Unforgettable Photo

Photographer’s Note

Horse riding is a popular activity at Pakiri Beach in Northland, New Zealand. Riding amongst the sand dunes and along the white-sanded beach at Pakiri is one of 40 world-wide activites which feature in a book "Unforgettable Things to do before you die" by Steve Watkins and Clare Jones.

I have post-processed this photo through a pseudo-HDR program. I will include a less processed version in a workshop.

saxo042, leonorkuhn, yedirenk, shevchenko, ktanska, Kielia, fanni has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

dvlazar (6476) 2009-07-12 19:14

Hi Marlene!
Hope all is well... this photo is looking nice - good exposure, even if it is with the pseudo HDR program... it's not apparent, it just looks good.

Well captured...
Dave

batalay (20876) 2009-07-12 20:03

Hello Marlene,

This is a lovely and exotic shot, an unlikely scene for horses on a beach. But then, just a week ago I was on the Outer Banks of North Carolina (on the East Coast of the United States) and drove to a beach where I saw wild ponies. Only four-wheel drive cars were allowed, since there were no roads — just sand, water and ponies.
The colors, textures and resolution are exquisite.

Warm regards,

Bulent

saxo042 (15586) 2009-07-13 0:46

Hi Marlene,
A beautiful and very well composed picture with very attractive and soft colours. I like your PP work here too, in my opinion just enough, no excess of whatever software you were using.
Kind regards from Norway
Gunnar

leonorkuhn (13559) 2009-07-13 6:44

Hi Marlene,

Very beautiful place. I like these almost deserted beaches, where give us more freedom. Very good colors, excellent details. I like this post processing work.

Greetings
Leonor

windosil (768) 2009-07-13 8:39

Hi, Marlene,
This glorious horse made me sign in despite my resolution to go out in the sun instead of sitting at the computer. It's not just the horse, I'm enjoying the whole picture because the colours are so natural - unlike those in the original! It's a picture that could also have been taken in several places around the coasts of the British Isles, where Atlantic rollers or North Sea waves crash on a beach backed by sandhills.
Well done for your sensitive pp.
Winifred

yedirenk (7327) 2009-07-13 15:43

Hi Marlene,
a great photo with perfect HDR technique.I very like this technique ın photo.an eye cathcer scene..well done.TFS
Greetings

Cevdet

shevchenko (9890) 2009-07-13 20:27

Hi Marlene,
Riding horses as a traditional method and usefull for us to visit around the natural site, interesting composition, good pov to show a narrow lane leading to the beach, nice artistic color, thanks for sharing a relaxing view.
Ally

syrus_persia (2164) 2009-07-13 22:41

Salam Narlene
A fine view with the nice composition And beautiful scene as well.
Regards,
cyrus

ktanska (16534) 2009-07-14 0:18

Hi Marlene,
Endless beaches and dunes on a horse. Yes I can imagine it's a special experience. Well timed shot just entering the beach. Picture treatment look quite convincing as if the light just was a bit different from WS version.
Kari

jmdias (19153) 2009-07-14 17:36

marlene

nice view with the horses and people in the beach, the light is soft and perfect to show details, excellent sharpness. I like the discret colors

hugs

jorge

AKITA (5295) 2009-07-17 1:16

dear Mariene,
a clear and beautiful picture of the wonderful scene on the shore.
the sounds of the wave and the hoofs can be heard here.
I like the brown color of the horse, it is so beautiful.
thank you for your relaxing shot,
Akihisa

jalab_temen (1945) 2009-07-17 4:31

This image perfectly balances between aestheicism of too good composition, and almost tangible atmosphere. Thank you for this really impressive photo. This pp version has a film-like effect, the ws one is more realistic, but I cannot decide which one I prefer.
Best regards, Jalab

Kielia (8401) 2009-07-17 10:16

Hi Marlene,
I must confess that I have had a mental reservation against PP! But this powerful image is really convincing. And then you caught me with that book! So I took a great advantage of this fine image. Thank you for sharing!
Warm regards
Harriet

holmertz (9594) 2009-07-18 8:50

Hello Marlene,
Sometimes HDR-pictures look just awful, totally unnatural. This "pseudo-HDR" is a lot nicer, everything still looking "normal". Besides, it's a fine composition with nice intersecting lines.
Kind regards,
Gert

fanni (8737) 2009-07-26 12:52

Hello Marlene,
I'm not really a fan of HDR, so I should say that I like the original (WS) version better :) I know: I always tend to something "more natural" which may not always be the best... but anyway...!
I like the perspective view (if I may use this word in this case) with the horse-riders with their backs to us and a stripe of the sea in the distance. Very well composed photo, very nice and pleasant :)
Warmest wishes from Moscow,
Elena

marietom (31876) 2009-07-31 3:58

hello Marlene,

Jolie composition, une invitation à la promenade.
Bonne journée
Marie

boa (1326) 2009-08-12 13:46

Hi Marlene,
although I don`t ride, I must admit that it looks very nice, especially to ride among the dunes and hear the sea. I hope i live long enough to try this ;) Fine composition and beautiful scene, and i like HDR photos
even if they can be too unreal sometimes.It makes them more like an artwork than a reallistic photo.
Best regards
Boa

Matthew-Watt (4463) 2009-09-16 18:11

Hello Marlene,

New Zealand has some of the most remarkable scenery in the world, and also very unique ways of seeing it exist. Horseback must be one of the more authentic and natural ways to take it all in. I doubt there are many places in the world where more diverse landscapes could be found in such a compact area. Really good use of natural colours here and sense of freedom.

Matt