Peggy Nugent  


Sea Dreams by Peggy Nugent

October 2019 - Sea Dreams

October 2019 - Peggy Nugent

Original 1

October 2019 - Peggy Nugent

Original 2

October 2019 - Peggy Nugent

Original 3

About the Image(s)

This image was not planned as a composite, it just sort of evolved.
I went to Leo Cabrillo beach, near Malibu, to get some pictures of the waves by this rock. I was playing around with longer exposures to get a silky look. I liked this one, but I had lost the detail of the rock, partly because I deliberately underexposed in order to not lose the highlights of the waves. So I masked in the rock from the second original. I added some color to the sky, but it still felt a bit empty, so I added the birds. Then I used Topaz Adjust to get more of a midtone image, a Topaz Simplify filter at low opacity for color and a bit more midrange exposure, and then Topaz Restyle filter at lowered opacity for contrast and color tweaking. The silhouette of the surfer was in there to the last, but I ended up cloning him out.


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




 
This is a lovely dreamy picture with the rock a holding factor and the birds adding that little bit of life without spoiling the mood. That little green wave in the front just makes all the difference too. Very important by adding that extra little movement. Lovely.   Posted: 10/03/2019 08:10:54



Aavo Koort   Aavo Koort
Beautiful, serene composition. I like the sharpness of the
rock and the waves. I keep trying to figure out how close
is the rock to the wave. If it is close there should be a lower wave in front of it.   Posted: 10/04/2019 17:16:49



Brad Becker   Brad Becker
Peggy, This is a very evocative image. I have spent quite a bit of time with images of waves and birds so it is a comforting place for me too. Your choice of colors is interesting. The pink/blue hues in the top half and the greenish hue in the bottom along with the low contrast images of the birds create a nostalgic retro feel for me. My sensibilities, as you've probably gathered, move more into the darker tonal range. I wonder if a darker tonal scheme might be fun to play with as well if you have the time.   Posted: 10/06/2019 16:11:48



Alan Kaplan   Alan Kaplan
Originals 1, 2, and 3 are all realistic images that you have blended together to make a composite that has a dream-like aura to it and defies rational analysis. The colors of the whole image, the movement of the waves, and the flight of the birds are all relaxing and a little playful. It makes the dreamer not want to wake up.   Posted: 10/07/2019 15:17:01