Beachy Head Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

Beachy Head is a chalk headland close to Eastbourne. It's part of Seven Sisters, a series of chalk cliffs which you can often see in films as a stand-in for the more famous White Cliffs of Dover. Beachy Head is the highest chalk sea cliff in England (162 m), and a notorious spot for suicides as it isn't protected by fences whatsoever.
The lighthouse was built at the beginning of the XXth century (substituting an older, less bright one); it's 43 m high. In 1999, 6 years after this photo was taken, it was moved 17m further inland.
There are some photos of Seven Sisters and Beachy Head on TE, but I think this is the only one taken from the sea. Sailing along these cliffs on a bright day is an impressive experience which I recommend everyone.
I took the photo from a moving tourist boat, that's why I had to crop part of the foregroun with the boat's railing; I have no exif data as I was using my old manual Canon reflex.
Post-processing: I worked with the sky on a separate layer. The process was quite typical: noise reduction, levels, curves, saturation, USM. It was quite difficult not to overdo the lights; I've posted a WS with a less contrasty version.
I've posted two WS with two other POVs: a closer, frontal view of the lighthouse, and a view of the cliffs and the land above them.
I hope you enjoy it.
Have a nice day!

woladorsky has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

woladorsky (804) 2007-09-13 7:00

High Ines!!

Great picture!! Dramatic view as well. I was almost one year ago but of course all my pictures where from above!

see you soon

cheers

Rolando

xavis (3176) 2007-09-13 13:51

Hola Ines,
es una magnifica composicion la que nos presentas con esta foto. Los murallones blancos con el cielo y el mar azul y las nubes contrastando. Y al final en la perfecta posicion, el faro rojo que atrae perfectamente nuestra atencion y nos hace pasearnos por toda la foto.
Las luces son muy complicadas en esta foto, ya que hay mucho contraste. Seguro que con Photoshop hay alguna manera de corregir un poco la parte sobre expuesta, pero no me lo conozco suficientemente aun. dentro de un tiempo, si puedo te propondre un WS.

Bravo,

hasta otra compañera.

Javier

ben4321 (9807) 2007-09-15 11:12

Yes, I think you went too far with the contrast in this one Ines - you've lost almost all detail in the highlights, which does detract a bit from the image. The WS version is a lot better, and would have been more suitable as the main post I think.
I like this shot though - cliffs, lighthouse, sea and sky - refreshing simplicity. I think I'd have preferred it with more of a gap between the lighthouse and the boat - ideally the boat would have been better placed to the left, but of course that was beyond your control.
So, a few technical niggles, but it's a very nice shot to look at, full of the fresh atmosphere of the sea on a crisp bright day.
Good stuff.

Cheers,
Ben