Calming-Down

The storm had passed and the sun had dipped below the horizon to

leave a much calmer looking scene. Your thoughts and comments are

always appreciated. Thank You.

A beautiful series. Each image has it's own distinct quality and composition. This one strikes me as particularly soothing. Nice work. ~~~~~~~L

All these lighthouse images are superb, creating different modes of the scenery. In this particular photo, the clouds are just so dramatic with remnants of the glow of the sun providing excellent contrast to the overall tone. Excellently composed that the pool brings me into the picture and leads me to the lighthouse.

Brilliant landscape capture! Regards.

LESTER

serene... beautiful!

I adore the soft reflections of the lighthouse and bits of cloud on this watery path in the darkening of dusk.  The path's serpentine bits are fun, whimsical; surely, in the daylight, they beckon children, or dogs, or runners, or artists splashing and sloshing around.  Your perspective is great!  The path and stairs offer access to the tower and its views, without which, the lighthouse would appear remote, unattainable.  Title is apt, great

was worth the wait. love all three of them. must be very humbling to stand there in awe of the beauty and power of nature, even with some pp...

as usual, fine, fine work.

LINDA

Sincere thanks for your interest and kind words. This has been an interesting excercise for me, and a good insight into peoples preferences.  I also liked the quiet soothing aspect of this one.

Cheers Linda

Alf

LESTER

Many thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts, much appreciated! I sometimes think that the more subtle colours appear after the sun has dissappeared. The pool was swiftly emptying with the outgoing tide, there is usually a much better channel of water here, but I fear the previous storm has shifted the sands to alter its course. I'm really pleased you liked the series.

Cheers Lester

Alf

RAJAT

"Serene" is a good adjective, thank you!

Best Wishes

Alf

DONNA

Sincere thanks for your rich and detailed thooughts, you have a great way with words. In addition your views are very perceptive. In the daylight it's difficult to get a shot of the lighthouse without people being present, yes dogs, children as well, even when there is only half a dozen people present on the beach, they almost always without exception, make thier way to the lighthouse. In fact it has just featured in a UK TV advert, (Dulux Paints) where you can see a dog running past it. Ironic really because the old lighthouse could do with a coat of paint : - ) I'm really pleased you like it Donna.

Best Regards

Alf

DROR

I'm really pleased you liked the series. It was quite an experience to stand in the vast openess on such a quiet evening, the wind a mere murmer after the previous howling and the tide long since ebbed, and such a contrast to the place when it's swarming with visitors as described in my reply to Donna above. All three images had some PP, warmed colours in the other two and some selective shading in this one, sharpening of course and I did use soem perspective control on this one. This lighthouse is perculiar in as much as it actually does lean to one side by quite a few degrees. It actually helps from some angles but looks totally off balance from others, much depending on the camera angle also. Thanks for your imput Dror, much appreciated!

Cheers Mate

Alf

alf,

i enjoyed reading your comments. one of my favorite architectural books is a book of quotes from the great american architect louis kahn. the title is "between silence and light". i had a feeling that these two elements must have been very powerful when you stood there, by yourself taking the scene in.

interesting story about the leaning tower. could only be foundation problem. what is the soil like in the area?

very different place and very different landscape, but a place where silence and light are just as powerful, is masada. i prefer the northern edge of the plateau, looking down on the barren rocks of the judean desert hundreds of feet below and not a sound heard. total silence! it is beautiful and eerie. i love being in places like that.

Nice series of such amazing scene. Hard for you to select which one be uploaded and hard for us to select which one is more beautiful...I prefer this one as it has more balanced light and colors, more attractive f/g elements, nice reflection of shapes, color and light, and i think... more mood. Its also so hard to determine which element be placed in reflection position: lighthouse or this beautiful sunset.. If i was there sunset was definitely the winner, as lighthouse is unique in its own, and there's no need for its reflection indeed ( personal taste though ). These are just concepts and thoughts, and probably not possible at all at that scene, and also without them this capture is so unique and superb already. A big bravo for these triage masterpieces.

My best,

Hamid.

Coming back... forgot to mention how much I like the light and many small details such as the whiff of pink above the grey clouds or the fact that one can see much of the lighthouse reflection, but not the very top because it merges into sand...beautifully.   I wish you took more with the progressing darkness.  

thank you, Alf... i needed this picture ;-} dp

very peaceful.  i like the way you've let the colours in the sun gently touch the top of the colour range.  best, j

Alf,

  Beautiful peaceful scene with wonderful lighting & colors.  Thanks for sharing.  Take care, Patsy

Very beautiful!!

DROR

There are times as you describe, when the silence is like a silken glove, and the world seems to pause, somehow you sense the moment and don't move or make a sound yourself for fear of breaking the spell. During this brief interlude you feel like you have melted into the surroundings and you totally connect with earth, nature, and the immediate environment. A quiet intensity that leaves you feeling enriched and good to be alive, even long after the moment has passed. I used to think I was alone in feeling these experiences......but I guess there are quite a few people who have felt the same, yourself included.

The sub-soil I would guess as being more sand, with possibly sandstone beneath that, but this is the mouth of the Mersey Estuary, the tides are powerful, and they could be the cause of the movement of the structure.

Masada sounds like a fantastic location, just the type of location to experience the phonomena described above. Maybe I could persuade to share a few photo's from this location? : - )

Many Thanks for your thoughts and interest, much appreciated!

Best Regards

Alf

HAMID

Sincere thanks for your interest and positive contribution, much appreciated. Yes you are right, I wasn't at all sure which one to upload and come to the conclusion that the PN viewers could decide which one if any, they liked best. I did play with lots of different compositions, and whilst the sunset was beautiful, it seemed somewhat empty without the presence and character of the lighthouse, maybe I would have felt differently if the lighthouse wasn't there., but as it was, I just felt it couldn't be ignored. I did take a another few shots without the lighthouse, making the textures of the sand and reflected clouds the main elements, but I didn't think these were as strong, but maybe I'll post them at some point for you to consider. It is great to get your idea's and feedback Hamid, much appreciated!

