Melanie Hurwitz
July 2025 - Phang Nga Bay, Phuket
Original
About the Image(s)
We did a boat tour of the very scenic bay about 2 hours out of Phuket. It was truly beautiful. This shows a cave under a huge rock face. As you sea, it's a great area for tourists to row through.
I converted using a lifepixel action. I used Photoshop for black and white and a warm tone. Select color to improve the contrast. Topas AI to sharpen and reduce noise.
Sony A7 II. ISO 400, F9, 70mm, 1/1000
13 comments posted
Hi Melanie. Your tour got you to a very unique and beautiful location. Great timing with the location of your boat for this composition. I like the removal of the rope and floats. I would also remove the half boat on the left, but it may not be your story here. The handling of the processing and conversion is good. Nicely done. I'm sure we'll see more from your trip. Posted: 07/01/2025 13:17:00
Thanks Arik. Good point. I did not examine the boats properly. Posted: 07/09/2025 18:50:23
Great image Melanie! I was also in Thailand this past winter but unfortunately I hadn't purchased my IR camera then. I need to go back retake all my images in IR. This reminds me of Phra Nang Beach but Thailand (as you know) has multiple incredible beaches.
I also have Sony gear. Do you recall what lens you were using? Posted: 07/01/2025 13:57:47
I also have Sony gear. Do you recall what lens you were using? Posted: 07/01/2025 13:57:47
Thanks Steve. My go to lens is a Sony 35-135. This focal length fits the bill most of the time. Posted: 07/09/2025 18:52:22
What great fun, Melanie. I feel like I'm there.
Looking at the original, I love the light on the tufa (hanging rock). I might have tried lighting the tufa more, and the trees a tad less, on your IR version. It's still a great image. Posted: 07/02/2025 22:33:44
Looking at the original, I love the light on the tufa (hanging rock). I might have tried lighting the tufa more, and the trees a tad less, on your IR version. It's still a great image. Posted: 07/02/2025 22:33:44
Thanks Jack. I think you are right Posted: 07/09/2025 18:53:01
How unique, Melanie! I would remove the second boat on the left and the obscure person in shadows/left. Beautiful location and glad you got a few of it in IR. Posted: 07/07/2025 15:13:16
Yes Gary On closer examination I agree Posted: 07/09/2025 18:53:36
Lovely shot, Melanie. Your processing brought out the foliage nicely and I really like the peekaboo scene through the arch. I agree about removing the left-most boat, but otherwise wouldn't change a thing. Posted: 07/07/2025 15:43:58
Thanks Henry. We all agree on that Posted: 07/09/2025 18:54:17
Melanie
There is always one in the crowd...I was most intrigued by the "action at water level so I wondered how a 16x9 crop might look.
Here it is and I reduced the highlights just a bit
Regards
Emil
Posted: 07/07/2025 20:21:27
There is always one in the crowd...I was most intrigued by the "action at water level so I wondered how a 16x9 crop might look.
Here it is and I reduced the highlights just a bit
Regards
Emil
Posted: 07/07/2025 20:21:27
Thanks for taking the time Emil. Your Edit much improves the image. Posted: 07/09/2025 18:55:38
Melanie, for me the unfamiliar, "strange" foliage draws my attention as much as the cavern. I like what you did to highlight the foliage. Removing the bobbins was essential. Did you try experimenting with lightening the shadows in the cavern? But overall, spicy eye candy. Posted: 07/10/2025 13:56:03