photoninja1 Loc: Tampa Florida

On the beach the other day dodging rain squalls and looking for a photo op against the dramatic sky. Hope you enjoy the result.

(Download)

conkerwood

An interesting pic but for me the elements just don't quite come together. The bird is a little too central and the boat is heading out of the pic instead of into it so the balance doesn't quite work. I like the sense of a storm coming and the patch of blue adds a nice contrast but there is a need for some noise reduction in the sky and the bird. Which brings me to something that I find a little confusing. If you look on the underside of the gull's wing there is a light streak. If you look above the gull's wing there is a ghostlike echo which follows the track of the top of the wing. These seem very likely to be PP issues. Either you have done some selective PP on the gull and the artefacts are the result of not quite getting the masking right, or you have added the bird in that position and the layering hasn't quite worked or something else I can't quite figure out. But it is easily fixable by layering in another area of compatible sky, masking it and then carefully painting in the new areas. You need to work at about 400 magnification with a very small brush set to about 80% hardness. A little time and care and the repair work will be undetectable which for me is the yardstick for any layering work.

I hope this makes sense.

Peter

Gauss Loc: Earth

First things first...

I do enjoy the result. You've done a nice job capturing the feel of the impending storm. I grew up in St.Pete area and often saw scenes like this. I like the graininess in the image too; I think that adds to the mood.



I see that too.

As conkerwood mentioned, the balance seems a little off. To me, if the crop was such that the bird was in the upper left corner, diagonally opposed to the ship, the tension between the two would create a strong, dynamic photograph with each attempting to get away from the storm in their own way. At the same time, the horizontal line of the steadfast pier separates them. This adds an interesting contrast between the dynamic escapes of the gull and ship versus the calm pier willing to withstand the storms best efforts.

photoninja1 Loc: Tampa Florida

I think what you're seeing below the wing is actually the tips of the feathers, which are white. I do see what might be considered a ghost above the wing. I couldn't say what caused it. As for the balance, I agree. I guess I could have cloned out the ship, but I'm not that industrious. ;-)
Thanks for your comments.

K2mbs Loc: Southern Tier of, NY

You captured what only a photographer could capture.
Everyone is caught up in how the day might be ruined, and they are moving on, but you have ignored the distractions to focus on creating an image.
This is devoted camera work.

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

This is 90% there. The composition would work as it is but the ship needs to go. Whatever caused the ghosting like effect on the bird needs attention. And a little more drama in the sky would be nice.
Industrious activity makes a mediocre image into a great one. This has that potential it just needs an hour in Photoshop to lift it to the next level.
Over to you young man!