Cal Sailing Club Photo

Photographer’s Note

PLEASE CHECK OUT THE WORKSHOP THAT GIVES A BIT MORE EXPANSIVE VIEW OF THE SCENE. I DID IT TO ANSWER CONCERNS RAISED BY RICHARD IN HIS CRITIQUE.

I'm still at the edge of San Francisco Bay, but I've moved back to the East Bay and the Berkeley shoreline. This photo was taken the same afternoon as Alcatraz and Golden Gate Fog. As I was driving away from the Berkeley Pier I noticed a sign for the Cal Sailing Club and decided to turn in and see what was happening... quite a bit it turned out.

The club owns a flotilla of small sailboats and a few wind sailboards that are available to members. There are also members who bring their own gear simply to enjoy the camaraderie of others who love being on the bay. On this particular day the wind was intermittent, which meant that exciting runs on a wind surfing board often ended with a dump in the bay when the wind died.

What you see in the midground of this image is the crew that runs out into this sheltered portion of the bay to pick up stranded sailboarders who've both run out of wind and of the energy required to paddle to the dock. You will also note a sailer in the foreground lifting his small sailboat with a hand operated crane, as well as distant sailboarders emerging from the water. It was quite a scene!

For those interested in learning more about the club, here is a link.

Cal Sailing Club

Tech: I converted this image to black and white using the Channel Mixer, then applied a Photo Filter with a Cyan color, more as an experiment than anything else. I was pleased with the result. It gives a certain coolness to the image that reflected the coolness of the water. You will note that those who are in the water are wearing wet suits against the chill. Hope you enjoy the experiment.

Galeota, kikvel has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

RGatward (19749) 2004-09-17 3:11

Good lively seen. I can't decide yet whether I like the crop ... is the rail TL a distraction or a useful frame.. mmm

Galeota (10334) 2004-09-17 6:43

I'll take this one as an experiment as you described it. I'm not particulartly fond of the cyan tone but that's personal.

The photograph seems to me a bit too busy and although two of the people are talking to eachother, all the characters seem not to be related (that0s the feeling I'm having). I also don't think that the cropped windsurfer in the background was a good idea.

I guess you have made more interesting experiments in the past...and will surely do lots of others in the future.. ;o)

ps: Excellent note

Ebbe (9571) 2004-09-17 12:54

Really a lot going on here. I like both version but maybe the head should stay after all. But cutting adds to the complex and busy feeling. I like the cool color.

hdl (6737) 2004-09-18 5:39

Nice experiment. I like the b&w effect here; it indeed gives "coolness" to the picture. I also like the expression on the face of the guy in the center. For the rest: lots of things to do and a lot of movement but maybee a bit too crowdy. Anyway, a good picture that is certainly worth 2 pts.

kikvel (4772) 2004-09-19 21:10

Nice to see you are exploring new lands in PP Curtis.

Almost everything has been said, and I agree.
But anyway, this is a trial and error proccess and I feel happy we are inmersed in it, while we learn we can enjoy.

K.

joseelias (367) 2004-10-18 8:45

Personaly I think I prefer the original image because we understand better what is the element in the top as well gives us space ate the bottom even if it's not the most beautiful elements to see.

I just feel the composition is too tight with the "bar" at the top and the tight crop. Also I think it is a bit oversharpened. Dispite I'm not a fan o fhtis tones I can't remember a better one.