Why spending much money on a camera? :-) Photo

Photographer’s Note

This is again Boca Chica beach, which some of you already know from other posts of mine. Taking into account that the security of the public beach was uncertain, to say the least (actually most of the sources advice avoiding walking alone at night, but state that the risk is minimal during the day), the first times I went walking on the public beach I considered that it was wiser not bringing my camera, which is much more eye catching for a potential robber than my son's ultra-compact cheap HP. Now I am sure that I could have gotten some interesting shots if I had brought my camera and the risk probably wouldn't be that great (I did it once or twice afterwards), but I was quite surprised with what one can achieve with a camera that today may cost less than US $80. This is my second main post of a shot made with such camera (the other is this one) and I have also some WS's (1, 2, 3 ).

Boca Chica is a popular beach some 30 Km East of Santo Domingo, the capital of the country. Apart from two or three major hotels, of which only one has its own private beach, most of the people that frequent the beach are locals. It turned out to be a wise choice staying there, as it is very good value and its location near the airport, which is half way to the capital, and the latter allows going for sight seeing during the morning and return to the hotel, its beach and swimming pools at lunch time. It's also more convenient as a base for visiting the scenic central part of the country and Puerto Plata (on the North Coast) than the major international resorts of the North East (Samana) and of the East (Punta Cana, La Romana, etc).

As in other places and countries where mass tourism accounts for the major part of the tourism business, one pays less for a package of one (or even two) weeks on a very decent if not exactly luxury resort all-inclusive hotel than for an airplane ticket alone. The downside of going with such a package with a 10 years old boy is that after two or three hours out of the hotel, he began asking when will we return to the hotel every ten minutes. :-)

On the WS: another view of the same place with other colour adjustment and without people.

Location (latitude, longitude): 18.44669,-69.61091

Tue, paura, t0bs, Atousa, tober, jhm, feather, denisn72, lucasgalodoido, jlbrthnn, AiresSantos, danos, xuaxo, parbo, josepmarin, COSTANTINO, Emile, atus, Docarmo, ruisc_pt, Bluejeans, Didi, JCG, jaywalker, asajernigan, macondo, siolaw has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Tue (25608) 2008-02-25 17:10

Hi José,
A very nice view of the beach. Good use of the pier, which is also well placed on the right hand side, and the boats along it add some fine colours. Good division between land, sea and sky, also because the clouds add interest to the upper part of the shot. The light is pleasant. Thanks for sharing!
Regards,
Lars

paura (38484) 2008-02-25 17:19

José,
Uma beleza de tomada, com uma profundidade bem praiana e lindas cores. O velhinho poderia estar um pouco chateado com você pois ele fazia força enquanto você fotografava.

Abraço

Paulo

gracious (20017) 2008-02-25 17:23

Hello Jose,
A very fine image and a great place to be!
excellent pov with beautiful colouration and details!
you had all the elements a beautiful beach should have, the blue sky, green sea and the sand, just perfect!
well done and thanks for the notes too
greeting
Tony

t0bs (147) 2008-02-25 17:32

Hi Jose
It's a beautiful shot. The quality of the picture overall is good, especially the sharpness. Yup, we do can get a good quality image with modern 'cheap' camera =)
However, I have to say that I don't like the composition. I think it's too cluttered. The boats on the right side are too distracting for me, especially the 'abruptly' half-cut ones. I also can see a neglected bike around that area. Perhaps, it would be better if you cropped it out.
I also can't see the purpose of including the boy on the left side. I think the picture wouldn't be much different whether you added him or not.
I assume that your main object was the man pushing his wagon full of fruits. Perhaps, it would be better if you focused on him with the jetty and the 'fully-viewed' boat on the left side of the jetty (as well as the sky) as his background.
Anyway, it's only my opinion.
I believe you won't mind my critique, as you said in your intro, "they are more useful to our evolution than the positive ones" =)
All the best Jose.
Toby

UnTrained (0) 2008-02-25 22:51

Olá José,
I think the main question is the challenge a camera gets. If it is less with good light conditions and enough dynamic within its capabilities, it leads to a result like this. All fine and clear. Nothing spectacular but well composed with the line of the pier for depth, some people for live and enough interesting details.
Lieben Gruss, Ulf

wolf38 (12859) 2008-02-25 23:50

Hello Jose. Pictures and text are excellent. Ideally for TE. Really protruding. Best regards, Wolfgang.

