Somber

Critiques [Translate]

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• mesutilgim (25025)
• [2008-01-01 13:31]

Hi Bob,
Very nice scenery, very well captured. Perfect pov and great compo. Amazing effect.
TFS and happy new year to you and all your beloved ones.
Best regards
MESUT ILGIM

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• CMJC (1708)
• [2008-01-01 13:32]

une vraiment belle prise de vue, une immensité merveilleuse

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• romanaa (2230)
• [2008-01-01 13:34]

Hello,
this is simply great picture, I like limited number of colours as well as your composition with the big stone in the
Well done.
Best wishes
Romana

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• raytheron (589)
• [2008-01-01 13:37]
• [+]

Hi Bob

What an absolutely breathtakingly beautiful photograph! This is photography at its best. Interesting to compare my reaction to what you wanted to convey: yes, there's an element of melancholy, but I find myself experiencing a sense of serenity as well, and the image conveys hope, too, in the contrast between the permanency of the land and the constantly changing sky and sea.

TFS a truly memorable piece of work!

Ray

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• agi77 (83)
• [2008-01-01 13:38]

What I can say: it is just perfect !!! Peace and quiet, the clock stopped ticking.

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• dlevy23 (2013)
• [2008-01-01 14:53]

Hi Bob, great photo. Nice colors and composition. What you should try next time is to have a longer exposure to make a nice silky effect in the water and another shot for the sky and then combine both in PS. Just an idea.
Great job.

Daniel

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• dougie (2891)
• [2008-01-01 15:04]
• [+]

Hi,
This is a superb shot with, I suspect, minimal processing using the quality of the equipment combination to great effect. You chose the moment well at just the right angle for the light and the aspect ratio works well.
You may, perhaps, have achieved the colours that you were reaching for if shot at iso 50, which would have been my choice for this as there seems to be enough light. Thanks,
Dougie.

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• Floydian (25543)
• [2008-01-01 15:43]
• [6] [+]

Hi Bob,
Don't think to technical or hunt for somthing that is in your head but not exist in real life. Your skils are above average, just do you own think in making good landscapes. I have done that also in the past finding new things, it never gave me the satisfaction that i probably needed. But new challences sounds good, i can go along with that.
Here it is the light and the still in front what makes the image. Your 5D with L lens gave you superb detail, nothing to pick on that. On the technical side it can go 2 ways. Or you put some more light on those two rocks in front, or put more contrast in the sky and reflection. Makes the difference in mood and presentation. That black cloud at the left top corner is also not my favorite, wish it was more red just as the right side, but that is something you can't control....or you have to do some tricks in the pp, but that's up to you.
The overal image is something i like. The composition, the presentation (personally i like hard contrast) and the whole setting.
More important is...are you happy with it? ;-)
Wishing to a very happy 2008...
Henk

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• jwmunro (5964)
• [2008-01-01 15:43]
• [2]

Happy New Years Bob -

Another perspective from the same location. Like the other image this is a peaceful image and conveys emotion as well as triggers memories. If you were not in the best of moods this evening I am sure the shoot turned your mood around. This is again a top notch image. I especially like the glow of light around the edge of the clouds. IMO, there is now down side or compromise with this image. It's a keeper!

Thank you for sharing.

John

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• gneufeld (10367)
• [2008-01-01 15:49]

Hi Bob,
And a Happy New Year to you and yours! This is an impressive shot. Great use of an interesting foreground, the details, the reflections, and the evening colors are stunning. Great work and TFS. Gerald

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• Matthew-Watt (4167)
• [2008-01-01 17:41]
• [+]

Hello Bob,

Like your previous shot, I very much enjoy it. Be careful not to take lots of photos of the same place (I noticed that was the same headland as in your previous photo), but I know the FG is completely different. I am certainly guilty of posting images of the same skyline/beach/mountain more than once, so I also should consider offering more variety. And this is not at all saying that this image is not unique, it certainly is. Members like Henk (Floydian) have very valuable advice, so try to remember it!

I do think your images convey a good message of emotion, and think that it varies from person to person as what it is they see in the photo, and how it makes them feel. The image is clear, composed of many fine elements both near and far and is sharp around the edges. The Jaap frame is good also. Beautiful patterns in the sediments.

