Subtle Clouds - A keeper or not?

[Stagecoach]

Captured this one today whilst out scouting mangrove shot locations. There was an instant appeal due to the lighting at the time, the minimalism and soft nature of the scene.

I have spent an hour fiddling with it, ending up doing very little other than sharpen the surf line and slightly boost overall contrast. There is scope to warm up the WB, bang up the clarity and push up the black point to make it more dramatic, which the scene was not, but that never bothers me.

Am I missing something other than using the delete button earlier

1/320, f/8, ISO200, 40mm


Comments and suggestions as always welcomed............

Grahame

[JBW]

I like it. But as you asked... it seems to me a gliding seagull in the distance might look good. Or a low flying flying boat?

[pnodrog]

It is very subtle and grows on you. You have broken a few "rules".... but I think it works. I would like to ponder over it and review it a few times before I make any more comment.

[Stagecoach]

I like it. But as you asked... it seems to me a gliding seagull in the distance might look good. Or a low flying flying boat?

There's a lack of seagulls and flying boats here Brian but a flock of geese flew behind me at the time. That's one 'like' I'l tally them up as we go

[FootLoose]

There is scope to warm up the WB, bang up the clarity and push up the black point to make it more dramatic, which the scene was not, but that never bothers me.

Comments and suggestions as always welcomed............

Grahame

Well, depending on your taste... My suggestion:
Multiply layer, dodge layer, burn layer.

[Stagecoach]

It is very subtle and grows on you. You have broken a few "rules".... but I think it works. I would like to ponder over it and review it a few times before I make any more comment.

Rules

Good Paul, I'm not the only one undecided.

[Stagecoach]

Well, depending on your taste... My suggestion:
Multiply layer, dodge layer, burn layer.

I tried this route Greg and whilst an option that can be achieved by a few different routes I decided it was not what I wanted on this occasion. The clouds had a softness to them, were not too contrasty with the rest of the sky and it was that along with the light that complimented one another so well.

So much easier to shoot bugs or cars where your eyes generally agree with what the camera turns out

[IzzieK]

Hmmm...I like both although the first one seems to be the weather condition I would like to be under on. The edit of Greg is nice but very threatening...I think you should keep it for future reference when you decided you have time to manipulate another image to put with it...

Just a silly question here...I was shooting a bird yesterday begging to be shot. my horizon pretty much resemble yours here. Did you watch your blinkies and decided, you can live with these at the horizon? When do you stop? Or did you look at your image and decided that you like what you saw and photograph, push the button and the blinkies will live there as is? (sorry I am trying hard to explain. 3:35am is not the right time I think ... if you do not understand what I mean here, just ignore me..)

[Shadowman]

You can keep as a backdrop for another less than interesting capture needing a more interesting sky.

[Stagecoach]

Hmmm...I like both although the first one seems to be the weather condition I would like to be under on. The edit of Greg is nice but very threatening...I think you should keep it for future reference when you decided you have time to manipulate another image to put with it...

Just a silly question here...I was shooting a bird yesterday begging to be shot. my horizon pretty much resemble yours here. Did you watch your blinkies and decided, you can live with these at the horizon? When do you stop? Or did you look at your image and decided that you like what you saw and photograph, push the button and the blinkies will live there as is? (sorry I am trying hard to explain. 3:35am is not the right time I think ... if you do not understand what I mean here, just ignore me..)

Hi Izzie,

Threatening, yes exactly.

In the original RAW there was no clipping, in fact both ends of the histogram were well within as the DR of the scene was not that great. I did not check blinkies when I took it because my default on the LCD is to show the R,G & B individual histograms and if these are clearly within at the right I leave it at that.

What I had done is 'popped' the surf line in PP as on this occasion I was hand holding and not done as good a job as I should of with sharpness. I suspect the final sharpening process clipped the surf line, more care needed

Grahame

[Stagecoach]

You can keep as a backdrop for another less than interesting capture needing a more interesting sky.

Good one John, something I have never done

[Stagecoach]

Version 3 ..............................

Subtle with oomph



Grahame

[JohnRostron]

I think that the surf line is what makes this image. Without it, it would just be another one to keep as a background for something else.

John

[wmoore]

I like the first image, simple and minimalistic, the surf defines the sky and water. We see too many over processed cloud photos on the interweb.

[deetheturk]

Nice capture Grahame, I like it!

David

[chauncey]

Grrr...do not delete that image for it has way too much potential for image creation.

Now for a dissenting opinion, ya need balance here...I don't care for the crisp horizon line and
I would do some cloning to remedy the washed out areas in the water edges. Then...I can think
no amount of PP that would ruin that image, whether it be changing day into night or whatever.

[Marie Hass]

Dear Grahame,

You can delete this picture to one of my bedroom walls... ...Just sayin'....

What I like about your first image is the blues and the slight "broodiness".

'Rie

[Brownbear]

Hi Grahame,

It's a beautiful image. I like the original for the soft clouds, silvery blue tones. The horizon line draws my attention more than the cloud so if you could fix that it would be a wall hanger for me. If not, hopefully another cloud like that will come by again. I like the softness of the cloud.

[mknittle]

I like it Grahame,

[Texas Dave]

I like the original. It is what it is, a soft cloudy scene without any specific points of interest. I frame of the day and it's environmental consequences. Probably only appreciated by one in a thousand, but nicely captured for that one indeed.