LEGEND (click for larger view)

This wasn't a conscious effort to break all the composition rules, but I

managed to do that anyway : - ) After blowing highlights a few times, I

metered for the light at it's brightest point in the sky and decided a near

silhouette might be the answer. Does the composition and near silhouette

work for you? Your thoughts and observations are always appreciated

Thank You.

I like this Alf, far better when viewed larger. It reveals, I think a couple of people near the lighthouse and one can appreciate the effort it took to bring the sky to its full potential. I think that horizon might have been difficult to deal with. All in all a fine image. Take care my friend.

BR,

Holger

Yes, this works for me. I like the silouettes and the sky is beautiful with the vivid clouds.

Sidsel

I believe that metering on the brightest spot was a wise thing to do in this particular shot Alf. By that means you achieved to capture a nicely exposed and textured, highly dramatic, sky, which is an element that adds extra mysterious and epic mood in the composition. Saying that, I would like to state here that rules are not always necessary to be followed. This shot works fine for me exactly as it is. All it has to say is very well spoken! And this flying seagull in the deep end of the sky is the cherry on top! Great job! Compliments...

Yes, I agree, rules are meant to be occasionally broken... especially when doing so results in an image so nice to look at as this one. I love the close darkness, the silhouettes of the horse and promontory rock upon which sits the lighthouse. There is just enough light upon the lighthouse to make it pleasantly conspicuous, and no more. The exposure of the sky is perfect, revealing a lovely blue backdrop beyond a very interesting interplay of differently formed light and dark clouds. The sea in between everything settles and anchors the scene. The choice of format, or crop, is also excellent. I cannot think of a thing you could change to make the view better. (Maybe photoshop into the center a scene of Krakatoa erupting? But I jest!)

Hi Alf,

Love it, beautiful, stunning what more can I say. When you say meter the brightest part of the sky can you explain PLEASE.

All The Best

Gary

Hi Alf,

Me again, I just said to the wife, "if that was me I'd still be waiting for the horse to get out of the way"

lol

Gary

Yes, the way this is presented works for me. The skies are beautiful and the bird is the extra that immediately attracts the eye. You may have broken the rules but you still have a well balanced composition. The sun, horse and bird form a magic triangle that does wonders. If nothing else, the fact that regardless of it's size the horse becomes a compositional point element.

Regards, Tibi

Hi Alf,

  Wow...beautiful image with amazing sky. This work for me the enlargement is amazing.  Take care, Patsy

I think your decision to meter for the sky and let the foreground go to silhouette was a good one.  Great sky.  I wish there was a bit more context for the horse; it's backed up nearly to the edge of the frame, and I just want to "know" where it's coming from or going to, both of which may be impossible to show in silhouette form.  Good aspect ratio for this composition.

There's a story here that I'm not creative enough to write, a moment frozen with an expectant explanation. This horse is returning from... somewhere, and looks like he's moving slowly, heading home, all with this classically stunning backdrop.  All that to say... Great shot ;-)...  Mike

A most artistic and powerful composition. Almost surreal composition. The complexity of the sky is not diminished by the confrontation of animal and building. Superbly done. Congratulations.

DG

Alf,  rules are made to be broken, or as I saw on a sign in Paris, "Rules are for fools."  Is this a quarterhorse on the left; is it a real horse or a statue?  I'm OK with the silhouette, but wonder if you might want to open up the shadows a little bit more on the building.  I like the image a lot; it's well framed and the sky and light are wonderful.  Larry

A beautiful composition with very nice lighting, Alf!

Hi Alf, I love how the sea is framed by two figures of contrast, the horse and the light house,these elements work to give harmony and create a romantic scene, highlighted by the beautiful colors of the sunset. this is a picture that needs to be enlarge to better appreciate it. Very well done! :)

Warmest regards,

LuDa

Wonderful and elegant shot, really a little-big masterpiece!

WOW!! So lovely!!

