Oceanside Pier, frustrated please C&C.

[EIngerson]

I went out to Oceanside pier tonight (I WAS going to shoot the sunset but the marine layer moved in early) So I decided to hang around and get some pier shots. I am not happy with the results. I'm not sure what I could have done to get better results.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.


O-side Pier-1 by Ingerson"PCD", on Flickr

Re-edit

O-side pier 5-1 by Ingerson"PCD", on Flickr


O-side Pier-1-2 by Ingerson"PCD", on Flickr

 

[EIngerson]

Bump

 

[Rephargotohp]

It was a bad night to shoot once the marine layer came in unless you caught some of the light shafts offshore around 4:30. I was just south of you at South Ponto.
The first one is good because there is more light, The second is underexposed, the last over just by a bit.

But there really wasn't any interesting light tonight and you can only make due with what you had.

Here's some when there is better light
Cuz Black & White Kicks Ass

 

[EIngerson]

I caught a couple of the light shafts coming down. I haven't processed them yet. Maybe I'll get a keeper out of the bunch, but I was really let down by the marine layer. LOL. I wasn't prepared to change gears and it threw off my thought process. Thanks for looking backwards photographer. LOL

 

[Kerbouchard]

I like the first one. Aside from the exposure, I think the composition is better.

What is a marine layer and what were you hoping to get instead?

 

[EIngerson]

I like the first one. Aside from the exposure, I think the composition is better.

What is a marine layer and what were you hoping to get instead?

Marine layer is basically a cloud/fog that roles in on the west coast with cold fronts. It makes it hazy and pretty harsh to shoot in.

I'm not pleased with the sharpness. I shot from a tripod (055xprob) mirror lock up and 10 second shutter timer. I'm wondering if F/22 was some of the cause.

 

[GeorgieGirl]

On the #1 shot, I'd crop out a portion of the rock to make it less bottom heavy and balance it a bit more.

 

[Frequency]

Electrical lights look good only when the natural light is low... the only problem i felt was the excessive natural light which buffer the effect of those bulbs.... but the shot from the other side looks more interesting probably because natural light is low....

I attempted darkening the image a bit....

It was like this

 

[EIngerson]

Thanks GeorgieGirl and Frequency, I appreciate it.

 

[fokker]

You tried a black & white version? To me, the main issue is the mixed white balance going on with the ultra yellow lamps and ultra blue sky.

 

[EIngerson]

You tried a black & white version? To me, the main issue is the mixed white balance going on with the ultra yellow lamps and ultra blue sky.

I did after I read this, but the reason I wanted the shot was the color. Thanks for looking.