single photos This-Beautiful-Wreckage_(click for larger view)

"Bones"

This is what remains of the Brig Athena. It was sailing from

Alexandria on its way to Liverpool when it was caught in a winter

storm off the coast of Anglesey North Wales in 1852. The good

news is that all 14 members of the crew were rescued by the brave

Lifeboat men and taken to the safety of Llandwyn Island.

 

I walked through the pine forest at Newborough in the dark to arrive

in time to take a few shots of the wreck at dawn......unfortunately the

tide was just out, but you can't have everything :) ...Your thoughts

and comments are always appreciated. Thank You.

Alf,  Your presentation, image, and write-up are both excellent.  I like the excellent and simple design.  The wide angle image - many would zoom on in this - places the shipwreck - a lonely remnant of years gone by - in its stark, yet beautiful setting in great light.  Also the texture and folds in the sand further enhance the image.  You certainly demonstrate that you a communicating a message, mood, and feeling here.  Wonderful. Alf.  Larry

Well it's gorgeous and I concur with Larry on the many fine points he made. Your write ups are always good and informative Alf. I like the wide angle look of this and admire your dedication to getting the shot. Great stuff my friend.

Best Always, Holger

Alf,

  Beautiful image with wonderful writing as well.   Love the POV.  Take care, Patsy

You caught this at the optimum time for the soft pre-dawn light but still getting in some color.  An interesting summary and a fine shot.  Is that Venus watching you work?  ...Mike

Hues, elements and lines beautifully orchestrated.  Excellent work, Alf.

Good comment, good image - 

Photographing what is left of history, coupled with a dramatic sky with a star, you nailed it friend, you nailed it 

Like the remains of Pompeii but thankfully without the bodies. Your picture is mysterious and extraordinarily well-composed with just the right amount of dawn color and light to illuminate the scene. We even have the morning star observing from above.

I like that you wait to have this dusk light on composition and image is mysterious and pleasantly same time.If in a walk see this knurls maybe go over and think to what ever want about this,and for this I appreciate a lot your story that make this place with lot of history.I looked to settings had for this shot and I am amazed what good result got with f5.6 in whole composition.Always a delight to see your work Alf.

Superb image quality Alf - and an exceeding lovely scene.  Appears to me to be a crescent moon in the sky, rather then a star or planet.

I also appreciate keeping the copyright notice smaller than usual.  I understand the desire to protect your work if possible - but I find that large type somewhat diminishes the enjoyment of the picture.

Thanks for the history on the ship as well -

 

Best, David

 

Nice composition and light, well done.

A great photo Alf. I admire your dedication to the cause, I'm afraid getting up predawn is just not going to happen for me.

I love the story that goes with the image.

Regards GC.

What a fabulous photograph!  

You've caught the scene perfectly!  The gently lapping waves ... and the beautiful smooth surface of the sand, totally devoid of any footprints or other signs of life, longingly beckons. Your clever use of the contours of the sand to continue to draw our eyes into the heart of the photo -  the remains of the ship, where your story unfolds in the mind - is excellent.  

Happy with the thoughts that no one perished, the viewer can relax and let the endless sand take us onwards to be met by the stunning iridescence of a gorgeous first light, flowing seamlessly towards us as it rolls over, and captures, a superb skyline.  All this being carefully overlooked by a distant crescent moon as she gently fades to rest.

An incredible scene of a tranquil, uninhabited world that silently beckons the viewer.

I find myself gently sighing as I type the word: 'Perfection!'  :)

I must be looking at a landscape on another world.  That's how the image struck me immediately - otherworldly.  After returning to it a few minutes later, it had the same effect.  Several elements are responsible for this, in my opinion:  the overall low key approach, the subtle ripples in the sand, the predominant blue sky with the streak of orange across the horizon, the presence of a lone celestial object (as others have noted), and - last but not least - the remains of the Athena.  If the proportionality were different, I would think I was looking at another Stonehenge.  

 

Just when I think I have a handle on your style, you modify it.  That's OK, because it keeps me coming back for more.

 

My best always,

michael

 

Hi, Alf! Excellent composition! Beautiful and dramatic scene... Skeleton exposed? Looks vulnerable, especially in this setting of a new day's birth... excellent work. Warm regards, Tamara

It may be a beautiful wreckage, Alf....but in a masters capture, it's a brilliant piece of art..Well done my friend. Regards, Lawrence 

A very good single word analogy.  Thank you!

 

Alf

 

LARRY

 

Thank you so much for your most encouraging feedback!