Cheers

Many Thanks for your astute observations and kind words! 

As usual I optimise the image at the larger size in order that it can be viewed in detail. The down side of that is, it doesn't reach it's potential when viewed in the normal size. 

I can't honestly remember the horizon being a problem, but then it was a very spur of the moment shot taken whilst walking backwards to get everything in the frame.

Take good care Holger! 

Best Regards 

Alf 

SIDSEL

Thank you so much, I appreciate your input and positive feedback! 

Best Regards 

Alf 

YANNIS 

It was one of those sky's that just wouldn't come out right despite me using ND8 Grad filter in the first instance. In the end I dispensed with that notion and just metered for the sky and then re-composed the shot, albeit very quickly. 

I am very glad that you share my sentiments that "rules" should be stretched and even broken when the situation dictates. After all they are not really rules at all, just guidelines that sometimes help. 

Sincere Thanks for your thoughts and observations Yannis, very much appreciated! 

Best Regards 

Alf 

BERNARD 

It was a great pleasure to read your observations and analysis. 

I wasn't sure about the "light" upon the lighthouse, I did bring it out of the shadows slightly, but wasn't sure if I'd overdone it. So your words are most reassuring. 

Maybe a herd of Wildebeest sweeping majestically across the centre would also improve the view : - )  lol.......... But alas some things are beyond me even with the aid of Photoshop! 

Sincere Thanks & Best Regards

Alf 

GARY 

Many Thanks for your thoughtful feedback and kind words, much appreciated.

"Metering for the brightest part of the sky"  Sometimes the prevailing light is so bright, your choices of action are limited, Either use a very strong grad filter (which failed when I tried it) Or Bracket 3- 9 shots at + / - 1 EV settings. Which I couldn't because it wasn't tripod mounted at the time, and in all honesty takes forever to process with the large files sizes. Or meter for the brightest part of the sky.

OK Switch your metering to "Spot Metering" or "centre weighted" then, manually focus on the scene you want photograph, then choose  the portion of the sky that looks the brightest as your focus point, depress your shutter button halfway down, hold it there, and simultaneously depress the AE-L button (Auto Exposure Lock) then move the camera back to it's original position and recompose, then fully depress the shutter button to take the shot.  There is a whole section about this in most manuals that might explain it better for your particular make of camera, but the above is the general principal. It does take a bit of practice too, because I know quite often in my eagerness to get the shot I depress the shutter button too early : - ) 

Oh yeah......and there was actually another horse "in the way" you can just see it's backside, but thankfully it looks like a rock just below the other horse : - ) 

Cheers Gary! All the best mate! 

Alf 

TIBI

Thank you very much! But I can't take any credit for the bird, I only noticed it in processing : - )

I wasn't sure if the extreme left and right elements would make people look at it like a Wimbledon final, heads moving right and left, but now you mention that bird, well.........it does kind of knit it all together.

Best Regards 

Alf 

PATSY 

Thank you so much!  I appreciate your positive feedback and I'm really pleased that this appeals to you.

Best Regards 

Alf 

STEPHEN 

Sincere Thanks for your thoughts and invaluable feedback, much appreciated! 

I kind of wish that there was a touch more space behind the horse too, if nothing else than to balance the space to the right of the lighthouse. But I was originally only focusing  on the horse zoomed much closer in, so when I took this shot at its widest focal length, I was walking backwards and trying to get it all in the frame before the horse descended the slope. 

Best Regards 

Alf 

MIKE 

The story's and legends of this ancient place are many-fold, not least the story of St Dwynwen, the Welsh Patron Saint of lovers (Equivalent to our Saint Valentines) Though her day celebrated on the 25th January, in fact yes next Saturday! Now of course I could weave a tale about St Dwynwen returning to the Island every January as a horse, but I have a feeling that after my "Mary Bateman's Tree" story.......you just wouldn't believe me lol

Sincere Thanks Mike! 

