ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

The Master In You

The Master in You is an evolution of the monthly Master's Critique. Here we will give you a "topic" each month with some themes to consider. Shoot some images with the assignment in mind and then post them in this thread and tell us about them. Where did you shoot the image? What are your concerns and challenges with the image? How much, if any, consideration did you give to gear to get the image you wanted? You might also wish to address the themes that are mentioned along with the topic.

General guidelines: This is an open thread where you are encouraged to post your original works and discuss them. Please post only your own work. Do not post edits of another member's work unless you have asked that member for permission to edit. Remember that some people do not want their work edited by anyone. Please respect that. The topics will be active for one month at a time. You will have the entire month to ponder and work on the subject. Feel free to post at any time during the month. You can post more than one image. If you shoot more than one image on any given topic, you may make several submissions. That way we might be able to stimulate some conversations that act as inspiration or, at least, incentive for others to go out and try the topic themselves.

The original purpose of FYC was to be a "cafe" atmosphere where people gather to discuss topics pertaining to photography. It is hoped that this thread will encourage members to get out and shoot images that pertain to the topic and then enter into a discussion about your posts and the posts of others. This monthly topic is not about : "That is really nice" or "two thumbs up". While these are certainly legitimate responses, the aim of this topical thread is to throw a wider net. It is hoped that we will discuss what works and what does not work so well. If someone's work does not appeal to you, feel free to say so in a way that acknowledges that we all have different ideas about what appeals to us.

The Moderators


Assignment 1 July 2021: Water
Theme 1 What look do you go for. Blurred or stop action?
Theme 2 Cascade? Mountain stream? Sill water? What brings out your creativity?

Because we are looking for membership participation, nothing is “etched in stone”. We would love to hear your ideas for future assignments and themes.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

I arrived on scene about twenty minutes before the sun was scheduled to come over the eastern horizon. That gave me time to think about how I wanted to compose the photo and what elements were important to me. I could tell that the color was going to be subtle because of the heavy clouds that were low to the horizon. Because the conditions were not bright and clear, I knew that the sun’s intensity when it became visible would be manageable. I did not know that it would interact with the clouds the way it did; but that turned out to be in my favor as it adds a bit of interest to the scene.

I decided to use a 200mm lens because I was not going to include any of the beach and I wanted some foreshortening. Plus I wanted the sun to appear bigger than it would if I used a 50mm or a wide angle lens. Because the ocean and the sky were similar in color and intensity, I decided to use a shutter speed that would not obscure the surface texture. I did, however, want to show some movement in the surf. After a few test shots, I realized that a quarter of a second would give me the texture I wanted and show some movement in the surf.

I often choose to do much longer exposures when I’m at the beach; but that is when I have something like a pier or a stone jetty that will stay sharp because it is not moving. With this composition, a long exposure would have made everything but the sun meld together. With a very long exposure ( forty seconds to several minutes) to flatten the surf, the sun would have become blurry because its movement, when that close to the horizon, is noticeable in seconds not minutes.

Ideas to consider: A composition that did not include the surf and that used a much longer lens might be an interesting idea if you were going for extreme minimalism where only the sun and the clouds obscuring the sun are distinct. To be honest, that is something I only thought about after I got it home and on the computer.


You should feel free to comment on subject matter, technique, themes, or anything else that you observed. You may agree with my decisions or you might have your own opinions. A free and respectful exchange of ideas is the goal.
Erich

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cschonwalder

A very serene image. Framed nicely to top and bottom by soft clouds and blurred waves. I can almost smell the ocean.

I wonder if a bit more brightness and contrast in mid-frame (ocean and sun) would enliven the scene or make it "just another sunrise". And perhaps you could have hired a few gulls to fly by as you snapped the shutter! Or a porpoise, as this seems to be a SE US beach.

Triplets Loc: Reading, MA

All 3 images shot on a Nikon D750 using a Nikon 24-120 f/4 lens.

