Point Reyes Lighthouse

[PhotoDon]

This image was made at Point Reyes Lighthouse in Northern California. The distance from the top of the steps to the lighthouse is about 300'.

Device: Nikon D90
Lens: VR 18-105mm F/3.5-5.6G
Focal Length: 62mm
Focus Mode: AF-A
AF-Area Mode: Single
VR: ON
Aperture: F/16
Shutter Speed: 1/160s
Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority
ISO Sensitivity: ISO 200
Color Space: Adobe RGB

[navcom]

Hi! Do you have a specific question or item you want critiqued?

[LeeR]

Point Reyes has been rather famously photographed by some of the best in the business. This image is fine as it goes, but you need the right light and atmospheric conditions to challenge the best.

[PhotoDon]

I am just looking for general critique. I am never satisfied with getting the dynamics of what I see with my eyes a photographic image. Thanks to LeeR for the comment about lighting and atmosphere. Much appreciated.

Don

[sk66]

I think it would benefit from more of a portrait orientation, and the lighthouse being lit up.

As it is, it seems more about the "setting" than about the lighthouse itself.

[navcom]

I would agree with both comments here. Definitely plan ahead for the lighting. Usually early or late in the day is best for landscape photography. It has the most dramatic and pleasing light for most situations (not necessarily all, but most). That's why they call it the "golden hour".

And I would experiment with some different angles and perspectives. Think about what you want your subject to be and what you want to convey about your subject...then compose your image according to your answer to those questions...eliminating anything that would compete against your aims.

Hope that helps!

[PhotoDon]

Thanks for the comments and suggestions. As I stood there at the top of that 300' stairway I was trying to get across the vertical distance down to the lighthouse. Looks like that didn't happen. I didn't have my tripod with me and leaned against a fence to try to get some stability. I was hoping that f/16 would give me that feeling of depth and when I tried to go with a smaller aperture the shutter speed would have been too slow to avoid camera shake, I think.

[sk66]

You do get a feeling of height/distance.
A portrait crop with more foreground would probably have helped that. Cutting out the extra distance at the top (foreground) by hanging over the edge actually "shortens" the distance.

[PhotoDon]

Here is a portrait crop of the image:


I saved as much of the foreground as possible. Originally I had wanted the ocean to be a major part of the picture because it is such a huge force and the relatively small lighthouse is there as a warning because the sea can be treacherous at times. Sometimes I tend to over-think a situation and, in addition, was a bit uncomfortable shooting without my tripod. I think this cropping accomplishes more what I was after. Thanks for the input.

[sk66]

I also think this works better.

This is why they always say "shoot everything", meaning every angle/ every composition....You never truly know what is going to be "best" until reviewing the pics later. And somethimes you can't "envision it" until you actually see it.