Pirates of the Irish Sea (Click for larger view)

I was searching for a particular wreck that had reportedly been exposed

by the high tide. After asking question from some local people, they told

me that the one I was looking for had been covered up again. Fortunately

I found this one that had been recently exposed by the route of the

receding water. It was a long walk down the beach and the sun was

blinding me. Again I was fortunate, as I got there the sun dipped below

the cloud bank you can see, and the patterns formed. In processing this

image I used more saturation than I normally would, and I changed the

white balance in favour of warmer tones. Your thoughts and comments

are always appreciated! Thank You ......Alf

Good work and good find, Alf.  I like the tones and the perspective. I find the small curve in the beach very interesting.  

Just a personal consideration here...I think the yellow is too much Alf. This is a great subject, greatly captured but apart from the yellow there is no color there, so why don't you process it in black and white? 

http://gallery.photo.net/photo/17644347-lg.jpg

Just an idea...Think about it! Regards!!!

Hi Alf, First I like the colors and let me add this really needs to be seen larger to appreciate your composition. This is an amazing looking place thus it should generate a lot of interest. Lastly the sun  rays in the cloud formation are also rather neat. I like this offering. Take care my friend.

Best Always,

Holger

As with many of your landscapes or seascapes, not only are they appealing pictures of the natural world ( often with just a touch of human habitation), they work beautifully viewed from an abstract point of view as well. Your compositional talents are impressive.

A wonderful and dramatic composition...Great and crisp details with an excellent perspective, the picture is moody and I love the golden light which borders on the surreal. A skillful photograph my friend. Very well done!.

 

Best wishes, Dimitris.

For sure I like your color image that has this splendid tint on the sky and reflection too,I like how shadows reveal nice texture,shapes on the sand,spayed clouds a plus to image,ten points for this Alf.Lot of images like this to have in 2014.

I like the pattern of the sand in the foreground, and the vivid sky. The reflections of the sky in the water is great. Interesting eyecatch with the boatwreck in the foreground.

Sidsel

Awesome composition, I like the contrast of light and color.

Hi Alf,

Picturesque.....A+

A wonderful presentation my friend.

Best Regards, Mike

A splendid sky is highlighted with strings of gold.  They are then transformed into golden pearls in the tide.  I have no ideas whatsoever about the pirates who crashed their vessel at this location, but they certainly picked a magnificent landscape.  

Another masterpiece . . .

michael

Truly spectacular, Alf.  You caught perfectly the directional flow of water and sky. Another beauty.  ~~~~~~~~L

Hi Alf,

  Breathtaking scene with beautiful colors & composition.  Take care, Patsy

Love it - the hues,  the composition, the complexity of the foreground. This keeps me looking and interested.  Great work, Alf.

The sand looks like rough skin that has sloughed off this skeletal creature while the exposed ribs are reflected in the clouds.  The sunset in the beach channel adds excellent depth.  A well captured find...  Mike 

Compliments for this elegant and clever landscape: really a great work!

Alf, this is stunning!  The detail and perspective pull the viewer into the scene.  It really has to be viewed large to be fully appreciated.  Aloha.

Hi Alf

 

Wow! This image has to be viewed large to fully appreciate its captivating beauty.

 

I love the soft warm golden tones of the sky,reflecting perfectly in the sand and  those undulations in the sand  give a tactile feel to the image, the curve in the beach makes this a stunningly composed piece of art!

 

Whilst I am a fan of B & W images, I have to disagree with Yannis on this one as I feel the B & W conversion doesn't work with this particular image, in B & W it loses its "warm" feel....to me, those beautiful golden tones make this image what it is..... another one to add to my favorites :)

 

Very well done Alf and thank you for sharing :)

 

Warmest regards

Jacqueline

Many Thanks for your thoughts and positive feedback.

 

I wasn't sure about that curve I thought it might had led the viewers eyes away from the main subject, but's reassuring to read you find it interesting.

 

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

 

YANNIS 

 

Thank you so much for your thoughts and suggestions, much appreciated! 

I deliberately altered the white balance in this scene to promote the warmth of the sunset and whilst I like B & W photography, I'm not sure it conveys what I was trying for in this image. Always good to get an alternative view though! 

 

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

 

HOLGER 

 

Sincere Thanks for your thoughts and positive feedback!

 

The patterns in the sand were amazing and I have a few more shots that really make the most of them.  The sun and clouds combined to make equally interesting patterns in the sky. The changes that took place within a 1 hour time frame was quiet spectacular.

 

Best Wishes to you my friend! 

 

Alf 

 

JACK 

 

Sincere Thanks for your thoughts and as usual very astute observations! 

 

I often think that small touch of human evidence within an image kind of emphasises the natural world that surrounds it, and particularly when nature has changed and partially reclaimed men's clumsy efforts of creation.

