Grand Haven Sunset

Hi Scott,

 

Nice shot, but I think it needs a little more saturation and a curves tweek to up the contrast to make it to the next level. Just do it!

 

I loved the night shot you just pulled, a solid 9.

I tried to email you at the above address,but it just bounced. Keep on shooting.

I don't think a more vibrant film would do this scene justice. I think it's near perfect as is. And I love the composition, that little boat on the right is just enough. Great shot!

I'm not sure what you mean by "vibrant." Reala isn't half bad and has rendered this scene (apparently) in a photorealistic manner. You might try using Konica Impresa 50 next time, though. It's less saturated, though not dull, and it has a bit finer grain still.

Anyway, this is a competent exposure, and that's what the shot called for. It might have taken another half stop comfortably, but for all I know you bracketed for that and decided on this image instead. All in all good work.

With the demise of RG-25, Pro-100, and to some extent Ultra-50 we don't have many color neg options in 120 format that legitimatley "kick ass" and can pull this shot off well as I'd like. This unless you like the fact that the professional print film market it bloated with portrait films and "enhanced" portrait films like NPC, NPZ and Portra VC. I like Impresa and have pushed this film as a viable material, but Impresa makes Kodak EPN look like EBX in terms of color saturation.

 

Reala is one of my favorite films and has wonderfull dynamic range and flexibility, but Pro-100 and RG-25 would have carried this shot much better and afforded a much better scan being those two films had much better density range and would have retained more fine details in the cloud whisps.

 

Most slide films (aside from Astia or EPP which I didn't have with me because I was stupid) would have blocked up the lower horizon badly, which is why I avoid the "fix it with Velvia" philosophy for sunsets, that all tend to look alike anyway. Before anyone mentions it as well, I think of using an ND grad filter with my RB the same way fashion editors think of short sleeved oxford shirts with ties; tacky and geeky.

 

For metering, I just take an average reading off the sky about 30degress off the area where the sun is setting and rarely bracket. This was a scan from ProPhotoCD. I sold one 20x24 LightJet print already, but everytime I looked at that print I wished Kodak had still made Pro-100. Yeah, I'm just being a perfectionist, so I'll shut the hell up now and thank you for the comments I've recieved.

Nice job on this Scott. Here's a sunset and lighthouse shot with digital.

GORGEOUS! :-)

Who does your Lightjet prints?

 

Your photos are pushing me closer to the MF or LF world. Should I thank you or curse you?

Congratulations; This image immediately captured my attention and my heart.

I love the sky, and the angle from which you took this shot. You've hidden the rest of the catwalk to the 2nd lighthouse nicely. The affect of this is amazing. I have never considered taking the shot from this angle. Beautiful and creative shot !

Great shot! Good composition and beautiful colors, as usual.

 

Is the horizon level? I am always obsessing about unleveled horizons in my own photos...