Project 52 - Kaye Leggett - week 27 - a day at the beach

[Kaye Leggett]

Continuing my project 52 (2015 Project 52 - 2nd Quarter - Kaye Leggett - week 14 - I should have kept quiet) and also my travel photography course, (Dreaming Spires and Students) the homework this week was to go to a location and sit/wander around and just observe for at least 30 minutes before taking any photos.

I had an opportunity to go to the beach and my sitting and observing led me to see how different people 'used' the beach. I wanted also to capture why I like beaches.....which is because of their open space and the sound of the sea. Here is a selection, C&C welcome as to whether I have succeeded in my aim

1. The fisherman



2. The sun worshipper



3. The bucket and spade brigade



4. The Water Babies



5. The Onlookers



6 And for Me - the sound of the sea

[Geoff F]

Works well, Kaye.

With #1 it is a pity that wave isn't breaking; but I've tried similar scenes and the waves never seem to do what is required - until you turn away!

Maybe a side view would have been worth trying if you could have sneaked into position without making yourself too obvious.

Nice low angle for #2.

#3 was always going to give lighting problems, unless you used fill flash. But I think that little bit of shadow helps to overcome the slightly darkened faces and makes an interesting shot.

Nice clean sharp surf in #4 and good perspective with #5.

That surf in #6 is what you needed for the angler shot to be perfect.

[IzzieK]

OK here is my take here...
#1 I like very much. The use of the fore and background works for me...as well as the wide space on the right.
#2 has the wrong title --should be sun lounger not worshipers.
#3 The guy (Dad) looks like he is looking at his dog which is not in the picture...could do a little bit of pp lightening.
#4 I like the shot but not enough space at the top...I think the sky needs equal space as what you give to the foreground.
#5 No comment...I think you also gave this a wrong title...
#6 My favourite as now I know what you are think and feeling and the crisp surf says it all...

That's it!... good assignment to practice your observation, plan your shots and be quiet after all is said and done...what a good life you have....I am almost envious...

[Kaye Leggett]

Works well, Kaye.

With #1 it is a pity that wave isn't breaking; but I've tried similar scenes and the waves never seem to do what is required - until you turn away!

Maybe a side view would have been worth trying if you could have sneaked into position without making yourself too obvious.

Nice low angle for #2.

#3 was always going to give lighting problems, unless you used fill flash. But I think that little bit of shadow helps to overcome the slightly darkened faces and makes an interesting shot.

Nice clean sharp surf in #4 and good perspective with #5.

That surf in #6 is what you needed for the angler shot to be perfect.

Thanks for the comments Geoff - helpful as ever. I was so concentrating on the fisherman to catch him casting that getting the wave to be breaking at the same time was not possible - I wonder if he wanted to cast without a breaking wave ?? Not being a fisherman, I have no idea.

[Kaye Leggett]

Thanks Izzie for your comments and encouragement. Yes, life is good at the moment....sadly next year I will have to return to work, so I am enjoying the time and freedom whilst it lasts...each day is precious and I try not to waste them

[Kaye Leggett]

Photo opportunities this week have been rare...... but we did have one evening walk when the sun was filtering through the trees and casting some nice light - so I had a go capturing some images. They need work I feel, but I don't know where to go from here...

C&C welcome

1




2




3

[Shadowman]

Nice series, #5 is the most engaging of the set; humorous juxtaposition. #3 very charming. Referring to post#1.

[Shadowman]

Nice series with the backlit leaves.

[Geoff F]

Such a difficult subject with those leaves, Kaye.

After thinking about options, I would probably forget #1. A crop from top and bottom could be worth trying but your daylight has gone 'spotty' so because of that I would give up.

#2 has potential but it is a bit over complicated and there is quite a lot of out of focus area on the left so I would experiment with different amounts of cropping from the left and have a different size ratio. I suspect you can get those ferns to appear like strange trees.

The last image also has left side problems with those very bright leaves. Possibly selectively tone down the highlights a little? but probably use a Luminosity Blend Mode so you don't lose too much saturation as the brightness reduces slightly. Alternatively another left side crop?

[IzzieK]

Kaye, every morning when I take the dogs out to do their duties, I sometimes wake up too late and the sun is already shining. There is a part in our garden where the sun filters through that dark area and it is beautiful when the sun hits it. Just like your shots here...my favourite is #2. Like that very much...

[Kaye Leggett]

Thanks John for both comments

[Kaye Leggett]

Thanks Izzie - these need work I feel, but always good to give it a go.....

[Kaye Leggett]

Such a difficult subject with those leaves, Kaye.

After thinking about options, I would probably forget #1. A crop from top and bottom could be worth trying but your daylight has gone 'spotty' so because of that I would give up.

#2 has potential but it is a bit over complicated and there is quite a lot of out of focus area on the left so I would experiment with different amounts of cropping from the left and have a different size ratio. I suspect you can get those ferns to appear like strange trees.

The last image also has left side problems with those very bright leaves. Possibly selectively tone down the highlights a little? but probably use a Luminosity Blend Mode so you don't lose too much saturation as the brightness reduces slightly. Alternatively another left side crop?

Thanks for the comments Geoff - I will give your suggestions a go

[Kaye Leggett]

This week, on our way to Italy, we stopped by the Royal International Air Tatoo at Fairford. It is a mere 15 miles from home and yet I have never been. I decided to keep to a couple of themes, one being the Red Arrows (which I will post elsewhere) and the other the Iconic Vulcan which after this season will not fly again. I also chucked in the French Display team at the end, because whilst they weren't as good as our Red Arrows, they did have panache. I still managed to take over 600 photos !!

It was an interesting day as I have never shot such scenes before and for most of the day I was on shutter priority which is also something I am not used to.

So here - The Vulcan



The Vulcan with the Red arrows, going out



and coming back



And here The French team - Patrouille de France

1



2



3



4



5



C&C appreciated

[rtbaum]

definitely #4 !!!

[Geoff F]

As difficult to photograph as flying birds so well done on the exposure.

Nice to see a Vulcan still flying.

[IzzieK]

Good series, Kaye...hubby loves them all...

[Kaye Leggett]

Thanks Randy

[Kaye Leggett]

It was a fun couple of days Geoff. I spent the first morning just practising the aerial shots and experimenting with settings so that when the aircraft I did want to photograph were up, I had everything set up. I think they are a bit easier than the average bird as there is a predictability factor around. It was also very useful to have an idea of what I wanted to shoot. So a couple of lessons well learned from the weekend. Thanks as ever for your comments and encouragement.

[Kaye Leggett]

Thanks Izzie.