I walked around the wreck in ever decreasing circles trying very hard to avoid making footprints and disturbances in the sand and took various shots. This was one of my favourites. 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

HOLGER

 

Sincere Thanks for your thoughts and kind words!

 Views through a wide angle lens seem to make a huge difference when composing a shot, and this one was no exception.

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

PATSY

 

Thank you so much! The whole island and coastline is steeped in history, it's a wonderful place!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

MIKE

 

Many Thanks for your interest and positive feedback!

It is in actual fact a little tiny crescent moon :)  But I guess it looks even smaller with the 14mm focal length.

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

WAYNE

 

Thank you so much!

The light was great considering it was such a cloudless sky.

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

TONY

 

Many Thanks my friend!

I always find it fascinating to see a man made object in a state of deterioration, slowly returning to nature, it is more often than not a thing of beauty.

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

JACK

 

Thank you so much!

The skeletal remains of the ship do have an air of mystery and Its very gratifying to read that this has been communicated to you.

The observer from above however, is a tiny crescent moon, made to look even smaller perhaps by the wide angle lens :)

 

Alf

 

RADU

 

Thank you so much for your thoughts and positive feedback, much appreciated!

The Nikon 14 - 24 mm is a wonderful lens and I get amazing clarity and front to back sharpness even at F / 5.6

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

DAVID

 

You are quite right about the moon!  It does appear to be very small with the use of the wide angle lens at 14 mm

It's interesting that you have noticed the smaller size of the copyright notice too, and I do agree that sometimes larger print can be intrusive. It is something I've been giving some though to lately and I'm now considering a more subtle watermark instead.

Sincere Thanks

 

Alf

 

GEORGE

 

Many Thanks for your interest and positive feedback, much appreciated!

 

Alf

 

GERALD

 

Sometimes I struggle to get out of bed on a cold morning when it's still dark, especially when I've been working all week.  But the urge to get "that" photograph is strong :)

Sincere Thanks Gerald!

 

Alf

 

SANS

 

I was very careful not to put my size 10 boots all over the foreground :)

It's one of those things you learn very early on in photography, you think you have the perfect photo, only to get it in the processing stage to see a huge footprint of your own making staring back at you!

It was a wonderful morning, I didn't see any signs of human life for over 2 hours. I could see numerous patterns and contours in the sand as I walked towards the wreck, and decided early on that it would be part of my composition if  possible.

Sincere Thanks for your most eloquent and encouraging comments!

 

Alf

 

MICHAEL

 

Thank you so much for your most considerate and thoughtful feedback!

I do agree that the image does have a surreal, and yes even alien kind of atmosphere.

I took several shots of the Athena and from different angles ( I will post another within a few days or so)  and it is surprising just how the different perspective changes the way it looks.

I'm not sure I ever consciously "modify" my style, I just go with what feels right at the time :)

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

TAMARA

 

Great to hear from you! I hope you are keeping well!

It is indeed the skeletal remains of the Brig Athena, a two mast square rigged wooden ship, laid bare for all to see.

I hope to see you posting more wonderful images soon and Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback!

 

Warm Regards

 

Alf

 

 

LAWRENCE

 

Many Thanks for your visit and positive feedback my friend! Much Appreciated!

 

Kind Regards

 

Alf

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Alf, this has gorgeous colours and I love the minimalist composition. It kind of makes me think of the shifting sands of time and the relics which are left behind. Lovely work. Best wishes. Sarah.

Alf,

Your persistence and dedication are remarkable.  And they are certainly paying off for you.  Love the mood and colours (see what I just did?) especially on this one.  Nice story too.

I especially like the moon  peaking through.

Cheers...

Jerry

Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback and kind words!  I do hope the "relics" which are left behind are not a reference to me :) ....Just kidding

I really do like the "shifting sands of time" analogy

 

Kind Regards

 

Alf

 

JERRY

 

Many Thanks for your thoughts and positive feedback!

Yes, the tiny crescent moon does add a certain atmosphere which I quite like too.

 

Cheers Mate!

 

Alf

Rob

It's images like this Alf that can really make the imagination soar. What I see is the uncovering of the top of a Stegosaurus in the sand. In a beautiful setting of course with lovely colors in the sky and at the horizon and your usual attention to detail and composition. BR, Rob

Thank you so much for your interest and thoughtful interpretation!

I can see what you mean, the skeletal remains of the giant beast being uncovered after a storm maybe.

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

To think that you walked through the Pine Forest in the dark to be in this spot when the light was just right - now that is dedication - but it does not surprise me Alf. You are so dedicated to obtaining the best images you can. I love the story - had not heard it before. Amazing that these remains are still here. I love the image of the Moon and the golden/apricot glow of sunrise.