Subtle Clouds - A keeper or not?

[Stagecoach]

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

Thanks John, the surf line certainly helps, with the edit in post 12 it has shown more of the spray that comes up from the deep water swell hitting the shear drop at the edge of the reef.

[Stagecoach]

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.

Agree Warrick, it seems the natural way is to push the sky and I suspect this is because it's what we all read as something you 'can' do with PP.

[Stagecoach]

Nice capture Grahame, I like it!

David

Cheers David, it's growing on me too

Grahame

[marlunn]

Grahame, got to say its the first one for me - the more I look at it the more I like it - the other 'versions' all have appeal in a number of ways but the first is 'easy on the eye' its an 'I know its rain coming in but hey thats life' kinda photo that has power to help us chill no matter what.

[Stagecoach]

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.

Ah Chancey you should know by now that I do not 'create' images, I leave that to the camera and then try and correct its interpretation

Oh dear, looks like I went too crispy on the surf, but easily remedied. I actually liked the washed out sides on the water but feel they lack definition due to my shooting settings.

I'll have a play when I get time and see what I could warp this into beyond the realms of reality

[Stagecoach]

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

Hi Marie,

'Broodiness', that's a great description ! The original had far more blue in it which balanced the sky and water colour more closely and I can not understand why as on Daylight WB it seemed way off what I saw.

A bedroom wall would be the ideal place for it, toned to match the décor

Grahame

[Stagecoach]

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.

Hi Christina,

I just knew you would prefer the original The surf line will be toned down, it does not need so much emphasis.

Looking at the image again this morning with fresh eyes I now know what is missing from what I saw. The sky and water farther to the left and right was featureless and it was this opening in that wide bland expanse that impressed me, I should have gone wider as well.

Grahame

[Stagecoach]

I like it Grahame,

Thanks Mark,

[Stagecoach]

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.

Well put David, a scene that is certainly not unusual in these parts, but one of which it's simplicity and beauty is often ignored in photography.

[Stagecoach]

Grahame, got to say its the first one for me - the more I look at it the more I like it - the other 'versions' all have appeal in a number of ways but the first is 'easy on the eye' its an 'I know its rain coming in but hey thats life' kinda photo that has power to help us chill no matter what.

Thanks Mark, 'easy on the eye' sums it up

[FootLoose]

I like your 2nd version, Grahame. You have really brought it to life for me.

[IzzieK]

I will remember this one...and try to configure my view to the histogram instead...I have been having some duds lately that was why I asked.

Oh btw, I like the original and the edit better...it really looks good.

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

[John 2]

Never delete a good sky Grahame. You never know when it might be useful. I would keep the original. I like its subtlety.

[Stagecoach]

I like your 2nd version, Grahame. You have really brought it to life for me.

Thanks Greg, it's closer to what I was aiming for.

[Stagecoach]

I will remember this one...and try to configure my view to the histogram instead...I have been having some duds lately that was why I asked.

Oh btw, I like the original and the edit better...it really looks good.

Hi Izzie, I'm sure your camera can be set the same as mine to default the LCD after taking the shot to show the image plus the three separate histograms. The other option is that you can scroll between, plain image, single histogram, image + histograms and image showing blinkies.

I spent almost an hour today shooting towards the sun over the water and towards the end I could hardly see the LCD let alone what it was showing

Grahame

[Stagecoach]

Never delete a good sky Grahame. You never know when it might be useful. I would keep the original. I like its subtlety.

I have never worried about that before John because I've not ventured into composites, yet. Fortunately good skies are something that are very common here, it's not perfect blue all the time as the holiday brochures always show

[chauncey]

it's not perfect blue all the time as the holiday brochures always show

Choke...choke...choke...are you suggesting that governments, in the interest of promoting tourism,
tend to downplay the bad and hype the, rarely found, good.
Wait...maybe it's more widespread than that...maybe.

[IzzieK]

Hi Izzie, I'm sure your camera can be set the same as mine to default the LCD after taking the shot to show the image plus the three separate histograms. The other option is that you can scroll between, plain image, single histogram, image + histograms and image showing blinkies.

I spent almost an hour today shooting towards the sun over the water and towards the end I could hardly see the LCD let alone what it was showing

Grahame

Yes...it does have that scroll button but I defaulted it to blinkies and sometimes without the blinkies the shot needed to be manipulated PP wise. I like to do minimal PP-ing...and the histogram makes more sense as I see here in your recent shot. So I am learning from your shots as I go along. Thanks ... exactly what I love about CiC, there is always something to learn. I will upload a shot a little bit later on that I chose not to have the blinkies on. I'd like you to look at it for me to learn...because I had the histogram on in that one..

[AndrewMcD]

I like the original. The treatment is subtle (well done on the surf line) and the mood it creates is one of contemplative anticipation. Yep, printed mural size on a bedroom wall would work wonderfully.
Andrew