Stoerhead Lighthouse #1

[Donald]

The question is - How much detail to you take out of the shadow areas in a picture taken at dawn in which you want to convey that sense of the beginning of the day, before the sun comes up? This was my final judgement in terms of being the image that I think I saw at the time of capture.

You're thoughts are always welcome.


40D, 24-70mm f/2.8L @ 24mm. ISO100. 121s@f5.6

[Shadowman]

Donald,

If you are talking about the shadows in the rock formation I think there is enough gloom in that area that shadows are acceptable as is. If you are talking about the windows or dome of the lighthouse, I think the areas are so small that they are insignificant, the lighting and skies are dramatic enough to overshadow any details in the dark areas. Nicely captured.

[thegman]

An excellent moody shot Donald, looks like a fantastic location. Rugged rocks and creamy clouds.

[Mike Buckley]

Agreed with all of the details noted above. I can only add that I especially like the diagonal direction of the cloud movement and that you might have been especially fortunate to be able to locate a position that allowed you to retain the horizon entirely above the land formations.

[Loose Canon]

Great shot Donald and great question as well.

Seems like sometimes a “standard” comment goes something like: “you should lift the detail in the shadows”.

And I have been guilty of obsessing about this myself. But I have the belief that it isn’t always necessary or more importantly, desirable, to do so in every case.

It would be my opinion that this is one of those cases. It is just a fact that sometimes things go to black in the shadows. That’s what shadows do! As long as it contributes to the scene or mood of the scene then it can be an important aspect of an image.

But I also think the image maker must know when and where to allow this and make the conscious decision. I would probably not allow much crush in a studio shot as an example.

But here I think you have made the right conscious decision to produce a great shot.

And did I mention “good question”?

[KimC]

Really like this...love the movement of the clouds/water in contrast to the lighthouse and cliffs.

[TonyW]

I like this image and would be happy about the shadows. However, my eye is troubled by the bright spots on the rocks. Even if they are there in reality, I wonder if toning them down might improve the look.

[kdoc856]

I think you got this exactly right. The detail adds texture, interest and a contribution to the intended communication, without having been raised to a level that seems inappropriate or unnatural. Like Terry, I have struggled with and passed through phases where I was raising detail excessively just because I could (HDR does this all too often), only to lose too much of the definition that dark contrast affords. This is a most excellent image.

[Kodiak]

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Hi Donald,
I do not subscribe to all the comments made at this point.

IMO, everything solid is correctly captured and rendered: rock and lighthouse.
I would like to express some distance when it comes to the etherial elements rendition
of your composition.

Both, the atmospheric conditions and the lighthouse's beam, contain much more information
relevant in succeeding to convey "that sense of the beginning of the day" and in a far more
dramatic way than the chosen blur inherent to long exposer times.

Granted, the foreground detail sharpness is a powerful element, but the ephemeral light
characters of the dawn would have been better served had the exposition been shorter.
Not forgetting for a minute that the light beam crossing the scene could have been rendered
more present using the same strategy.

None of these would have had any effect on the "separation halo" between the rock and the
sea which is a PP issue.

As for the composition and the subject, well envisioned!

[ShaneS]

I like this image a lot as is Donald! I do think that you got the shadows right and I too like the effect that the long exposure has on the sky and water. As I viewed the image before reading the comments I wondered how a slight brightening of the lighthouse itself would impact the image?

What Kodiak states is very valid but what he describes is a very different image (not necessarily better or worse, just different) and one that I would be happy to see you create if you can revisit the scene.