 

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

 

DIMITRIS 

 

Thank you so much for your most eloquent and encouraging feedback!

 

The slightly surreal nature of of the image was, as you may have guessed intentional and with a purpose of accentuating warmth and drama.  It is very gratifying to read that it has succeeded in these fields.

 

All the very best wishes to you my friend! 

 

Alf 

 

RADU 

 

It is most heartening to read your supportive comments and positive feedback. Thank You! 

The low sun made the most of the patterns in the sand and I have quite a few more shots that demonstrate this. 

 

All the very best for 2014

 

Alf 

 

SIDSEL 

 

There wasn't much else on the beach that looked remotely interesting, so it was a case of waiting around for a while for the sun to dip and the colours to become more vibrant.  The stream of water prevented people from crossing to the side of the wreck that I took the shot from and therefore the sand patterns remained intact. I was fortunate I was wearing waterproof boots and crossed the stream to get these shots.

Sincere Thanks for your interest and kind words Sidsel.

 

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

 

VICENTE 

 

Many Thanks for your interest and positive feedback! 

 

I have a few more from this shoot that really empathises the sand patterns, hopefully I will get to post them in due course.

 

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

 

MIKE P 

 

Thank you so much! 

What was that Chinese proverb.........."A picture is worth a thousand words"  

All the very best to you my friend! 

 

Alf 

 

MICHAEL 

 

I love your description here Michael, it could have been penned by a great Pirate of the high seas, with "Strings of Gold and Golden pearls" adding to the very nature of richness I was trying to convey.

 

My Sincere Thanks & Best Wishes

 

Alf 

 

LINDA 

 

Sometimes nature works in harmony with the image you are trying to capture, and sometimes it does quite the opposite.  This was a rare day during the past two weeks when the weather was kind to me! 

Sincere Thanks for your interest and thoughtful feedback! 

 

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

 

PATSY 

 

Thank you so much for your thoughts and kind words.

 

It was a couple of hours well spent! 

 

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

 

WAYNE 

 

It's very gratifying to read that you like the patterns in the sand, I have a few more that really makes the most of this feature where I have dropped the camera down to almost ground level to take the shot. I hope to post one or two of these in the future.

Sincere Thanks! 

 

Alf 

 

MIKE M 

 

Rough skin and ribs.........and I thought my imagination was warped : - ) 

 

But, yes I do see what you mean.  Like one old dinosaur taking a photo of another! 

 

I got very lucky with the sun going behind that cloud bank and the patterns forming.  20 minutes later more grey cloud had formed and what promised to be a glorious sunset just didn't materialise. 

Many Thanks Mike! 

 

Alf 

 

MAURIZIO 

 

I really appreciate you interest and positive feedback! 

 

Cheers! 

 

Alf 

 

DOMINICK 

 

Thank you so much, it's very gratifying to read that the image works in the way you describe! 

I always optimise the image to be viewed at the larger size.  I know the sharpness of the image is compromised in some way when it is made smaller upon upload by PN  But I have recently had reports from another fine photographer on this site, that his work has experienced colour change that has been noticed in the smaller size, the larger size revealing the true colour. Anyone else experiencing this?

 

Cheers Dominick! 

 

Alf 

 

JACQUELINE 

 

Thank you so much for your interest and thoughtful feedback! 

 

It is most gratifying to read that the warm tones have been conveyed to an extent that makes this impression upon viewing.

I too love B & W and it's always interesting to get another perspective, but I also feel that in this case the warmth is an essential element that lends a bit of the drama to the scene. 

That being said, I might just dabble with a B & W version and see what happens! 

 

Thanks again Jacqueline! 

 

Warmest Regards 

 

Alf 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Alf,

I like the ribbed clouds, the details in the sand foreground, and the straight horizon.  Sorry to detract, but I find that the yellow (warmth?) is ghastly.

 

 

 

A really beautiful result with very nice lighting and colors, Alf!

 

A stunning image Alf, great foreground and lead in to the horizon. The colours are wonderful and very warming on a cold January evening.

Jed

I really appreciate your honesty and direct feedback. The colour is bordering on the surreal and not to everyone's taste.  In fact I'm not even sure to mine, as I usually favour a more subtle approach.

I have since processed a few more with less emphasis on the colour but still with the adjustment to the white balance and I have to say I think they look better. I will post another when I get a few minutes and hopefully you can let me have your thoughts about that one.

 

Cheers Jeff! 

 

Alf 

 

RUUD 

 

Many Thanks for your interest and kind words! 

 

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

 

JED 

 

This one is worth a visit if you can find it. (about a mile to the left from the car park on Ainsdale beach, low tide) 

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

 

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

 

Wonderful photo! Very good tonality and colors. Regards.

to me the resemblance of the forms: clouds and ribs of the wreck make this photo very appealing.