Best Regards

Alf

DONNA S.

Always so good to read your very eloquent descriptions.  The breeze rippled water kind of took the sharpness from the reflection, but for once I was quite pleased with the effect. I did take a few more, one of them that takes in the vastness of the sky above that I like, but alas haven't had time to process it yet.

Cheers Donna!

Alf

DONNA P.

You are becoming a photoholic, trembling hands?, nervous twitch?, can't look at a magazine without critiqueing the front cover?  lol ....oh well thats just me then : - ) Glad you got your daily "fix" from me though.

Take Care

Alf

JAMIE

Many Thanks for your valuable imput, I appreciate your comments. I did give the colours a boost in Lightroom through the "Vibrance" control, rather than using "saturation" I'm very pleased you approve.

Best Regards

Alf

PATSY

Sincere thanks for your encouraging comments, much appreciated!

Best Wishes

Alf

ALBERTO

Thank you so much, you are very kind!

Best Regards

Alf

Hi Alf, I just wanted to add my compliments to the above lighthouse capture. It's a stunning photograph -- composition, colors and overall mood.  The golden light contrasts beautifully with the dark blue hues in the photo. Your patience, and your 'meditative state' :-) really paid off here, as the delicate mood captured is really gorgeous. Contrary to your other 2 lighthouse captures, I see the lighthouse here as a less predominant element of the capture, and almost as an afterthought, if you will... To me, the photo seems more about the overall reposing mood, the beautiful sky, water & sandy textures -- although the lighthouse creates a very interesting breaking element, of course.  This should really be seen on a large format to be fully appreciated...!  Kind regards to you,  Marjolein  ( PS: Again, I'm mentioning the 'calendar thing' to you.... You have so many beautiful captures. I'm sure that many people would love to have a (lighthouse) calender with beautiful pictured settings in their house somewhere. (& me included :-)

You are very perceptive, the mood here was definately more pensive, and I'm really pleased the atmosphere has been conveyed in the image.

That Idea really appeals to me (Lighthouse Calendar) I'd love to get 12 different lighthouses from all over the UK, each taken in the month they represent and produce a Calendar from that kind of collection.....hmmmm when I get this other thing out of the way that keeps interfereing with my photography (work) it's a project that I would love to undertake. Sincere thanks for your thoughtful imput and encouraging words.

Best Regards

Alf

Wonderful picture !

Beautiful composition and colors .

Regards , Dan

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

Best Regards

Alf

Most of the technical details have been addressed very well, I do not think I could add much more, but must reiterate, your perspective is great, can almost see 'forever. I find the patterns in the sand are so interesting. Not living by the sea, you can tell I'm a novice!!!

Beautiful shot Alf. Hope the storm wasn't too bad, we had a really bad one here last nite, could have sworn we were going to be joining 'Toto and Dorothy' at any moment!!! Toronto got hit worse from what I heard.

Cheers for now, (do you ever find any valuables or even shells much when the tide goes in and out???)...guess it would be a bit much, and I"d be 'dating' you if I suggested carting along a metal detector, with the rest of your gear!!!) Have a god weekend, gail

I love the patterns and textures in the sand myself, and although I have seen them millions of times, the fact that they are infinately variable makes them always a source of inspiration. Ahhh yes the storm........I watched it hoping to get some stormy dramatic images, black skys and clouds, so I watched and waited, the wind increased and I felt spots of rain........then suddenly huge gusts of wind that threatened to blow my tripod over......I decided to pack my gear away quickly and rushed to open my rucksack........as I placed my rucksack on the ground, to my abject horror, a huge gust of wind half filled it with sand ....I was cursing, but there was nothing for it but to place my camera in there and head back to my van as soon as possible. By the time I arrived back at my van the worst of the storm was over and the sun began to make another appearance, I cringed as I opened my bag and saw all the sand on my gear, but laid it all out, filters, lenses, camera etc and let it dry in the sun.....well after an intense cleaning operation that took about 2 hours.......I headed back to the beach and took the images you see in this series along with a few more.

lol I love the analogy of Toto and Dorothy ....I could empathise with that!

I have found one or two shells that are really beautiful, but tend to leave them where they are, but nothing valuable. Lol if you were "dating" me I can assure you'd be the one carrying the metal detector, and the sandwiches  : - )

Lovely to hear from you Gail and sincere thanks for your interest. You have a great weekend too!

Cheers!

Alf

Lovely pastel shades, and excellent textures in this one Alf. The impact in this image is more subtle, but still attractive. Love the long line of water reflecting the sky, and superb sky! Can't really pick a favorite from the series. I like them all.

All the best,
Neil

High Alf,

Strong series you have here.  This blueish version is a nice contrast with the yellow, orange picture. 

Have you tried putting the horizon a bit higher or lower ?

Ben

NEIL

I think this was one of the last shots I took before I headed back home, everything had calmed down, the sun the wind and even the tide. My favourite remains the Alien Observer, and particularly now that you have identified the mother ship! : - )

Sincere thanks for your invaluable insight Neil

Cheers!

Alf

BEN

Many thanks for your interest and valuable feedback, it really is appreciated. I think it works with a higher horizon, losing some of the sky wasn't such a big deal, whilst a lower horizon wasn't ideal as I would lose the textured foreground sand. In the end though the 50 /50 split didn't look out of place either, but I realise of course that it doesn't follow the thirds rule to the letter.

Cheers Ben!

Alf

Alf a fantastic presentation with a fabulous range of colors, an image to meditate with my friend.