1. Old Stone Church, West Boylston, MA. I wanted bright colors and calm water to produce a mirrored reflection. ISO 100, f/16, 1/25 sec

2. Fan Pier, Boston, MA. I liked the misty look of the lights reflecting off the smooth water. ISO 100, f/16, 76 sec

3. Stream along the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire. I liked how the only movement in this image is water. ISO 100, f/16, 8 sec, 6-stop ND filter

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ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

At first, I thought the darkness was ok. Then, after looking at it for a while, I thought it could be brighter. I like your idea of selective brightening around the center of the photo. That might work really well.

I did have several shots that had seagulls in them. The ones that were close enough to the lens were very blurry because of the shutter speed. The ones farther away were indistinct. So I chose a photo that did not have any critters flying about.
Erich

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

Three good examples here of how shutter speed absolutely matters in the mood of the photo. The first uses a relatively fast shutter speed to produce a reflection where blur is not wanted at all. In the second shot the length of the exposure flattens out the water and creates movement in the sky. I noticed that you used a neutral density filter for the third shot to give a relatively long exposure and produce blur in the stream.

I've driven the Kankamangus highway a number of years ago. Were you on a hike for this photo or was this near the car? Often when I'm driving and I see scenes that are similar to this, I'm reluctant to stop and fiddle with filters and tripods and such because I don't want to be an inconvenience to my passengers. Or, if I'm on a hike, I don't often stop and get all the gear out when I have a destination in mind. The exception is when I'm hiking with photography as the goal. Was this the case for your third shot?
Erich

Triplets Loc: Reading, MA

Hi Erich,

Thanks for the kind words. I was on a photo workshop with BlueHour Photo Ventures (www.bluehourboston.com) in October, 2020. I believe 2 other attendees cancelled out so it was just me and 2 instructors. We made several stops along the Kanc and I can't remember exactly where this was. The instructor (Paul Nguyen) had me set the tripod in the water. I took several shots making minor adjustments each time and with each adjustment he explained why it was being done and the result that was expected. I'm going with them this October for 6 days in Utah, Really looking forward to that trip.

Regards,

Dennis (aka Triplets)

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

That sounds like it is going to be a really great time. I lived in Utah for a short time many years ago. Great place.
Erich

cschonwalder

Nice

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

I can't really suggest an alternative but I'm bothered by the swells in the foreground. They keep catching my eye when all attention should be on the sun and gorgeously tinted clouds. You can't crop out the swells because it would leave the foreground too short. I do like the texture of the surface of the rest of the sea. All in all, it is a really beautiful shot.

jburlinson Loc: Austin, TX

I quite liked the small version provided in the op, but when I opened it up in the detailed version, the proliferation of sensor spots proved too distracting to me. So I went in the opposite direction than you did. I cropped out the sky altogether, which in one stroke eliminated nearly all the spots. I then had a lot of fun swimming through the remainder of the image to come up with several alternative, relatively abstract, mini-images.

I really like the idea of this series and hope to be able to contribute as the months roll along.

fergmark Loc: norwalk connecticut

Some of my thoughts about this. I am glad to see this effort you are making to provide an area of interest for exploration and discussion. However this sort of thing is so far off the beaten track, I don't see how it will take hold. I know that is a fairly pessimistic view, but so many people here on uhh are obsessed with camera gear and processing gadgetry, they don't seem to have much interest beyond those rather superficial infatuations. The actual subject you have chosen, is literally as deep and wide as the ocean. A very high percentage of my own photography is focused around water, so within the category of water are dozens of sub categories. A few shots here that fall into a couple of those. Water is just magical. What you are able to see in it because of photography, is simply astonishing.

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MattPhox Loc: Rhode Island

Fabulous series!

JD750 Loc: SoCal

I like this it is a great idea! I have been participating in another contest (not on UHH) where a theme is announced and there is a deadline and it is fun and also a great learning experience.

In this case you said “some” images so more than one is allowed? Can they be taken at any time or must they be taken within the month after the announcement?

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Graphic View II, 210mm Schneider-Kreuznach Symmar S, Hoya 85B filter, Ilford FP4+, ISO 125, f/45, 1 sec.
--Bob

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