At Anchor.

[John 2]

Not sure I have caught it totally here but the early morning light in this part of the world was sublime. Taken on a pre breakfast stroll in Shelburne NS.

Fuji X plus 55-200mm lens.

[Shadowman]

Nicely composed, not sure what light you saw but it would seem that you've subdued it by converting to B & W; doesn't mean it doesn't work as an image just that it makes the light appear normal.

[madcrow]

I like the composition and light. I just like it.

[Geoff F]

Good clarity, nice bit of contrast and pleasing composition.

[NorthernFocus]

There are few things more pleasant than a calm harbor at dawn or dusk. Lovely water. I agree that the quality of light isn't manifested in this presentation. Also IMO as a mariner, boats shot from directly fore or aft rarely present well.

[IzzieK]

Good composition, John...do you have a ferry coming and going from one part of the entrance to the other like we do in Melbourne's ends of Port Philip Bay? I asked because this shot reminds me of Melbourne...

[John 2]

Thanks for the comments all.

John/Dan, I agree that I haven't done justice to the light as it was. One of those situation where you set out thinking this is just great only to find that the resulting image didn't quite cut it. The problem I think stems from the fact that despite a good quality UV filter, straight out of the camera, I had a study in overall blue. Hence resorting to mono to try and use the tonality rather than rely on the colour. I think the process of bringing out the tonality in the conversion has diluted the gentleness of the original scene. Might try again because I do like the image in general terms..

Dan, I'm sure you're right about the viewpoint in relation to the boats if it was all about just the boats however, I was trying to capture that tranquillity that calm water and early light brings to the overall scene. Consequently, as long as the angle of the boats didn't lead the eye out of the comp, I was relatively happy.

Izzie, this is a very misleading composition. What you are seeing is not a harbour entrance but two overlapping headlands that are 1 to 2 miles apart.

[LePetomane]

Very relaxing.

[mugge]

Beautifully composed and good use of B&W.
Cheers Ole

[bnnrcn]

Very nice image John

[joebranko]

Very nice, clear and crisp!

[John 2]

Thanks for the continued comment all.

[Mike Buckley]

as long as the angle of the boats didn't lead the eye out of the comp, I was relatively happy.

That angle not only doesn't hurt the composition, it strongly helps it. For me, the greatest strength of the image is that the imaginary line between the two boats on the left leads my eye to the opening between the two distant bits of land. In further support of that, the boat on the far left points toward that opening. If the boats were positioned to display more of their sides, that important element of the composition would be missing.

[Wavelength]

Excellent image

[John 2]

Thanks Mike, thanks Nandakumar. Mike, my thoughts also. I have one or two images made at that location where the boats are pointing out of the frame and they don't make for a good comp..

[Rob Ekins]

John,
Maybe try getting lower and looking across the water at the headlands instead of down at the boats...

[John 2]

John,
Maybe try getting lower and looking across the water at the headlands instead of down at the boats...

Sadly, not possible. Your thoughts are valid however, in order to get a clear shot, clear of intermediate obstacles that is, I had to go to the end of a pier and that meant I couldn't get down to the waterline. There were one or two shot where the same technique used by water foul photographers might have worked but it wasn't doable sadly.

[FootLoose]

I don't know what the light was like, but I do like the light in the image you have presented, John. The mirror-like quality of the reflections on the smooth water surface make it for me.

[John 2]

Thanks Greg. The light was sublimely delicate but I haven't quite captured it.