Fistral beach at sunset

[LouiseTopp]

When I visit Cornwall I always come here because there are some spectacular sunsets to be seen. I have always fancied visited California which they seem to say is a bit like Newquay. I have never been to America before, perhaps one day I'll get the chance before I die.



Here is Fistral, please tell me what you think (if it works)...

[mknittle]

Nice, looks like a place I would like to be

[Geoff F]

I just wonder, Louise, if you actually need that little strip of very dark beach? Would it be better as just a seascape; by cropping out the beach and a similar amount from the left side?

I did wonder about cropping to 5 x 4 ratio but I suspect that might be a fraction too severe. Possibly a square crop as an alternative.

[Glenn NK]

It works IMO.

About the beach - I'd be tempted to either get more of it in as a base to the image (if there is any more beach), or crop it as Geoff suggests. A little CW rotation would put the horizon horizontal.

Glenn

EDIT 27 Jan 2014 - now it needs a bit of CCW rotation.

[rpcrowe]

Louise, sometimes we on the "Left Coast" have nice sunsets but, other times there is a marine layer right at the horizon into which the sun dips before setting. It all depends on the climatic conditions...

However, sunsets are certainly not the only reason for visiting America and California. I hope that you get the opportunity to visit my country just as I hope for the opportunity to visit the U.K.

[davidedric]

I think this is a very pleasing image. I would agree with cropping out a bit of the foreground, but not at all sure about the rotation. The waves are not parallel to the horizon, which is only slightly off, and I think a rotation would look strange. Just my opinion

[IzzieK]

Nice colour, Louise...Geoff is right about cropping the foreground a little bit to show more water...

And oh, btw if you are able to come here to the States, make sure you go to Arizona. I was on my R&R when I went there and I know it is not right to swear but I will say it anyway -- I swear they have the most beautiful sunsets ever made by God. (Sorry Atheists, but I believe in God whether you like it or not...)

[LouiseTopp]

Louise, sometimes we on the "Left Coast" have nice sunsets but, other times there is a marine layer right at the horizon into which the sun dips before setting. It all depends on the climatic conditions...

However, sunsets are certainly not the only reason for visiting America and California. I hope that you get the opportunity to visit my country just as I hope for the opportunity to visit the U.K.

Good morning Richard (or not) I would like to visit the States it's one of the places on my bucket list. This may sound sily but I have only seen America on the TV. Have you been to the UK? When most people visit, the first place they see is smoggy London. I don't mean to be rude about O'l London town (thanks to Wren, it became a city) but Cornwall and possibly Wales are great places to visit. Some people (and you will find this in most cities) can be a bit abrupt and rude as in Cornwall everyone knows one another.

See Doc Martin programme for a example of this.

[LouiseTopp]

I have added another view to see if that would make any difference, what's Ohio like, is that on the coast?

[Geoff F]

Subtle difference with that scene, Louise; but it makes a lot of actual difference.

For example, a fractionally wider strip of beach which is slightly brighter. And most important, you have actual waves which are clearly breaking on the sand. Even those relatively small waves are sufficient to create a totally different scene.

[Glenn NK]

I think this is a very pleasing image. I would agree with cropping out a bit of the foreground, but not at all sure about the rotation. The waves are not parallel to the horizon, which is only slightly off, and I think a rotation would look strange. Just my opinion

The horizon on the ocean is ALWAYS horizontal (in theory and practice it is curved, but still appears horizontal). On a landscape forum, this would be pointed out immediately - and fixed.

Louise:

I like the second image even better - as Geoff noted a bit more beach sets it off well. I really like the FG waves - quite dramatic, and sky is very interesting. I'm not a fan of long exposures resulting in soft mushy water.

Some might comment on the contrail, but nowadays they are almost impossible to avoid.

Seems as though it was taken at or near high tide?

Again, a bit of CW rotation of the horizon.

[LouiseTopp]

I am going to retake some pictures in June, so I'll put them on here

[Glenn NK]

I am going to retake some pictures in June, so I'll put them on here

The timing when doing sunsets on a beach is critical; when I was in Oregon (west coast) two years ago low tide was occurring fairly close to sunset time. This made of an interesting FG with the very wide beach and its ripples and drainage runs. At high tide I would have had much less to work with. And as you know (living by the ocean) the tide isn't synced with our 24 hour clocks.

Glenn