Isolating the subject, or maybe not

[Stagecoach]

Ok it's a naff title but some results I need some views on other than my own and the other half's

I'm progressing my evening shooting at the foreshore, when time allows, and am having fun documenting our local small boat net fishermen and their techniques. This has presented certain challenges in that often they are a long way off and in addition always strongly backlit by the setting sun.

I have experimented so far with various exposures, e.g. under and over (based on histogram position and blinkies), and am now familiar with what can be recovered/corrected/adjusted and how far I can crop using the rig I have.

What I had found is that basically whatever PP I did the finished images lacked punch. I have now concentrated on isolation techniques for the boat/fishermen to enable dealing with them or the background separately.

My aim was to not just show the fishermen/boat but also the environment of being out on the reef in the diminishing light with the breakers coming over the edge.

Both images are cropped to approx 60% of the full frame.

So how did I do and what could improve/is not good on these two examples?

No 1 - 1/1250s, f/8, ISO360, 550mm (2 stops underexposed)


No 2 - 1/800, f/8, ISO1800, 550mm (exposed to the far right)


Grahame

[Mike Buckley]

You really nailed the focus and composition. Displaying these photos without clicking them to display them at larger sizes doesn't do justice to them.

The first thing to do to improve the image is to ask the people to bring their boat closer to you so the middle person's shoulders are well above the horizon line.

What I had found is that basically whatever PP I did the finished images lacked punch.

Part of the reason might be that you didn't set your black point to true black. The other part might be because you could consider post-processing the boat and people to emulate the look of using fill flash. The colors are really important in the people and boat and they're not sufficiently revealed in my mind in the current version.

always strongly backlit by the setting sun

Not in this case; they're side lit.

I prefer the second version because of the blue tones; the sea and sky in the first version are less saturated.

[AlwaysOnAuto]

Those guys better haul in that net fast, their catch is getting away in the second shot.

[Stagecoach]

Thanks for commenting Mike.

You really nailed the focus and composition.

I'm finding this 80-400 plus the TC is performing well with the AF.

The first thing to do to improve the image is to ask the people to bring their boat closer to you so the middle person's shoulders are well above the horizon line.

Unfortunately tide and water activity close in is keeping these guys farther out at the moment this time of day. I could dig a hole in the sand to get lower

Part of the reason might be that you didn't set your black point to true black.

I would have set both black and white points but the sea would have been determined more by the black point predominately being derived from the boat I suspect.

The other part might be because you could consider post-processing the boat and people to emulate the look of using fill flash.

Hopefully this is what these have accomplished.

The colors are really important in the people and boat and they're not sufficiently revealed in my mind in the current version.

I have held back on the colours although I was ordered to push the yellow up so I may try pushing all of them some more.

Not in this case; they're side lit.

The sun was around 7 degrees CW from the line between camera and subject. I have just noticed the brightness of the fwd part of the hull on No 2 and can't think why.

I prefer the second version because of the blue tones; the sea and sky in the first version are less saturated.

I would say No 1 is more natural, and No 2 may be too blue, but, I can do them in any shade

[Stagecoach]

Those guys better haul in that net fast, their catch is getting away in the second shot.

I managed to get a few with the fish jumping Alan but had to push the ISO farther than I would normally like to to get any chance of freezing them.

[dragon76]

Hi Grahame

If there's room, I'd open up the shadow on the focused subject a bit more in ACR or LR.

[Rebel]

I agree with Mike's comments, the focus on the people is really good. As regards to getting lower, you could get out there and lie down in a dinghy?

[Urbanflyer]

What a great subject to work on! The mass of out of focus water in the foreground bothers me--perhaps would crop a bit of that out. Some dodging on the folks would give some additional facial detail. There is some nice detail in the hull which also comes out with a bit of dodging. I agree with the comment about the black point set--but would also like to see a lighter white point to bring out the surf in the background. How wonderful to be able to really study the subject as you are doing!

[IzzieK]

??? -- the first thing I noticed is the position of the horizon cutting the neck of one of the fishermen, the one in the middle. Why is this so? Perhaps another angle would had helped? The second one is better ... at least the horizon is way down the shoulders of the middle guy...is there a rule about this kind of shot? By the look of their faces, no matter how dark they were, they seemed to notice you taking their picture so they posed.

[Shadowman]

Nice scene capture.

[bnnrcn]

The blur in the foregrounds of both images distract me Grahame. If you cropped them out, then the horizon would be centered but it may not look bad that way, as the waves in the BG would be more noticeable

[MrB]

I like the sea in the first for the surf in the background, and the positioning of the fishermen in the boat of the second. If they were mine, I'd have a go at combining those two features, in addition to a bit of fill-light on the figures and cropping out a bit of the OOF foreground.

Cheers.
Philip

[Wavelength]

Nice images

[Stagecoach]

Hi Grahame

If there's room, I'd open up the shadow on the focused subject a bit more in ACR or LR.

Yes I can open up a bit on the subject shadow Dean. I'm presently trying to come to a happy compromise.

[Stagecoach]

I agree with Mike's comments, the focus on the people is really good. As regards to getting lower, you could get out there and lie down in a dinghy?

Good one Matt

I would be floundering around scaring the fish

[Stagecoach]

What a great subject to work on! The mass of out of focus water in the foreground bothers me--perhaps would crop a bit of that out. Some dodging on the folks would give some additional facial detail. There is some nice detail in the hull which also comes out with a bit of dodging. I agree with the comment about the black point set--but would also like to see a lighter white point to bring out the surf in the background. How wonderful to be able to really study the subject as you are doing!

Judith, I had not considered bringing out the surf more but will definitely give that a go.

With respect to the mass of OOF water I purposefully cropped that way because I feel it gives more depth to the image and reduces the amount of totally bland sky.

I think there are a few different crops that could be done but in all my images I aim to produce a finished one that is 1400px wide so the feasible crop and it's tightness to the subject is also determined by retaining acceptable IQ.

These really are a great subject to study and try and record as sitting on a beach as the sun goes down is a pleasure.

[Stagecoach]

Hi Izzie,

??? -- the first thing I noticed is the position of the horizon cutting the neck of one of the fishermen, the one in the middle. Why is this so? Perhaps another angle would had helped?

Why is it, because the swell of the water is changing their height in relation to the camera and also they are changing position drifting around in the current.

The second one is better ... at least the horizon is way down the shoulders of the middle guy...is there a rule about this kind of shot? By the look of their faces, no matter how dark they were, they seemed to notice you taking their picture so they posed.

Rules !!!!!!! no idea.

Yes, they were aware of me and no doubt wondering again why that guy is always spying on them

[Stagecoach]

Nice scene capture.

Thanks John,

[Stagecoach]

The blur in the foregrounds of both images distract me Grahame. If you cropped them out, then the horizon would be centered but it may not look bad that way, as the waves in the BG would be more noticeable

Hi Binnur,

I find it does not distract me but having it more in focus would, although getting more DOF in the lighting condition and trying to freeze escaping fish would not be easy.

As for crops I have tried to explain the option limitations in post 16.

[Stagecoach]

I like the sea in the first for the surf in the background, and the positioning of the fishermen in the boat of the second. If they were mine, I'd have a go at combining those two features,

It would be good to be that lucky

in addition to a bit of fill-light on the figures and cropping out a bit of the OOF foreground.

The fill light yes, but I'm reluctant to crop any water.