Fiji Dawn Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

If I was there today, with my improved camera and tripod, and experience I am sure I could have provided a much better photo – but at the time this was as good as it was (I was 14 at the time). I was using a HP Photosmart 315, a 2 Megapixel camera that resembled a brick in shape and weight. My intention was to capture the beauty of the last dawn of my Fijian holiday to Plantation Island. To my left hand side was a fringing coral reef and to my immediate right was my hut (Bure). The high tide would literally be lapping at my doorstep. The island was uncrowded, quiet and relaxed – my first taste of international travel.

Within the past few weeks the island has been hit by a cyclone so I am unsure if many of these coconut trees are still standing. I am sure they are used to wild tropical weather from time to time. Plantation Island (Malololailai in Fijian) is only 3km long and 1km wide, situated about 25km west of Nadi in the South Pacific Ocean’s Mamanuca Island Group. Two resorts operate on the island – Plantation Island Resort and Musket Cove Resort. The plantation connection is obviously in reference to the vast amount of Coconut Palms.

This image was smoothed in Neat Image to help reduce the ‘large pixels’ and then sharpened once resized. The colours are natural – I did not want to over-saturate. Feel free to try a workshop.

Matt

kiwi_explorer, jusninasirun, MLINES, AROBN54, saxo042, JPlumb, Elanor, ChrisJ, jaywalker, trekks, Floydian, lilimih33, chpp, mvdisco, belido, robertosalguero, gunbud, TopGeo, bakes888, flory has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

AROBN54 (10747) 2008-02-12 21:14

Wow, Matt.
As has been many times said - not the equipment, the photographer. This could probably have been improved upon technically by better equipment, but not artistically. The rocks in the FG are wonderful, the palms make a nice diagonal line leading in, the light in the BG is just awesome. The boats are beautiful and have nice detail and the colors are lovely. This is about as good as it gets. Great shot!!! Thanks and kindest regards,
Shelly

saxo042 (15592) 2008-02-12 22:06

Hi Matthew,
An excellent picture, well composed and balanced. The stones in the foreground give good depth and it´s very attractive with the beach, still in shadow while the sun is starting to enlighten the palms and the shore on the opposite side.
Greetings from Gothenburg
Gunnar

JPlumb (3153) 2008-02-12 22:26

Wow Matt, you had the eye, even at 14. Very nicely composed, and the quality of the shot is quite remarkable given you were shooting with 2 meg. I like the balance in this shot, with the trees on the right and those stones up front framing the rest of the picture. You've got good sharp detail with excellent light and colour. Someday I would like to get to this place to check it out myself. Very nicely done.

Thanks, John

pineapple (74) 2008-02-13 0:03 [Comment]

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Elanor (270) 2008-02-13 0:03

Hey Matt!

What a great photo, a lovely scene! I really love the boats and their reflections in the bg. Great colours as well, I really like the green colours of the palm trees. It must be a lovely place to visit!

Take care,
Anouk

ChrisJ (70165) 2008-02-13 1:19

Hi Matthew

I like the reflections, in the tranquil lagoon waters, & soft, natural colours. Good repetition of the fg rocks, with excellent sharpness. Tfs!

jaywalker (12190) 2008-02-13 2:58

Hi Matthew, A very peaceful scene with lovely pastel colours & soft light, wonderfully composed, with the rocks in the foreground filling in perfectly, the mountains & boats give nice depth &, I think the palms up the right finish the picture brilliantly, TFS, kind regards Wilson.

aadilj (17950) 2008-02-13 3:50

That looks peaceful and very calm and indeed even more calmly composed. the colours and textures are great here and a good pov and perspective Matthew.

trekks (14282) 2008-02-13 5:41

Hi Matt

Interesting view with good composition. That is good work for age of 14. Such an early start in photography to appreciate nature and maintaining your interests.

I would still be playful and naughty but could not afford a camera at that age.

Nice work. TFS

bill

Floydian (30970) 2008-02-13 6:45

Hi Matthew,
Wonderful mood, nice warm light over the whole range of colours. Your pov has given you an excellent composition. You really need a real DSLR, your eyes are to good for not using a real camera.
Really good work here...i like it a lot.
Take care, Henk

chpp (3976) 2008-02-13 7:03

Hi Matt
what a grat composition, with tohse plam trees and the line of rocks matching the mountains in the back. Very natural colours, to me the BG is a little over exposed. Idon't know it distracts a little bit at first glance
anyways great shot
cheers
chris

mvdisco (11486) 2008-02-13 8:45

Bonjour Matt,
Beautiful landscape nicely composed with great colors and sharp picture , Excellent point of view and well taken , I love the palms and the composition, wanderful capture.Well done..
Michel

gracious (20017) 2008-02-13 9:09

Hello Matt,
This is a very fine landscape that deserved a big credit for it!
excellent pov with superb sharpness, good colouration and details to enjoy!
I compliment the exposure and focus you had done
cheers
Tony

