Santa Cruz, CA Seascape - feedback appreciated

[dmichaud]

I was chasing the light last night on the Pacific Coast and got these shot:


Natural Bridges State Park #2, Santa Cruz

Any and all feedback would be appreciated, Also, any advice on post-processing would be helpful. I did selective curves adjustments (mostly darkening the sky and foreground), shadows/highlights, and sharpening. Does it seem to have too much of a yellow color cast?

Shot with a Canon 50D:
ISO 100, f8, 1/4 sec, at 10mm (EFL 16mm)
Singh-Ray 3 stop reverse ND grad with Lee filter holder

Thanks!
Dave

[Alis]

I was chasing the light last night on the Pacific Coast and got these shot:


Natural Bridges State Park #2, Santa Cruz

Any and all feedback would be appreciated, Also, any advice on post-processing would be helpful. I did selective curves adjustments (mostly darkening the sky and foreground), shadows/highlights, and sharpening. Does it seem to have too much of a yellow color cast?

Shot with a Canon 50D:
ISO 100, f8, 1/4 sec, at 10mm (EFL 16mm)
Singh-Ray 3 stop reverse ND grad with Lee filter holder

Thanks!
Dave

This is a lovely shot, Dave! I won't be able to give you any feedback other than saying I don't see any color cast on my monitor.

Well done!

[jiro]

It looks mighty fine with me. Great timing and shot, Dave!

[Katy Noelle]

Gorgeous!

[mythlady]

Just beautiful, Dave -- how come Natural Bridges never looks that way when I go there?? You really caught a special moment. I don't see any yellow color cast at all.

[Shadowman]

Very nice. Would also work well as a panoramic especially if you could get more of the swell on the right side.

[Stinky]

Awesome.

[Donald]

Dave

A masterful image. Magnificent creative use of an Ultra Wide Angle Lens (study class for those who have, or aspire to, one and appreciate the challenges of learning how to use it properly).

On the basis of this, there's not a lot I would attempt to tell you about post-processing.

[CypherOz]

It works well. Lovely colour and composure. Maybe crop off a tad more sky (I'm being picky).

Well done!

[Peter Ryan]

I am with the others and concur with Dave's comments on the use of ultra-wide angle lenses - well done.

[MJFVisions]

Dave, I lived in N. Cali many years ago, and miss it madly. Your picture is complex and wonderful, and has allowed me to 'visit' my old home, although remotely, but yet, wonderfully again. Thanks.....great job. Marty

[Apo]

A poster shot. Excellente!

[scyla]

WOW!!! great art...

[WilliamS]

Looks fine to me Dave, Nice use of shutter speed to control the water movement , Love the curve of the incoming wave

[Colin Southern]

Better or worse?

[dmichaud]

Hey Colin, thanks for taking the time to make some adjustments, much appreciated! I like the direction you're suggesting. I'm starting to think a crop off the bottom helps quite a bit and like the "stretched" aspect ratio. I guess from a "rule" perspective I've been reluctant to crop from the bottom because it brings the horizon closed to the center, but I really like it and think it works. I'm going to post an alternative shot from 3 minutes later that has more of a "quiet reflection" feel instead of "dynamic motion". Curious if folks have a preference.
Cheers,
Dave

[Colin Southern]

Hi Dave,

No worries

The "don't put the horizon through the centre" isn't a hard and fast rule. In this case the excess beach at the bottom didn't contribute anything meaningful, and I thought that a more panoramic aspect ratio might help as well.

I also made some sharpening adjustments, and vibrance / levels adjustments, although both were quite minor.

[revi]

Was that just a crop off the bottom, or is there a bit more going on, Colin?

Cheers,

Remco

[Colin Southern]

Was that just a crop off the bottom, or is there a bit more going on, Colin?

Hi Remco,

I cropped off what I thought wasn't needed, and then changed what remained to a 1:2.5 aspect ratio.