Darcy Johnson  


St. Lucia Port by Darcy Johnson

November 2020 - St. Lucia Port

About the Image(s)

Going back through archives, I found this photograph taken on an early January morning while on a southern Caribbean cruise. For me, one of the most enjoyable parts of cruising is getting up early to view the landscape and see the sun rise as the ship comes into the next port. That's saying something as I'm not really much of a morning person. I recall being intrigued with the light and of workers arriving on the dock to begin their day. The photograph was taken hand-held with settings: ISO 400, 70 mm, f/7.1, 1/200 sec.


This round’s discussion is now closed!
18 comments posted




Tom Brassil   Tom Brassil
Hi Darcy, nice composition, The workers in the small boat definitely draw your eye initially and then lead you into the rest of the image with the wharf and flag post drawing the eye into the image further on up the street behind the wharf, well seen and composed. Good colour balance and you can definitely see the light of the early morning reflected in the buildings, the colour range is handled well with a huge diversity of colour without any being particularly overpowering. Not too sure if the bird the top of the screen adds much to my eye it is a bit distracting. I might suggest that you have a look at a crop, cropping out a lot of the right-hand side to give the flagpoles on the wharf more central position in the image, may make it look a bit more balanced, but again a personal choice but I would have undertaken thanks for posting   Posted: 11/01/2020 00:47:14
Darcy Johnson   Darcy Johnson
I considered cropping out the bird as there isn't much to the sky either, but in the end, thought the bird added to the environment and feel of photograph, helped keep the viewer's eye in the image and it also helped to balance the dock that was pushed a bit left. That said, I could go either way and crop down into the buildings, but not so low as to take out the masts from the catamarans. As for cropping from the left, I agree that would be necessary if I cropped out the sky. Thanks Tom -   Posted: 11/04/2020 15:00:11
Darcy Johnson   Darcy Johnson
I played around a bit with the image based on suggestions you and others provided. I cropped the photo on the right to center the dock. I do like that better - you're a good judge of bringing balance to a photograph. I tried eliminating the sky/bird and just felt it lost something in translation. In addition, I worked on the noise John pointed out in the sky and moved the vibrance slider 'slightly' as both John and Greg suggested. Thanks to everyone for their input!   Posted: 11/10/2020 11:17:52
Comment Image



Quang Phan   Quang Phan
(Group 88)
Hi Darcy, It is nearly perfect. The color is well balance. I don't have much comments. If I am allowed to move the bird to the left I would like to do it.   Posted: 11/01/2020 16:52:23
Darcy Johnson   Darcy Johnson
Thanks Quang - I am assuming you're suggesting moving the bird to left of center so that it is flying toward the middle of the image? I don't typically make such moves but I can see how that would improve the image.   Posted: 11/04/2020 15:05:59



 
Hi, Darcy. A very nice image taken from your cruise ship. I have very little to say to improve this already nice image. I would suggest that you do some noise reduction, especially in the sky. You also might SLIGHTLY ramp up the vibrance and saturation slider to emphasize the colors. (I did say SLIGHTLY). Nice job.   Posted: 11/01/2020 18:48:36
Darcy Johnson   Darcy Johnson
Hi John - I'll give both suggestions a try and remember your recommendation to go ever so 'slightly' on the vibrance/saturation. I appreciate the input. Thanks -   Posted: 11/04/2020 15:17:04
Darcy Johnson   Darcy Johnson
Hi John - Please see my response to Tom. I incorporated the suggestions you made. Reducing the noise in the sky was a big help. Let me know about the 'slight' increase in vibrance. Thanks.   Posted: 11/10/2020 11:22:12
 
I really like your modification MUCH better than the original image. GOOD JOB!!!!   Posted: 11/10/2020 12:44:17



Gregory Waldron   Gregory Waldron
Hi Darcy
What a nice image. Having cruise a bit in the Caribbean, your image captured the moment well. From the workers to the bird in the sky, you capture the familiar scene of pulling into port. I do agree with John that a slight ramp up of vibrance add a little extra to the image.
Best regards,
Greg   Posted: 11/02/2020 09:49:27
Darcy Johnson   Darcy Johnson
As always, I appreciate your thinking. I'll work on the vibrance a bit. Apparently, I'm a little shy when using that tool as I see a trend in that particular feedback, try as I might. Kind regards -   Posted: 11/04/2020 15:22:32
Darcy Johnson   Darcy Johnson
Hi Greg - Please see my response to Tom. I worked on the vibrance. Let me know if you found it an improvement. Best -

  Posted: 11/10/2020 11:25:45
Gregory Waldron   Gregory Waldron
Hi Darcy,
I think you have moved the image forward. I think the noise reduction in the sky has helped as well as the tighter crop. I also think that the vibrance has helped, but I am biased toward bolder colors, so if it was my image, I would try to bring out more of the pastel colors.
Best regards,
Greg   Posted: 11/11/2020 11:28:35
Darcy Johnson   Darcy Johnson
Are you suggesting that I should have upped the vibrance more or is there another way you would recommend bringing out the pastels? I think I'm on the fringe of overdoing the reds at this point. Thanks.   Posted: 11/11/2020 11:43:39
Gregory Waldron   Gregory Waldron
Darcy,
I wound not go overboard. I think you are correct about the reds. I would try a selective color adjustment layer. It come with a mask so you can mask out any changes to red. I may also try the Camera Raw filter and pushing the black slider to the negative to darken the shadows and maybe bring up the color in the buildings. Keep in mind, I like to play in Photoshop, so bringing out the colors of the Caribbean would be my target. Also knowing when to stop processing an image is a very good trait, so you may want to disregard the aforementioned.
All the best,
Greg   Posted: 11/11/2020 12:54:16
Darcy Johnson   Darcy Johnson
Thanks for the tips! It's nice to experiment as I have the time and getting more familiar with Photoshop isn't a bad thing . . . I typically rely on Lightroom.   Posted: 11/11/2020 13:06:38



Syed Shakhawat Kamal   Syed Shakhawat Kamal
Hello Darcy.
A lovely image of morning where, it is unfolding the day slowly for your port St. Lucia here. Like you, the people are early riser too and of course the bird in the frame adding up. But could be better if facing opposite side of the frame, even though it is, what it is. As far as your cropping and effort to follow the suggestions of our other members, you have done a pretty neat work. not much of observation though.
Loved the image, and nice work.
Cheers.
Kamal.   Posted: 11/13/2020 11:53:38
Darcy Johnson   Darcy Johnson
Hi Syed - I appreciate your letting me know your thinking. There has been varied takes on what, if anything should be done about the bird - take it out, move it, leave it as is, etc. I agree it would have been a nice touch if it had cooperated and flown into the scene rather than away from it. It's always helpful to get your perspective. Thank you.   Posted: 11/13/2020 12:20:38