Lake Michigan in November at Sunrise

[Rachel Foster]

One thing I've struggled with is the ability to evaluate my own images. I go to one extreme or the other: I am too critical or miss glaring deficiencies. So, the purpose of this post is to find out what others think and compare it to my own evaluation.

ISO 2000, f/6.3, 1/1600

Rachel Ann Foster: Lake Michigan in November at Sunrise​

 

[Asher Kelman]

Rachel,

This is impressive. The tiny figure gives the picture a sense of scale and puts us there twice. Once lead in on the crest of the waves from the bottom left and then on the beach itself. It works as is. I'd love to see you post two crops for consideration. First sacrificing the lower 1/2" inch just below where that crest starts. Next by removing instead, all but a 1/4" of the sky.

Each will give a different but peaceful composition.

Great job!

Asher

 

[Tom Robbins]

Rachel, this is absolutely wonderful. The clouds in the sky compliment the pattern of the waves, and the lone figure provides a sense of scale - as Asher mentioned, with two perspectives.

You made no mention of HDR or exposure blending, so I'll bet it took some effort to wrest detail from the shadows with that patch of bright sky.

 

[Mike Shimwell]

Hi Rachel

This is lovely as is. Great sky - delicate and not overblown - and the figure makes it even better. I might try cropping away a little of the foreground, but I don't mind it being there either as both approaches work.

One little technical point (not ususal for me), but I wonder why you didn't choose a lower iso. I'm guessing this was not a long telephoto and you could probably have comfortably handheld it at iso800 (or even put it ona tripod and used 100!)?

Mike

 

[Rachel Foster]

Woweeee! A scenic that got "impressive," "wonderful," and "lovely!" Woweeeee! Do you know how long I've waited to hear that? Wooohooooo! A scenic, no less!

I'm absolutely delighted. Enough jumping up and down. The ISO was so high because it was a dark, overcast dawn and I was switching very fast from shooting various different aspects of the scene that had very different levels of light. It felt easiest to compromise at that ISO. I knew the 5DII could handle it better than other cameras. Still, I have some that are unfortunately dark and grainy anyway.

This one, for example was ISO 5000, f/4.0, 1/100.

Rachel Ann Foster: Tree at Dawn​

It was an interesting shoot. It was overcast, windy, and cold (39 F or about 3.9 C). I chatted a bit with the fisher after I shot that. I think he has anti-freeze in his veins rather than blood like mere mortals.

Rachel Ann Foster: Fishing Fanatic​

A tripod was not practical due to the conditions (I shot the first photo from atop a long, uneven concrete pier and lugging equipment was not an option). The lens was the 24-105.

 

[Ruben Alfu]

Rachel Ann Foster: Lake Michigan in November at Sunrise​

Very lovely, for my taste it would look even better with just a bit more of color saturation in the sky.

 

[beth anthony]

gorgeous capture! i love the colors (the muted colors remind me more of sunrise than the vibrant colors of sunset). the darker tones on the left side drive my eye onto the beach instead of letting it drift out to sea. beautiful composition.

were you on a boat, jetty or boardwalk?

 

[Rachel Foster]

Thanks, Ruben and Beth. Much appreciated.


Beth, it was taken on a concrete breakwater (pictured below on the far end of the structure looking back at the shore).

Rachel Ann Foster: Pier​

 

[Rachel Foster]

Rachel,

This is impressive. The tiny figure gives the picture a sense of scale and puts us there twice. Once lead in on the crest of the waves from the bottom left and then on the beach itself. It works as is. I'd love to see you post two crops for consideration. First sacrificing the lower 1/2" inch just below where that crest starts. Next by removing instead, all but a 1/4" of the sky.

Each will give a different but peaceful composition.

Great job!

Asher

 

[Rachel Foster]

Finally got the formatting right!

 

[Asher Kelman]

Rachel Ann Foster: Lake Michigan in November at Sunrise​

Thanks Rachel for experimenting. That's really sporting of you. I now can see that the extra swell of water in the foreground does help bringing the reality of the present time to us. This is different from what might be "there, way off in the distance". I'm now convinced that your original construction is the most effective to me and gives me the richest experience.

Asher