Atousa (3434) 2008-02-26 0:02

Salam Jose,
Beautiful informative shot n note ..its good to see lots of details in it..very nice colours n overall atmosphere..I think the title mostly fits your note than the shot :)..tfs
Regards,
AtousA

tober (3960) 2008-02-26 1:48

Hi Stego, first of all congratulations for your 250th post. It shows us that, a modest camera may achieve better results than the expensive ones. As for the composition I agree with Toby. But the colours and sharpness are wonderful and very natural.

Best regards, Tolga

jhm (82629) 2008-02-26 4:11

Hello José,

I like this very nice picture, also a very good perspective and pleasant colour.
Composition together with the man with handcart gives excellent dynamic to this image, also wonderful depth.
I'm not agree to the previous writer with one point for this wonderful image!
Very well done, thanks for sharing.

Best regards,
john.

feather (49862) 2008-02-26 6:04

I was quite surprised to read Toby's critique, as my first reaction was to find nothing wrong with the image. OK maybe it's not one of your best compositionally, but as the boats are not the subject, the fact that some are cut in half is irrelevant I think. I can see you carefully considered where in the frame to place the path as it comes beautifully from the right corner. Also the boy on the left gives some interest in that part of the frame to balance the composition. The only thing that is a bit awkward, for want of a better word, is the proportions. I'm not sure if these are the proportions straight out of the camera, but there seems to be too much sky, and cropping would place the horizon too centrally as well as loosing the clouds. It might also be more about a personal quirk of mine, as if I crop one way I feel an irresistable urge to crop the other way to keep the proportions the same.
Anyway I like the image and agree with you that it's not always necessary to weigh ourselves down with the big stuff. Maybe I should take heed myself! ;D
Kath

denisn72 (6995) 2008-02-26 7:00

Hi José
That picture is very good quality and if I understood, you took it with a cheap camera. Wow! The colours are impressive and the details too. Well done!
Best regards
Denis!

lucasgalodoido (16605) 2008-02-26 9:12

Olá José,
uma bela cena tropical essa, com cores bem vivas! Lembra muito as praias do nordeste brasileiro, gostei, ia me sentir em casa nesse local!
Parabéns e Abraço!

jlbrthnn (38101) 2008-02-26 12:15

Bonsoir José,
efectivamente tu fotografía es magníficos, luminosos y coloreados. Se piensa bien tu encuadre. Los personajes animan agradablemente la imagen. Muy bueno trabajo con poco medio. Bravo.
cordialmente
Joël

bizsu (1011) 2008-02-26 12:51

Ola Jose,
You found me out about very much interesting information. Beautiful Boca chica beach. Colours and lights are very beautiful. Excellent seascape. Good daily life picture.
Parabéns !!
Um abraco, Zsú

xuaxo (5743) 2008-02-26 14:57

Olá José,
Gosto desta, mas eu preferia ver melhor os barcos à direita. Mas, fotografando do mesmo sítio, talvez depois o pontão ficasse demasiado centrado.
Também gosto muito do WS#1. Valeu a pena mostrares, mesmo em tamanho menor.
A propósito da câmara barata, já vi por aqui umas fotos muito interessantes feitas por telemóvel.
Um abraço,
F

parbo (10970) 2008-02-26 16:10

Olá José,

Excellent results with vivid colors and you already add your photography skills to the camera. Good view of divided frame by pier and one busy one quite side. Good addition of seller's effort and next young visitor too. Congratulations.

Abraço,

Ertugrul

adores (15577) 2008-02-26 17:51

Olá José!
Eu ainda utilizo a minha camara pequenita de vez em quando e nem a acho assim tão má. Conseguiste umas excelentes cores e a praia parece-me um pouco diferente das nossas aqui, tanto pela pouca gente que se vê como pelo vendedor de frutas.

danos (32588) 2008-02-27 0:38

Ola Jose,
really this is an heaven on earth! Excellent contrasted and vivid colours and a splendid light that bring out the details of the whole scene.The photo consists from multi layers with different colour any one of them.The vender in combination with the passing bye boy create a great depth of field.These places is the joy of photographer.Informative your note too.

