Sunderland Pier Series

[Colin Southern]

I have to agree with donald on this one. Great series colin, the sky in the 2nd one is fantastic.

Thanks Steve,

It was an interesting sky - the "hard part" was that it didn't change much, so I had to get creative with lens changes and post-processing creativity to "mix things up a bit". Generally that's a good thing, as it increases the chances of buyers fining something that "matches the curtains and carpet".

[Colin Southern]

Alright, since no one else will, I'll pick specific shots as favorites...

For me, it really is between #9 and #6.

I love how each has its own overall color to the scene - #9 with that soft blue light and the bright sky (I know you said it was taken at night, but to me it has the feel of a sunrise shot - that warm yellow sky chasing away the cold blue of night), and #6 with that eerie green glow - almost like a scene out of a horror flick (a good classic suspense horror flick, not a modern hack'em'up flick). I especially like the single bright spot of light in #6, it lends itself to that horror flick feeling... someone out there looking... either as a rescuer or as a pursuing assailant... and you can't be sure if you should go towards it or away from it!

The one thing I found distracting in #6 is the red spot of light. I just found myself continually glancing over at it and then being disappointed that there really was nothing there to look at.

(Correction) I guess there two red points of light, and two white points of light. I didn't notice them as well on the smaller views, but found them on the larger views (should have looked at those before commenting!). I'd personally eliminate both red points of light and the smaller of the two white points of light in #6.

Great series Colin!

- Bill

Thanks Bill,

#9 is the current "pick of the crop" for me -- was a "close call" too, as I'd just started a 15 minute exposure in a different direction when I saw the last of the "active" light right behind this boat (which had previously driven through the scene necessitating a fast camera reconfiguration to capture it). I stood there for about a minute trying to imaging how it might look - and in the end made the decision to abort the long exposure and capture what you see instead.

In terms of the distracting lights - hadn't really thought about it to be honest. Generally they add nice colourful streaks - in this case I didn't do a lot of processing on the shots - so I might revisit some of them later.

[Black Pearl]

Right well that freaked me out - I live in Sunderland....well Whitburn which is a village on the edge of Sunderland....and pass Sunderland Pier every day one the way to work so I was expecting pictures of that.

You have one where you live - cool.

Brilliant shots by the way.

[Colin Southern]

Hi Colin,
#1 looks a little flat in terms of contrast at the bottom two thirds to me.
The rest are at your usual standard (read: technically extraordinary well! )

What do you think of a little contrast boost:

Hi Jeroen,

Yes - I agree. I did all the edits over a few hours last night - all global adjustments (wasn't going to much around with masking & selects with 19 to do - got to bed after 1am as it was!). Might revisit some later and tweak.

[Colin Southern]

#7 #9 #11 are my favs. They look stunning.

Thanks Chriss. Good to know I can still rise to the occasion when required!

[Colin Southern]

Sunderland indeed!! (Sunder means Beautiful in Hindi)
Thats an awesome series, Colin. At fist glance I too didn't really like the first image but then clicked on it & viewed the larger version. It looked outstanding.
I love the tones & sillhoutes.

Thanks Sahil,

Yeah - I was quite harsh with the content/creative sharpening phase (two applications of 40%@4px) and after down-sampling, another of 50% @ 0.3px - so the images start to look a little frosty at anything less than full size when displayed.

[Colin Southern]

Right well that freaked me out - I live in Sunderland....well Whitburn which is a village on the edge of Sunderland....and pass Sunderland Pier every day one the way to work so I was expecting pictures of that.

You have one where you live - cool.

Brilliant shots by the way.

Thanks Robin,

Here's another shot of the whole pier ...

[jeeperman]

Very nice series Colin, my favorites have to be 2,3,9 and 10. Well done Sir.

[Colin Southern]

Very nice series Colin, my favorites have to be 2,3,9 and 10. Well done Sir.

Thanks Paul,

My pleasure to bring them all to you!

[Boatman]

Nice stuff! What lense are you using for the wide horizontal shots?

[Colin Southern]

Nice stuff! What lense are you using for the wide horizontal shots?

Hi Homer,

Thanks for the kind words!

I'd normally use an EF 16-35mm F2.8L USM II, but on this occasion I used an EF 24-70mm F2.8L USM as I needed to work the 60-70mm area, and 24mm was plenty wide enough at the other end.

[arith]

You took a lot

I like #8 and #9 the best, but they are all good.

[Boatman]

Is that with a full frame camera or 1.6 APS-c? If it's the latter the images look much wide; like they were taken with a 24mm FF.

[Wirefox]

Colin, as you know I am not a fully paid up member of the wall behind the sofa landscape appreciation society - especially if the landscape includes fluffy water or HDR (High Disney Resolution) - but No 7 is a stunner. It breaks from the norm and and really holds the viewer. It has a certain sheen that is very attractive.

[Andrea]

This picture makes me feel very calm. I love how the water seems to be still except for the small boat that is moving. I really like all the colors in the picture however i'm not sure if it is a sunrise or a sunset?

[Wirefox]

Is that with a full frame camera or 1.6 APS-c?

Neither, it's an accomplished photographer

[speedneeder]

In one word - wow.

Very impressive! I love the color and the compositions and the sky and the exposure and everything else I forgot to mention!
You must have a really good camera (intended a compliment per your portraiture lessons).

[Colin Southern]

You took a lot

I like #8 and #9 the best, but they are all good.

Thanks Steve

[Colin Southern]

Is that with a full frame camera or 1.6 APS-c? If it's the latter the images look much wide; like they were taken with a 24mm FF.

Hi Homer,

I shoot with a Canon 1Ds3 camera, which is full frame. If you think these look wide, you should see what my 14mm lens does when you point it upwards towards the sky!

I don't often use the EF24-70mm F2.8L USM lens for landscape, but in this case I needed to work the 60-70mm region, and that was the right tool for the job.

[Colin Southern]

This picture makes me feel very calm. I love how the water seems to be still except for the small boat that is moving. I really like all the colors in the picture however i'm not sure if it is a sunrise or a sunset?

Thanks Andrea,

I use an ND filter to slow the exposure right down (some of these are several minutes) which smooths the water, and gives me the movement of the clouds and boat.

These are all sunsets.