Finally, your intro photo is very creative!

Matt

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• avishek_khan (368)
• [2008-01-01 21:18]

Hi Bob,
A nice serene and calm atmosphere captured in this lovely snap.
regards
Avishek

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• corniste (2945)
• [2008-01-01 23:27]

extreme classic pic with a wide angle, but well done! The square is giving a big strenght to everything!

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• Nicou (26332)
• [2008-01-02 1:53]

Hello,

De toute beauté, quel effet, ces couleur, cette doucuer, ces reflets dans l'eau, elle est toute lisse au milieu de ces beaux rochers, avec une vue divine à l'arrière, superbe.

Bravo et amitiés

Nicou

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• Cormac (25032)
• [2008-01-02 8:00]

This is gorgeous work! The colours are so light and delicate, and they are captured so well that it's a real pleasure to look at. The reflection off the wet sand adds a lot to this too, lighting the bottom half of the photo. Of course the rock adds a very good subject there and tends to lead us into the scene. Beautiful!

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• Rosa (4066)
• [2008-01-02 8:04]

Bonjour
que dire si ce n' est que votre photost magnifique, les reflets dans ce sable mouillé sont superbes et les couleurs douces sont magnifiques et attirent bien le regard. Ces rochers a l' avant plan et ces nuages du fond lui donne une belle profondeur de champ. Jolis tons dt belle luminosité dans ces nuages magnifiques. Très bon POV.

Je vous souhaite a vous et tous ceux que vous aimez une année 2008 pleine de bonheur, d' amour, de bonne santé et d' argents pour réaliser tous vos voeux.
Amitiés.
Rosa

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• scobert (5321)
• [2008-01-02 9:03]

Hello Bob,
It is interesting how different lighting and a slightly different camera angle from your previous post completely changes the composition and the mood of a scene. I think that you have an amazing seascape here and I appreciate the fact that you are exploring the emotional aspects of this artform. A perfectly composed and technically superior image is usless without conveying some form of emotion. You have a beauty here!
Stan

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• Nadeemkhawar (697)
• [2008-01-03 4:39]
• [+]

Hello Bob,
Realy a nice shot with great depth and sufficiant detail in black, I am feeling inspite of photography you a tight grip on photoshop, Great shot.
Regards........Nadeem Khawr.

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• yso (2270)
• [2008-01-03 9:13]

Hi Bob,
Great picture with perfect composition ! I like the dramatic atmosphere we can feel. So sharp, very well done !
Regards,
Yves

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• chawax (2489)
• [2008-01-03 10:54]

Hi Bob,
Wonderful shot ! The square format is original and the composition is excellent with the stones on the foreground and the beach that lies to the background. Very nice colours too.
Happy new year ;)
Olivier

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• Signal-Womb (10092)
• [2008-01-03 14:16]
• [+]

Hi Bod, a superb capture without doubt. Beautiful composed shot with precise saturation and excellent details. There is only one thing wrong with this!!! I wish it was mine :)

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• hgupta (1128)
• [2008-01-04 10:33]

Hi Bob,

This is a wonderful catch, almost like a dream. Amazing colors and light, and I loved the efect of stillness in the picture.
Great work.
Regards,

Hemant

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• Estelle (1860)
• [2008-01-05 4:24]
• [2]

Hello Bob,
Views of the sea are my subject of predilection as I miss the sea badly. And your photo teaches me a POV I wouldn't have dared trying otherwise: what a depth of field!
You take pictures that show your own emotions.
But the sea itself conveys feelings such as quietness or anger. But it's not that easy to get it into the camera. Thanks for the lesson!
Estelle

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• branley (3681)
• [2008-01-06 1:20]
• [+]

Hi Bob,

you've certainly conveyed a sense of calm in this fine image, as you said, you didn't want a level of energy by having any wave action. The light is perfect, the colours are lovely and, as I've just returned from France over a hectic two day period, it's given me a sense of calm. It's a superb capture and you certainly have a gift, great note too.

Have a great 2008 and I'm looking forward to seeing more of your work.