Regards,danos

AiresSantos (42194) 2008-02-27 1:49

Ola Jose,
Isto é que é um lugar parasisiaco !
Um lugar camo, belissimo e com umas aguas apeteciveis
Gosto muito da perspectiva e do contraste
Boa noite e um abraço Amigo
Aires

josepmarin (33827) 2008-02-27 3:18

Olá José,
buena calidad gráfica con tu sencilla compacta HP, a veces estas cámaras nos dan sorpresas.
Buen encuadre y gran perspectiva para mostrar toda la belleza de este fantástico lugar (que algún día podré visitar), con una luz y unos colores preciosos.
Me gusta la foto, es dinámica y muy atractiva, ahora mismo me gustaría estar en esta playa.....
La alternativa en WS también es buena. Y la nota con toda esa información es espectacular. Te felicito.
Un abrazo,
Josep

COSTANTINO (22775) 2008-02-27 10:23

Hello JOSE,
A truly beautiful image,warm coloration
and generally a well composed action picture
Bravo
Well done'
Costantino

barrufeto_77 (25809) 2008-02-27 10:25

Hola Jose.

Desde luego, si el fotógrafo tiene cierta traza no hace falta y ahí está el mérito.

Eso si, si el paisaje como aquí ayuda, pues mucho mejor no?

Un saludo, Oscar

Emile (20001) 2008-02-27 13:19

Hola Jose.
Muy buena fotografia de la playa de Boca Chica y una excelente nota. Me gusta mucho como conseguiste esta vista de la playa incluyendo un muelle con yates y botes y sobre todo con el vendedor de agua de coco. Yo siempre digo que no es la camara lo que hace la foto sino el fotografo, ya ves la excelente fotografia que has logrado con la camara de tu hijo, nos gastamos un dineral en equipos pensando que nos van a dar fotos extraordinarias y mas de las veces no corresponden a lo esperado.
Que nos sirva de experiencia.
Abrazos.

ElAprendiz (7370) 2008-02-27 13:19

Hola Jose. Un paisaje típico caribeño, la intensidad de la luz, el azul profundo del cielo, y lo verde del mar, así lo demuestra.

La profundidad de campo es genial, y los elementos en el primer plano, refuerzan llamativamente la composición. Buen trabajo.

John

atus (15476) 2008-02-27 17:36

Hi José,
considering the quality of the photocamera, the shot obtained is very good technically. I'm not sure about the composition, because the potential subjects are a bit far, so it seems to me that the subject is missing here. I agree that there is too much of some things like the sand in the fg. and others a bit disturbing like the cropped mast of the boat on the right side. Imho the sky is ok how it is, because without the few clouds it could be a bit dull. The walking/running guy in the bg. adds more interest to the whole picture and to the empty left side of it. I tried a WS to show you how would like to see this scene. I also decentralized the seller to give him more interest and supposing him to be the main subject. Finally I added a simple white frame (I noticed that you never use it, maybe because do not like framed photos)to give it also some elegance. Hope you don't mind!
Tfs and best wishes.
Attila

[workshop] [compare] +

Docarmo (8840) 2008-02-27 17:37

Olá José,
Francamente, gosto imenso desta foto. Já que não era a sua eye catching for a potential robber camera, imagino que você tenha batido a foto de maneira descontraída. Quero dizer que suponho que você não tenha se sentido obrigado a fazer uma compo espetacular, ou seja, que tenha batido a foto de uma forma mais descompromissada, já que era uma ultra-compact cheap HP. Ou, então, você caprichou para compensar. O fato é que ficou ESPETACULAR!
Li a pequena conversação com o Toby e vejo mil motivos para contra-argumentar - como se você virasse mais para a direita, poderia pegar o barco inteiro, mas talvez tivesse outro barco bem próximo, e outro, e outro... onde cortar? Isto para mim é um detalhe bem pequeno, em vista do que se descortina deste POV e desta câmera - lindas cores, excelente DOF e movimento; o movimento das duas pessoas em sentido oposto à ponta de areia que avança para o mar é um toque mágico aqui.
Parabéns!
MCV
P.S.: cada um vê uma coisa e deixa de ver outras...

vincz (19043) 2008-02-28 0:28

Elle est tres marrante cette photo, toute pleine des couleurs acidulees tropicales. tres fraiche, tres vivante avec ce vendur et sa carriole. Tres agreable.

