Afternoon at the beach

[Desi]

Here are some shots I took today at Leo Carrillo State Beach near LA. Most of the time was spent chasing the twins, but I got to sneak away to take a few shots. Let me know what you think. Thanks.

1. Sea grass at low tide

DSC_0515.jpg by Javier Descalzi, on Flickr

2. Long daytime exposure with ND filter. If only I could have stayed another 1/2 hour for the sunset.

DSC_0596.jpg by Javier Descalzi, on Flickr

3. A happy couple. They just got engaged and were having pics taken with a P&S. I was walking by with my tripod so they asked a few questions. I offered to take a few shots for them. Can you offer any suggestions to make this shot better? I've cropped it a bit, given it some fill-light for the jacket and boosted the vibrance.

DSC_0603.jpg by Javier Descalzi, on Flickr

4. It seems everyone is taking photos at the beach.

DSC_0640.jpg by Javier Descalzi, on Flickr

Thanks for looking. C&C always welcome.

 

[WesternGuy]

My first impressions FWIW...

#1. Nice image, the bottom half with the "green stuff" (grass, sea weed?) looks a little under-exposed and the green looks a little oversaturated.

#2. I like this one, but watch the placement of the horizon - it is almost right across the centre of the image, not quite but almost. (Rule of thirds) Also, I would try and lighten up the shadows on the left side of the rock in the right foreground.

#3. Not too bad, but the horizon in the background cuts right through their necks - sort of cuts them in half. The skin colour could use a little work - her face is a bit redder than her left hand and her right arm. As well, the sky is washed out.

#4. Looks to be a little underexposed for the most part. The half of a head in the upper right just above the rock should be cloned out - it is a distraction. I am going to assume that two of these young women in the image are not the twins you were chasing.

My 0.02¢ worth - HTH.

Cheers,

WesternGuy

 

[Meekminx]

I'm a beginner (disclaimer), but I love the first two shots. The experts may be able to tell you how to make it better, but as they are, I would want them on my wall. Just Gorgeous!

(Not taking Mishele's thunder, she still reins Champion over Nicest Posts)

 

[GeorgieGirl]

Looks like you had a really nice day! Would you be able to share your long exposure details? I had tried recently shooting with a 10stop ND and I did not get sharp results, I am trying to detemine what I might not have done correctly. There was some breeze at tht time, I am sure that I must take the strap off and I'd really appreciate knowing what your ND was, your settings , etc.

Where are the twins?

 

[2WheelPhoto]

nice

#3 some fill flash and a faster shutter speed may have saved the background and made the couple pop

 

[Desi]

Thanks everyone!

WesternGuy, thanks for your comments. On the couple, It obviously shows that I'm still learning. They were already seated. I placed the horizon as low as I could get it (I was on a slope) and then started fumbling with the manual controls. I guess the easy answer would have been to ask the couple to stand up. At this stage, I can recognize just how many things go into taking a good picture, and I screw up at least a few of them.

2WheelPhoto: Thanks, I wish I had thought of that. I'm just learing to use flash.

Meekminx: Thanks. That, and a cup of coffee, just made my day.

GeorgieGirl: I have the Hoya 9 stop ND filter. That was my first time using it, so I don't really have any good tips. I got a lot of info on a web site talking about "black glass"....i'll try to find the link for you. I was able to see just enough to do a manual focus, otherwise, I would have focused and composed before putting on the filter (and locked it on manual focus). I probably would have composed the shot better had I put the filter on afterward. I used a self timer. I left the VR on, which was an oversight, it might have been sharper without it. The exposure was 30 seconds at F22, ISO 200 using a D90 with the kit 18-55.

 

[mrpink]

2. Long daytime exposure with ND filter. If only I could have stayed another 1/2 hour for the sunset.

DSC_0596.jpg by Javier Descalzi, on Flickr

Did a quick edit on this one....


EDIT ONLY TPF_mrpink_10 by Matt Francosky, on Flickr

Selective B&W conversion. Some selective dodging on the foreground rock. A negative exposure gradient filter on the sky. A little tighter crop.






p!nK

 

[dekcom]

Nice.

 

[GeorgieGirl]

GeorgieGirl: I have the Hoya 9 stop ND filter. That was my first time using it, so I don't really have any good tips. I got a lot of info on a web site talking about "black glass"....i'll try to find the link for you. I was able to see just enough to do a manual focus, otherwise, I would have focused and composed before putting on the filter (and locked it on manual focus). I probably would have composed the shot better had I put the filter on afterward. I used a self timer. I left the VR on, which was an oversight, it might have been sharper without it. The exposure was 30 seconds at F22, ISO 200 using a D90 with the kit 18-55.

Thanks for the insight. I have to study this more.

 

[Desi]

GeorgieGirl, this is the link to a great article on using "black glass".

"The Ultimate Guide To Neutral Density Filters" by Peter Hill | RedBubble

This was posted by somebody here earlier. The gist is that getting the exposure right is all guesswork. The camera light-meter isn't accurate with these filters in place. When I tried using the meter, I just got a black image. For the above image, image, I went with a small aperture for depth of field and to get a long enough exposure to cover an entire wave coming in and out.

Mr. Pink: thanks for the edit. That looks cool in BW. I think it is a better treatment for the rocks, but I think the water loses something in BW. I'll give this conversion a try. Thanks for the idea.

Desi

 

[GeorgieGirl]

GeorgieGirl, this is the link to a great article on using "black glass".

"The Ultimate Guide To Neutral Density Filters" by Peter Hill | RedBubble

This was posted by somebody here earlier. The gist is that getting the exposure right is all guesswork. The camera light-meter isn't accurate with these filters in place. When I tried using the meter, I just got a black image. For the above image, image, I went with a small aperture for depth of field and to get a long enough exposure to cover an entire wave coming in and out.

Mr. Pink: thanks for the edit. That looks cool in BW. I think it is a better treatment for the rocks, but I think the water loses something in BW. I'll give this conversion a try. Thanks for the idea.

Desi

Thank you!!!