Regards

Stephen

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• Walnutzz (233)
• [2008-01-06 22:40]

Hi Bob,
Another excellent seascape. Great composition and low perspective. Good sharpness and nice reflections of the clouds above. Beautiful colors. I really admire your work. TFS
-Rob

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• marietom (21023)
• [2008-01-07 1:15]

Hello Bob,

Très beau format, pour ce très beau bout de paysage. Jolies couleurs.

Marie

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• ruisc_pt (5087)
• [2008-01-22 11:47]

Great image and stunnning ambiance
It can be felled in it
TFS

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• fserajian (3626)
• [2008-01-22 14:04]

Hi Bob,

Beautiful shot, well composed and detailed. TFS

Fara

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• kwekwekan (292)
• [2008-01-22 19:48]
• [+]

Your note reminds me of Vincent van Gogh... looking at his paintings, there is a profound feeling of self-introspection through much of his work. It's neat to see someone replicate the experiment so conciously to landscape photography. The photo, of course, is great too.

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• LALWANI6 (5)
• [2008-01-24 6:08]
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• johnfreeman (1805)
• [2008-01-29 14:08]
• [+]

Bob,
I’ve been meaning to comment on this photo for some time... I have very fond memories of swimming at Marloes Sands while walking the Pembrokeshire coastpath back in the mid eighties. Of course I remember it quite differently from how it appears here: a wide sandy beach with big waves on a bright sunny day... The temperature of the water looks pretty much the same though!

I must say this is a very beautiful and accomplished picture and I think you’ve achieved your declared intention of conveying a sombre mood very well. I particularly like the subdued pink and dark blueish/grey tones and the perfect composition. It’s all so vivid I can almost hear the gentle lapping of the waves, smell the sea air and feel the wet sand sinking down beneath my feet. It feels as though I could step right through the frame and into the picture!
As a Nikonian I’m very envious of the results you're getting from your 5D (enought to make me question my brand loyalty!). I also like the square Hasselblad-like format, reminiscent of the medium-format work of people like Hans Strand and Charlie Waite.

One thing I’m particularly curious about is your idea of conveying emotion mentioned here and in the forum string you initiated. Now this is just my personal feeling, but it seems to me that “somber”, “serenity”, “tranquil”, etc. are more a question of mood or atmosphere than “emotion” and are largely conveyed through technical means (lighting, colours, exposure, composition, etc.). On the other hand, “emotion” seems to me to be a kind of engagement or connection on the part of the photographer with the landscape, something that is entirely independent of mood and can probably be experienced with any kind of photography (and if one is lucky or gifted is somehow mysteriously conveyed to the observer!).
On the subject of Charlie Waite, I came across an interesting quote on the intro page to his website that I feel puts it quite well: “I often think of that rare fulfilling joy when I am in the presence of some wonderful alignment of events... Where the light, the colour, the shapes and the balance all interlock so beautifully that I feel truly overwhelmed by the wonder of it.”
At this point I may as well go the whole hog and give you my personal feelings about the "emotion" of your Welsh coast series. Well, all of them seem to me to be outstanding at conveying mood, but I can’t help feeling that the most “emotionally engaged” are Mindful and The World, whereas Somber and Serenity are cooler and more detached, with Bewitched somewhere in the middle. Just my €0.02…

Cheers!
John

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• Silversnow (1348)
• [2008-04-14 6:01]

Magnificent mood evocating composition, the slight reddish glow does have an aftertaste of seething introspection, and the color is very well distributed on the edges of objects throughout the frame.
A masterfull POV.

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• picus (797)
• [2008-06-24 13:21]
• [+]

Hi Bob,

I can't say much more without repeating others: more technically speaking, this picture also shows the gap there is between the 5D and the lower models, no comment. But even with such a marvelous camera, the tribute has to go first to your pov and technical setup to make it happen in such a vibrant way. I like this shot.

Pascal

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• arghya001 (230)
• [2008-07-14 21:11]

Hi,
Very nice landscape with Great composition and colour balance. Reflection on foregound is amazing.
Regards
Arghya

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• garrbus (177)
• [2008-08-22 1:52]

Excellent part of seaside :)
First plane catch my eyes.
Sky needs more contrast but all view excellent.
Congratulations!!!!