jburlinson Loc: Austin, TX

Thank you for sharing a nice sampler of water photos. In some the water is foreground, in others background. Some tell a tale of action, others a tale of serenity. Color is big in some, absent in others. Some strictly representational, others with more or less degrees of abstraction.

Really nice gallery!

I hope you're wrong in your prognostication, though. It seems to me that there should be quite a few folks who will have an interest in participating. Perhaps this series can become like My Image, Your View, with a pretty dedicated cast of characters.

Triplets Loc: Reading, MA

Yowza!!

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

I think you have a point about the swells. They are low in the composition and there is quite a bit of space between them and the sun. So, yes, I can see them as a distraction. Very good point.
Erich

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

I think that I posted a version without the spots cleaned up. They are a problem and caused me to actually clean my sensor. I think it got that dirty because I was messing around with lenses on the beach. Not a good practice!
Erich

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

Thank you for your post. It takes us in many different directions. Since the topic will last one month, I certainly did not want all discussions to revolve around the first post of the topic. You have many different ways to look at the topic. Fast moving, tranquil, just waves as an abstract, frozen, frothy. Great selection. Thanks for giving us something to ponder.
Erich

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

More than one is allowed. More than one example is also allowed. The idea is to get a discussion going on the topic. Where that discussion grows will be part of the mystery and the fun. Sorry if I'm not being really attentive; but I'm currently in Charleston with my inlaws. Doing some shooting; but getting on the computer without appearing like an antisocial prat will be a challenge for the next few days.
Erich

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

Nicely done. Some might say that the cascade is "blown out"; but I think that "white water" is, indeed, white. As long as there is some detail, I think it is fine. I also like that you included a pretty wide view to give the viewer some context. Do you think that the one second exposure time adds to your composition by blurring the water; or would a fast shutter and more detail work as well?
Erich

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Thanks Eric and no apology necessary.

"without appearing like an antisocial prat will be a challenge for the next few days." Always a challenged for my type because being an engineer, I have limited social skills, so its much easier to be hide from people which comes off like an antisocial prat.

jburlinson Loc: Austin, TX

I generally tend towards the stop action side of the spectrum, although I've seen many beautiful photos with blurred water.

Attached is a photo I took during a recent thunderstorm. I was struck by the contrast between the left and right sides of the image, with the left being much more colorful. This was pretty much how my eye saw the scene and I tried to enhance the effect by shooting at a moderately fast shutter speed (1/800) while focusing on the post, in order to blur the background while still retaining a bit of sharpness in the raindrops. I then did a little pp to enhance this effect.

Although I think I achieved my goal, I'm not sure my goal was worth pursuing.

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JD750 Loc: SoCal

It might be more interesting without the post.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

I have done very little shooting of actual rain or snow. I do like the effect you achieved with the sharp rain and blurred background. It was suggested that the photo might be more interesting with the post removed? Maybe; but it might not have such a contrast between darker right and lighter left. That post delineates the two halves.
Erich

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

I appreciate the moderators for coming up with a new concept thread to further what we started in the 5 year run of the Monthy Masters' Critique. I had explored every avenue I could think up, and it was time for me to sit down a while! This concept thread is a logical extension of the Masters', with more focus on the participants' own work. I hope all members will join in to support it, and help shape it into something everyone can enjoy!

Like most outdoor photographers, I am fascinated with the many ways we can capture images of water, from stop-action to blurred "cotton candy", reflections, abstracts, close-ups, you name it. The majority of my water images are with high shutter speeds to capture detail, but I will try just about anything. Here's a couple. The first, shot with this thread in mind, was taken in Yosemite last week. It's pretty obvious what landform I wanted to get, but I also wanted its reflection and a human or two enjoying the cool Merced on this 100+ degree afternoon. The second shot, taken last fall in the TN mountains, was kind of raggedy looking with stop-action, so I tried slow shutter and it seemed better that way. At this point in my journey, I operate a lot on look and feel rather than formulas or other folks' images of that scene- take a shot, figure out why I like or don't like it, try something else with settings that will give me another look, take the versions into the computer to experiment with editing that I've usually imagined while on site. I've noticed that I like "smooth" water more if there's some kind of cascading effect to give me more contrasting elements within the water part of the composition rather than have a wad of "white stuff" all bunched together.

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JD750 Loc: SoCal

1. It depends on the subject and the “story” I wish for the image to tell.
2. All of them. And rain. I love rain. I love after the rain.

So here I will suggest that with respect (1) it is not simply blurred or stop action. Because while “stop action” is “stop action” there are many “shades” of blur.

Let me illustrate with some examples. Some will say “I like this one or I only I use that one” but my point is one should consider the shade of blur to complement the story and the mood of the image and of course the style of the artist.

Stop Action. 1/800 f13

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Moderate Blur 1/40 f13

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Heavy Blur 1/10, f13. (Please note there is a slight increase in exposure here - my bad)

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jburlinson Loc: Austin, TX

OK. I tried it that way. Better?

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CassidyMariya Loc: New Jersey

I took these images with my iPhone. They both were from seaside boardwalk.

1) I like this image but I feel it’s a little to dark. I didn’t use a filter. Although I do like how the seagull is flying in the air in this shot.

2) I love this image but I don’t know how to get the white on the bottom to blend in with the rest of the water. I changed the sky to a purple. As you can see I also had the lights from the houses show on the water as well.

I hope you love these pictures as much as I do! Thanks!

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