Ruth Sprain
March 2025 - Surfer at Dusk
Original
About the Image(s)
I took this photo of a surfer walking along the beach in Ventura, California, using my Canon EOS R6. It was taken at f/14, 1/200, and 35 mm. Because the colors were so muted, I decided to convert the photo to black and white. In Lightroom and PhotoShop, I added contract, dodged and burned, and sharpened.
8 comments posted
Hi Ruth,
You have captured a beautiful scene of the beach at dusk. The near sunset light, the leading line in S-curve with palm trees in the distance, and the single surfer walking along the beach between the water and the rocks are very well composed.
To me, the conversion to B&W has reduced the beauty of the scene. The dark tones of the elevated area with rocks on the right corner makes me feel heavy.
Although monochrome is typically asssociated with black and white, have you considered to try with other monochromatic color scheme based on a single color or hue, such as gold and white, or blue and white,…to create a timeless and elegant look? Let's see what other people's perspectives. Posted: 03/07/2025 00:13:24
You have captured a beautiful scene of the beach at dusk. The near sunset light, the leading line in S-curve with palm trees in the distance, and the single surfer walking along the beach between the water and the rocks are very well composed.
To me, the conversion to B&W has reduced the beauty of the scene. The dark tones of the elevated area with rocks on the right corner makes me feel heavy.
Although monochrome is typically asssociated with black and white, have you considered to try with other monochromatic color scheme based on a single color or hue, such as gold and white, or blue and white,…to create a timeless and elegant look? Let's see what other people's perspectives. Posted: 03/07/2025 00:13:24
Kieu-Hanh, I like your suggestion of trying monochrome with a colored tone. I'll try that. Posted: 03/17/2025 15:35:47
Hi Ruth,
What a great scene to photograph with the surfer in the lower left and the curve of the beach leading into the image. The clouds add drama. I like the monochrome conversion very much. And I, personally, appreciate the contrast. But I will share that in my camera club competition I entered a beach scene and was advised by the judge to bring out the detail in the foreground and the trees in the background. You might want to consider that with the trees in the background...not my personal taste but wanted to share that. Very nice image. Posted: 03/15/2025 14:50:13
What a great scene to photograph with the surfer in the lower left and the curve of the beach leading into the image. The clouds add drama. I like the monochrome conversion very much. And I, personally, appreciate the contrast. But I will share that in my camera club competition I entered a beach scene and was advised by the judge to bring out the detail in the foreground and the trees in the background. You might want to consider that with the trees in the background...not my personal taste but wanted to share that. Very nice image. Posted: 03/15/2025 14:50:13
Mary Ann, thank you for your comments. I can certainly do more to bring out the details in the foreground and background. I'll do a bit more editing. Posted: 03/17/2025 15:37:36
Ruth, I like your composition and rendering. Very dramatic. Regarding Kieu-Hahn's suggestion of toning your image... I'm a bit of a B&W purist and generally the farthest I go is a slight selenium tone and more rarely, sepia. This is personal choice of the artist, but it can add some interest. In this case I like the pure B&W.
As to Mary Ann's experience with a judge...I, too, have had a judge criticize an image for lack of shadow detail. I, however, don't have issue with silhouette imagery. After all, those were the conditions when you snapped the shutter. I like the image just as it is. My only criticism is to me it appears over-sharpened. Posted: 03/17/2025 22:07:23
As to Mary Ann's experience with a judge...I, too, have had a judge criticize an image for lack of shadow detail. I, however, don't have issue with silhouette imagery. After all, those were the conditions when you snapped the shutter. I like the image just as it is. My only criticism is to me it appears over-sharpened. Posted: 03/17/2025 22:07:23
Ruth, you seem to have a knack for capturing solitary people in beautiful landscapes. You did a great job in your conversion to monochrome. I also am not troubled at all by the dark trees. They are so much sharper and clearer than in the original. Wonderful shot. Posted: 03/19/2025 02:17:27
Thanks for your comments, Andres. Posted: 03/26/2025 20:29:19
Ruth,
I admire your decision to with to bak and white/ Makes sense. I am wondering if there is a way to brighten up the entire image, however. The surfer means to me that there was a hpppy day of sun, sand and surf and that the whole composition could hav abrighyr feel to it. I realize it is at dusk, and this makes the brightness of the subject more difficult to achieve. On the other hand, the surfer could have had a bad day and the darker mode would seem to bear that out. Posted: 03/19/2025 21:27:02
I admire your decision to with to bak and white/ Makes sense. I am wondering if there is a way to brighten up the entire image, however. The surfer means to me that there was a hpppy day of sun, sand and surf and that the whole composition could hav abrighyr feel to it. I realize it is at dusk, and this makes the brightness of the subject more difficult to achieve. On the other hand, the surfer could have had a bad day and the darker mode would seem to bear that out. Posted: 03/19/2025 21:27:02