Wave

[FootLoose]

I have been waiting for quite some time for the conditions to be right for this shot: low winter sun, low tide, strong swell, off-shore breeze. (The sun is basically to the left of frame.) Then it finally happened a few days ago, although I wasn't expecting it and only had about a half-hour before the tide receded too much and the wind killed the swell. I went back the next day, but completely different conditions by then.

So, this is the best of the bunch. C&C welcome. (Best viewed in lytebox)

[FrankMi]

It looks like your homework and patience has paid off Greg.

I like the results you are getting very much but would have liked even more to see the top of the wave included if it was at all possible.

[FootLoose]

Thanks, Frank. I would have like to have the top of the wave in the frame too, but the waves were a bit unpredictable. Another problem was that I couldn't set the exposure before hand because there was nothing white to meter off until the wave exploded into the air. I just set the aperture to try to have a couple of feet at the front of the water in focus, and let the camera set the shutter speed. Speeds of around 2500 seem to have worked the best. At 4000, the shots are mostly a curtain of water droplets.

Still, the sun will be at these levels for a few more weeks, so if the other conditions coincide again I will have another opportunity.

[FrankMi]

I had expected as much Greg and to be honest, it is a superb capture and I've made note of your tips for doing so. Much appreciated!

[Shadowman]

Nicely done, perfect timing.

[deetheturk]

Lovely capture Greg, great detail in the wave!

[TonyW]

This picture appeals to me a lot. Rather than trying to get the top of the wave in, the effect of cropping the top just below the horizon give a menacing look to the crashing water and to my eye leaves a nicely balanced picture.

[bnnrcn]

Nice shot Greg, if you shoot again at the same place I would also love to see some more space around breaking waves, may be some seascapes

[flashback]

I agree it's a great capture. Viewing in lightbox at full enlargement the detail is astounding. Hopefully the conditions will return for you to make some more great captures.

[FootLoose]

Thanks Tony, you have touched on one of the problems I found when reviewing these shots - composition. While I can choose the location to some extent, I have to rely entirely on nature to provide anything that looks like structure in the wave. In this shot, I see the big gobs of water to the right of centre forming a bit of a diagonal line.

[FootLoose]

Thanks, Binnur, we have a busy port and every seascape is cluttered with ships on the horizon so I tend to avoid the expansive shots. At any given time, you can count about 14 ships out there.

[FootLoose]

And Thanks to John, David, and Jack too. The wave has become a favourite subject but I never know what I am going to get until I open the photos on the computer. Learning to process the water is another learning curve, too.