Surfers Paradise Photo

Photographer’s Note

This is a view looking north along Surfers Paradise beach on Queensland’s Gold Coast. It is one of Australia’s primary coastal tourism destinations, and is located about 100km south of the state capital, Brisbane. The Q1 tower in the middle of the shot is 322 metres high and is the tallest structure in Australia when measured to the top of the spire, and 2nd tallest when measured to the roof. It had just opened to the public the week I had taken this photo, so my friend and I went to the top observation deck on the 77th floor soon after.

To have a look at this location from a satellite, click on the map function to the left.

The red and yellow flags are surf lifesaving safe zones for swimming. Despite the summery conditions and perfect weather, the beach here is reasonably empty – but a few weeks later during the Christmas/New Year break there are many many more.

This was a very small file to begin with unfortunately, so excuse the compression details. I wish there were some clouds, but the weather was flawless. I will be back here on Sunday to catch one with clouds!

This is for all of the TE members who are living in the winter wonderland of the Northern Hemisphere. Want to trade with me, I wouldn’t mind some skiing?!

Matt

crckt, Norte, daddo, trekks, jhm, kiwi_explorer, ChrisJ, MLINES, PixelTerror has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

crckt (6961) 2008-01-16 16:53

Hi Matthew,
It's funny what you wrote in your note about trading. Would love to get this weather instead of the bitter cold that we are now experiencing :) I just posted a shot to prove what I mean. Nice colors here, good composition too.
Well done,
Shaeri

Norte (531) 2008-01-16 17:28

Yes Matthew!
Thats a deal.
You give me a couple of days of that sun, and I give you our 20 cm of snow! :-)
Not the best skiing conditions I`m afraid... but ok for crosscountry.

Your picture is giving us a glimpse of a really long beach.
Feeling of depth is great due to the buildings.
Fine colors and a lot of good detail in the picture.

Well done!
Greetings from the far north.
Jon

daddo (11263) 2008-01-16 18:57

Hi Matthew. Definitely looks like a place under the sun- and matchless blue sky. Excellent PoV which takes us deep into the scene, along the sand and sea and the buildings which by their diminishing size tell us it's a long walk.Great light and clever use of the tracks on the sand. Regards. Klaudio.(You are right about the winter wonderland images we are enjoying from the north)

rminkow (1566) 2008-01-16 20:15

Hi Matt..nicely composed shot. Great details and colors. Nice perspective.

Roger

trekks (14260) 2008-01-17 3:18

Hi Matt

Reportedly Australia summer is now heaty, but at leas not water draught like last year.

This is a great shot of beachfront property! As Australian real estate property has gone up more than double over last 10 years.

I find it interesting that the highrise buildings are blending well to the blue sky gradient tone. The FG sand is just great to give that spaceous look.

Your pov starts from the tyre tracks and that is just as good it can get to provide leading lines. Just a small horizon to the right. Technically, all there.

Overall, nice clean shot and a crisp photo finish. Well done. TFS

bill

jhm (81589) 2008-01-17 3:25

Hello Matthew,

A little bit the same picture of the last picture of my.
The tracks care for the nice perspective, nice point view.
But the buildings to the left are bigger than in Belgium, very nice composition and the strong blue sky gives a lovely image.
Thanks for sharing.

Best regards,
John.

kiwi_explorer (12195) 2008-01-17 3:32

Hi Matthew,
One of the popular destination for Kiwis especialy now with the cheap Tasman fares. Lovely place for R&R especially during winter. Normally tyre marks are distractions but somehow what you have in your photo has some appeal ... it is like a 'leading' line ... wonderfully captured. Superb clean blue sky and good choice of using a vertical format. Well composed with very good image quality. Excellent work! tfs
Cheers,
Renier

TopGeo (21345) 2008-01-17 7:25

Hi Maeehew! excellent shot!Follows the marks from the tyres and goes sto depth of your reception and returns seeing the buildings sto first plan thus examined seeing a marvellous picture from the Golden Coast! Very beautiful choice and a sky perfect. I liked the part say I take swimming my here now, I thank ?-)
Georgios

gracious (20017) 2008-01-17 10:06

Hello Matt,
Thank you for sharing this beautiful and famous Gold Coast paradise with us!
excellent pov with good exposure and focus from the warm sun!
very well done indeed
Tony

capthaddock (28640) 2008-01-17 17:59

At first I wanted to comment that you need more of the water, as there is only a subtle hint of the ocean, I see the reasoning better upon opening the large version, you wanted to include the sunbathers and keep the tyre tracks, I still wonder if this would be better taken more to the left, still including the people in the fg, eliminating the first line of highrise buildings, and including more of the ocean.

ElAprendiz (7370) 2008-01-18 12:50

Hello Matt

Very a well worked photo.
The depth of field, expressed in a vertical format, is superb.
It pleases the importance to me that you have given him to blue the so intense one of the sky, so that it contrasts with the rest of the composition. The handling of the light, excellent. Congratulations

JOhn

noogy (1026) 2008-01-18 18:47

stunning, matthew! you must have sat low, close to the ground to get this brilliant perspective... i like the scenery, very urban yet soothing. perfect rule of thirds! keep shooting and sharing pls!

ChrisJ (69396) 2008-01-19 0:32

Hi Matthew

Good sharpness & a superb, cloudless, blue sky. Maybe I'd add some yellow to the fg beach? It looks a little blue on my monitor. But perfect sharpness & composition, with the tyre tracks adding good lead in lines. Tfs!

[workshop] [compare] +

MLINES (10810) 2008-01-20 2:52

Hi Matt. A timeless photo of this most famous place in Queensland. Good to have the sand as the main foreground and the people provide scale of this hugely long beach. Good clarity and beautiful colours. TFS. Murray.

PixelTerror (85994) 2008-01-26 2:33

Hi Matthew,
From en european point of view it is rather unusual to see such high rises built litterally on the beach, of course due to their style there is a new world feeling here. Nice perspective of a beach that does not look to crowded, to the point people can drive there with their cars ?
Happy Australia Day !
JY