Gerrit (35793) 2008-02-28 2:03

Hi Jose,
a good composition and quite good quality. I think the definition in a higher resolution can be better but a fine view.
(PS. I never felt insecure in the DR anywhere)

Regards, gerrit

ruisc_pt (6206) 2008-02-28 4:30

De facto o que conta é o olho que está por detrás da camera...
A luz ajuda muito .. mas o resto é tudo "foto" "grafia" registada por ti..
Parabéns
Rui

Bluejeans (32439) 2008-02-28 11:21

Oi amigo ,
Gostei da foto muito da foto, bonita a praia parece o paraiso achei fantastico o homem com o carro de frutas deve ser bem duro andar a empurar esse carro pela praia as cores ficaram bastante bonitas essa maquina neste tipo de luz é muito boa ,parabéns!!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

crckt (7076) 2008-02-28 13:59

Hi Jose,
It's the cameraman not the camera that makes the shot :) You may have the cheapest camera in hand, but since you know how to use it and you know what the composition should be, it works every time. This is a great shot to prove that point. Wonderful colors and composition here. Very sharp too. Loved it.
TFS,
Shaeri

mikeo (12117) 2008-02-29 12:01

Ola Jose:)

Absolutely relaxing and holiday photo:)
Colours are absolutely paradise - like...and the quality is also very good. I wouldnt ever think that it was taken by small HP if not your nice story (like almost by every photo).

Very nice shot!
TFS
Greez
Mikeo

PS. I also like WS of atus...

Didi (36172) 2008-03-01 8:32

Bonsoir José
L'oeil du photographe c'est ce qui compte, la caméra c'est secondaire.
Intéressante scène avec un point d'intéret et une très bonne perspective.
Obrigado.

JCG (25405) 2008-03-01 11:32

Hi José,

I find some criticize a little hard. For me the photograph, at least on my screen, has visual good qualities. I like much the luminosity and the natural colors of the image. I will have just removed a little foreground like made Attila. A beautiful exotic image and thank you for the note José.

With all my friendships and a very good Sunday,

Jean-Charles

jaywalker (12190) 2008-03-01 23:27

Hi José, A very lovely beach scene, the light is wonderfully clear &, the overall composition is excellent, the boats to the right & the man with his wheel barrow are both very well positioned, the horizon gives great depth &, that sky is so welcoming, kind regards Wilson.

ag1993 (634) 2008-03-03 8:56

Hello,
Nice Photo. Great Colours and details.
Regards
Andrea Gatt

asajernigan (14170) 2008-03-03 11:37

Jose,
This is a fine shot of a beautiful caribbean beach. Your composition is fine using the dock to lead the eye into the shot. The man with the produce cart add a nice perspective to the photo. The lighting and colors are great with excellent sharpness and detail.
TFS,
Asa

macondo (13127) 2008-03-11 4:02

Hello Jose.
I enjoyed reading your interesting note. If the lighting is right then I have found that the shots from a compact and a DSLR can be very similar quality, especially when reduced for the screen. This one is a beauty, with just the right brightness and saturation. I like the composition, with the barrow man beside the jetty path and the other figure walking off down the beach in the other direction. The boats add colour and the sky has turned out well. It's got a great summery atmosphere.
I read a great book by Mario Vargas Llosa, about the Dominican Republic's dicator, Trujillo. It was called Feast of the Goat. All I know of that country I found in the novel!
Regards,
Andrew

Manamo (3474) 2008-03-11 18:17

Olà José,
the vivid colors are what brought me to this pictures.While I like the overall feeling in the picture, I'm not so sure about the composition. the right part of it seems useless to me. I wonder what it would have looked like if you had gotten nearer from the man and the fruits. It would have changed the focus of the subject from the overall beach scene to a particularity of it. I'd focus on the face of the man, leaving enough depth of field to distinguish the fruits and leave only a hint of the beautiful colors behind. Just a thought...
Marc

siolaw (25774) 2008-03-12 0:50

Hi Jose,
Even with a cheap camera, with this light and clear weather one can get colors, as in this picture! It is also an interesting beach scene with the coconut seller coming to you.... Good sharpnes too.
Greetings
Laurent

Photo Information

Copyright: Jose Pires (stego) (22360)
Genre: People
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-08-25
Categories: Daily Life, Nature
Camera: HP Photosmart E427
Exposure: f/3.5, 1/1500 seconds
More Photo Info: view
Map: view
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Travelogue: Republica Dominicana 2007
Theme(s): !Top rated ex, Beach sellers, beach, plage, Beaches, Beaches, !People [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-02-25 17:02