Paul McLaughlin
February 2021 - Waiting for the Storm
About the Image(s)
Background: With the Nor’easter due to hit late Monday afternoon, I went down the shore a few hours before high tide. I took several pictures but thought that this one captured the energy of the ocean. I do wish that I had achieved more sharpness with the waves.
Nikon 780, lens 24mm-120mm, focal length 38mm, ISO 800, 1/640 @ f/14
This round’s discussion is now closed!
11 comments posted
(Group 42)
I like the image. I played with it and this is what I came up with. First: put the image through Sky Replacement in Photoshop - found a sky, darkened it up a little, then went into Topaz "sharpen", after that I put it through Luminar Ai, this is the results Posted: 02/04/2021 14:44:25
Thank you. I can see the improvement. Posted: 02/06/2021 11:11:24
Good thought to use PS /sky Replacement! Posted: 02/21/2021 04:08:09
(Groups 36 & 67)
Hi
I just dropped by to catch the pending storm. I feel you have an excellent idea and perspective to making this capture. i enjoy the progression from the rugged beach to the crashing waves and to finally the threatening sky.
Having been in this situation myself, I can feel the excitement you are going through trying to make this capture. I feel the image needs an anchor point. It is sort of like looking at the Grand Canyon and pointing your camera at the scene. How can you miss? This is the same idea. The image needs something for me to attach to. I keep looking everywhere to find a place for the eye to fix upon. I want to feel your vision, but I want you to show me what makes this scene gripping. If it is the sky, show me more sky and show me that special cloud that is dynamic. If it is the waves crashing , then take me to the crash and make me feel crushing power from the sea. I want you to tell me where to look and what to feel. Any thoughts??? Posted: 02/09/2021 13:02:05
I just dropped by to catch the pending storm. I feel you have an excellent idea and perspective to making this capture. i enjoy the progression from the rugged beach to the crashing waves and to finally the threatening sky.
Having been in this situation myself, I can feel the excitement you are going through trying to make this capture. I feel the image needs an anchor point. It is sort of like looking at the Grand Canyon and pointing your camera at the scene. How can you miss? This is the same idea. The image needs something for me to attach to. I keep looking everywhere to find a place for the eye to fix upon. I want to feel your vision, but I want you to show me what makes this scene gripping. If it is the sky, show me more sky and show me that special cloud that is dynamic. If it is the waves crashing , then take me to the crash and make me feel crushing power from the sea. I want you to tell me where to look and what to feel. Any thoughts??? Posted: 02/09/2021 13:02:05
Thank you for your very thoughtful comments. I do need to work on selecting a focal point. Very often I get caught up in the scene and don't think enough about the anchor point in the image. I had hoped to capture the sense of power and energy of the waves. Looking at it now I can see that the areas of interest are competing with one another.
Thank you again for your insights, I really find them very helpful, Posted: 02/10/2021 07:56:40
Thank you again for your insights, I really find them very helpful, Posted: 02/10/2021 07:56:40
You captured the strength of the storm moving in. Your composition has the sea and the clouds shown about equally. I think that you should crop off part of the sky to give more importance to the sea. I do agree with Larry that having had a anchor point would have been good. Of course that is hard to do if there is nothing on the beach area. Posted: 02/11/2021 17:38:08
I think I would give more emphasis to the sky and make it more contrasty and dark to make it more dramatic. I think the horizon line should be moved out of the middle by cropping from the bottom and eliminating the dark rocks along the bottom edge. If you are using raw and if you have either adobe camera raw or lightroom you can probably pull detail out of the white waves. In other words make the sky more intense and the sea more detailed. Posted: 02/19/2021 12:45:51
Good capture of the storm. I would crop out most of the bottom grass line this does not ad to the story. I thing I would have used HDR on this one. Done right it would dramatize the clouds. Posted: 02/20/2021 11:30:37
Hi Paul, it's good nature capture of coming storm. I agreed with all above good suggestions and I may adding a man or lady's back face camera with a hat.... Posted: 02/21/2021 04:16:10
Nice captured image shown the storm is coming.
I agree Barbara's comment. For emphasize the storm intensity I would crop out some from down side area and add more clouded sky. Also more darkness on whole frame. Posted: 02/22/2021 12:41:32
I agree Barbara's comment. For emphasize the storm intensity I would crop out some from down side area and add more clouded sky. Also more darkness on whole frame. Posted: 02/22/2021 12:41:32
One can feel the rush you must have felt, Paul, being in the moment and the excitement of recording the sensation. I would favor creating more drama in and giving more attention to the sky. To me that could bring more emphasis to the coming storm. I would crop up from the bottom as depicted by Tony. Also, I would be careful about sharpening the waves. If one goes too far, it just beckons one to look away. Posted: 02/22/2021 15:43:06