Alf 

DANIEL 

Sincere Thanks for your thoughts and most encouraging feedback! 

The "surreal" kind of impression was what struck me too, and I was a bit hesitant about posting this, but it also captured my imagination so I thought I'd see how others viewed it.

Best Regards 

Alf 

LARRY 

lol @ "Rules are for fools" I like it! I guess we could all learn a bit more if we applied that logic to our work! 

I'm not really sure what a "Quarterhorse" is unless you mean a smaller than full size?......It is a real horse, one of the wild Llandwynne Island Ponies that just seem to roam around freely, mostly munching grass. In fact it's really difficult to get a shot of them without their head being buried in the long grass! 

I did originally lighten up the errm Lighthouse lol, but I then darkened it again fearing it looked a bit false with the rest of the image in shadow. 

Sincere Thanks for your thoughts and positive feedback Larry! 

Best Regards 

Alf 

RUUD 

Thank you so much for your interest and kind words! 

Best Regards 

Alf 

LUISA 

You must be very intuitive! It is most interesting that you mention "Romance" as I mentioned to Mike above, the Island has many stories relating to the 5th Century Welsh Patron Saint of lovers St Dwynwen, and it truly is a magical place to visit! 

Sincere Thanks for your most encouraging feedback! 

Warmest Regards 

Alf 

MAURIZIO 

Many Thanks for your interest and very kind words! 

Best Regards 

Alf 

ALBERTO 

So good to hear from you! I hope you are keeping well and Thank You! so much for your kind words! 

Best Regards 

Alf 

Alf,  Since you have captured and placed this real horse (quarter horse is a smaller breed )  so well where it creates the "conversation" in the image, I applaud you even more.  Larry

Superb...legendary! compliments -koushik

I think you made the right decison with the exposure . The sky is really impressive when viewed large ! Bill

Excellent composition with the mood of something deep.  Best Regards,

very good composition and light here...

When things don't fit, change the aspect ratio.  :-)  In truth I've always been of the opinion that the subject matter should determine the aspect ratio and not the reverse.  So I agree with your decision.   I also agree with others that your decision to meter for the sky was a great one.  This one has much more drama than if there were details clearly visible in the foreground.  The bird was a lucky accident I'm guessing, adding some relief to the large sky area.  Luck is good!  While I am of the opinion that landscapes are your strong suit I did like your recent post of the street musician.  I think the dog is there to clamp down on any hand near the container that isn't dropping coin. :-)  Always a treat to view your latest.  Best, LM.

It was one of those opportunity's too good to miss, but what with the presence of the other horse, a few people that walked by, and my initial inability to get the sky right I thought I had missed it!

Cheers Larry! 

Alf 

KOUSHIK 

Many Thanks for your interest and kind words! 

Regards 

Alf 

BILL 

The choice of exposure: - I was kind of forced down that road by the fact I kept blowing highlights even with the use of an ND8 Grad Filter, but on reflection I am glad it worked out the way it did!

Many Thanks & Best Regards 

Alf 

WANGHAN 

I like your choice of words "something deep" is exactly what I wanted it to convey, something beyond the ordinary I hope! 

Sincere Thanks! 

Alf 

MEHMET 

Thank you for your interest and positive feedback! 

Best Regards 

Alf 

LEN 

Proportions and aspect are very important considerations for the landscape photographer, and I do wish I could boast that I had given every consideration to both. The truth is however that I was initially focusing on the horse, and blowing the highlights in the sky. I then metered for the sky and realised the potential of getting the lighthouse and the horse in the frame, and started walking backwards (as I was fully zoomed in) to fit them both in the frame. And Yes the bird was an innocent bystander : - ) 

Ahh yes the street musician! Taken in my old home City of Liverpool. Glad you like that one!  Could be the dog was there to stop anyone removing the coins  : - ) 

Always good to hear from you Len! 

Sincere Thanks & Best Regards 

Alf