the wave breaking, then try and make it back to where i could stay dry before the wave completely crashed. Anyhow needless to say, most of the photo i took there didnt work out, except this one. I love this photo, the way i used a fast shutter speed to freeze the motion of the wave, but still convey the power and strength in the water.

Comments are welcome

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/62342462@N00/366401673/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/167/366401673_22e89e6159.jpg" width="500" height="324" alt="wave copy" /></a>

[jiminyClickit]

Here's where you get to find out if asking for comments is what you want. Still depends on who you ask as to whether it's a learning experience or just disappointing. That said, this is not on a level with the Woods. Totally different look. Not a bad photo, but had I not read the description I wouldn't know what, where, why. If a picture tells a story, this one needs a sense of PLACE, and SCALE, and PURPOSE. Color can add some, but it takes more. You have these things in memory, viewer does not.

If someone had photographed you photograhing this, you'd have SCALE and PURPOSE. Show some horizon or rocks, PLACE.

Choices, choices. Shoot on.

[wulf]

I think it would work better as part of a series - you've got the memory of the day you took it but, as jiminyClickit described, the rest of us only have the image and that doesn't give much visual context.

Another approach is to stand further back, where you can concentrate on things like framing and focus, and take the picture at the highest resolution available on the camera. You can crop down later to give a tigher composition but you can try to bring in some more elements that give a sense of scale and place.

Wulf

[steevdavis62]

I i appreciate both those comments. And Yes wulf, it is actually part of a series. A series i did on the beach, that i composed specifically to tell a story. If i get time i'll upload them all... I did try taking some futher back, but this is the best wave i had at the time, hence why i used this. Because the outcrop is probably 10m high, not many of the waves crashed over the top... and they few that did, i had to try and time right... but i agree with jiminy, it does need a place and purpose, but i think the other photos in the series help with this somewhat

[steevdavis62]

i did actually post the series... its called i full beach series

[jiminyClickit]

i did actually post the series... its called i full beach series

Posted where?

[steevdavis62]

in "critique my shots"

[Seltzer]

posted here: http://digital-photography-school.com/forum/showthread.php?t=663
in case anyone needs a quick link.. :)
good shot and series btw, shows more foresight than my photography does.