Cormac (26449) 2008-02-13 12:47

Good shot Matthew! I like two things about this - the composition and the tonality. The composition uses 3 main elements, the rocks, the trees on the right and the distant hills and boats. Together they create a kind of triangle that allows our eye to roam over the picture from one to another, around and around. I also like the delicate tonality and soft light, allowing for gentle colours and a subtle beauty that is very peaceful. Wonderful work!

belido (16411) 2008-02-13 15:10

Hi Matt,

that's a place I'd like to visit. I've heard a lot about, read a lot about it, seen a lot about it, but no lot of money for that :)))

I really like the natural and soft colors you present in this one. Nice to see the green palms breaking gracefully the horizon and the calm water with the boats on the back. Very good work!
Regards,
Carlos

skippy007 (7011) 2008-02-13 22:11

Hi Matt,
Great composition, beautiful pastel colours, good sharp detail with excellent light.
Workshop woul not dream of one.
Regards
Santo

lilimih33 (9872) 2008-02-14 2:13

Hello Matthew!
Very calm place and beautiful soft colours in your composition!
Great light and nice frame!
Best regards!
Lili

...I return... :)

Gerrit (35661) 2008-02-14 6:11

Hi Matthew,
the composition is very good, the light on the horizon too.
Not bad at all.
Regards, gerrit

ElAprendiz (7370) 2008-02-14 8:40

Hi Mat:

A natural setting that radiates peace and tranquility.

The handling of light has been very appropriate, given the high contrast and brightness making the scene. The shades very well looked after and composition, these stones through, make it very unique.

John

smash2707 (2516) 2008-02-14 16:29

Hi Matthew. Very nice composition. It's nice how you can see the reflections of the boats in the background. Regards, Yvonne

robertosalguero (110) 2008-02-15 0:32

Hello Matt,

Not bad at all for a 2mp camera. The colours look soft but the sharpness is very good. I would expect less quality from such a camera, but this looks very good. The view is pretty even with the pale sky. The framing is very effective as the palm trees on the right create a natural frame to the view. Nice balance with the rocks on the background creating a strong focal point. Thanks Matt.

Roberto

MLINES (10872) 2008-02-15 16:25

Hi Matt, A little patch of paradise is what you show us in this beautiful composition. The calmness of the water and the tropical coconut trees give such a peaceful ambiance. The use of adding foreground interest in the form of rocks works well, a special point made by the Nat Geography photographer at his talk at a Sony workshop last year. Congratulations. Murray.

jusninasirun (10199) 2008-02-15 17:39

Hello Matthew,

You have captured all the elements necessary for good landscape shot here. I like the shadow as well as light placement in this composition. The distant hills with the light have a certain ambiance which is pleasant with the sailboats. The cast shadow under the swaying palms is just brilliant in superb foreground sharpness. The curvy shoreline takes care of the depth here. Very well done and please allow me to add this to my personal theme.

Regards,
Jusni

kiwi_explorer (12195) 2008-02-15 20:41

Hi Matthew,
More likely if you take this scene again using your old camera you would still get a guaranteed better picture because you as the photographer has improved and acquired new photography skills. It is the man behind the lens that counts most and not the equipment.
I wouldn't change anything on how you composed the scene ... looks perfect to me. Possibly a pp using gradient tool to add some blue tonal range in the sky would be a nice addition... like a ND filter effect. Well composed and presented. Well done! tfs and have a nice weekend.
Cheers,
Renier

gunbud (27819) 2008-02-16 4:03

Hi Matt,
I take photos from my kayak with an expentable HP 3.2 mp camera that does not do a bad job in good light. This image has a lovely silver blue sheen to the water that contrast nicely with the lush green palm trees. The boats and mountains make for a pleasing backdrop to this fine image.
Regards, Tom
BL

gondox (61) 2008-02-16 6:02

Hi Matt!

You should be proud what you achieved with a compact camera at 14 of age! Pin sharp, well composed, with nice colors. Nice framing too. But I like the mood of it the most. TFS!

Best regards,
Andor

TopGeo (21737) 2008-02-16 9:29

Hi Matt! Great choice! Importantly combined picture with a shady right side but amazing sandy beach and nature, and a luminous view in the depth that makes the picture dreamed!
Georgios

bakes888 (18165) 2008-02-16 20:19

Hi Matt. You managed well with such “primitive” equipment. Just goes to show it’s not the equipment but the photographer that makes the photo. Well thought out and captured. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.

flory (4804) 2008-03-16 1:43

hi Matt,
make a walk in your gallery and like it a lot(especially the parrot fish:)!
i stop here because love this silent view,so nicely balanced by those palms..and a good destination for holidays!
nice Sunday,
Flori:)