"Sunset at Deception Pass"

Would like to hear your feedback on this. Does the barrel distortion

bother you? Too much sky, not enough water? Thanks in advance for

taking the time.

Wonderful photo. I probably would have left a little more water, but this is a great composition. Seeing it this way, I'd leave it just as it is. Great shot

Trademark Sunset Tsoi at work again. Love it! Can't think of anything to improve it. Awesome sky.

6/6

Me thinks a little too much sky. The sunset works just fine. Colors are awesome.

Beaytiful sunset colors!!

 

Rgds, allon. (7/6)

too big file for Internet purposes, but the picture looks great

Um ... here's that TRUE TSOI that they're always talking about. :-) LOVE IT!! Nothing to criticize here, Wilson!!

Lovely rich colors! And no flare, kudos to you.

Great color and lighitng!

Pic has been overbrightened in photoshop by the looks of the sun halo. How can a digital pic of a sunset surpass the rating of large format or even high end 35mm i dunno. The cloud scheme is quite dramtic and unusual........lets blow it to poster size and see....5/5

Dramatic sunset photo with awesome clouds.

Paul, I tried to see things in big picture, so after reading your recent gallery comments (17-SEP,) it is evident that you are having a serious internal conflict regarding your equipment issue, debating whether to dump the Nikon F5/F100 + films combo, and go with a digital set up. With that in mind, you examined the highly rated photos and tried to answer your own question in the form of comments (do appreciate your frankness on them.)

 

Whatever you end up deciding, it's your call, but I never assume that a small image from a 1/1.8 CCD digital compact will hold up against a 4x5" E6 when doing >8x10", but then again, Photo.Net's requirement is "no more than 1024 pixel long." Paul, was there a minimum print size requirement that I wasn't aware of, 12"x18", 20"x30",) and if so, my decision about which equipment to use would have to consider that fact, and yes, I will then most likely opt for a format that will yield that required print size. We still use Toyo, 4x5" Ektachrome 64 at work for packaging photography (requires reproduction of 12x18" and up,) but I'd rather carry a Canon A80 on my hip when travelling on biz.)

 

Meanwhile, judging from your photos , equipment is the last thing I would be worrying about. But if you insist on showcasing your images as a large 20x30" prints, I believe the easiest, most accessable venue would be your local fairs and not Photo.Net since its format can not readily exploit all the detail you may have captured on Sensia. At those fairs, the viewers and judges can then truly appreciate the blown up prints and therefore, your images more appreciated.

 

I trust that my reply is sensible, civil, and must say that not everybody on Photo.Net would take the time to consider your big picture, look into the background, and reply in a similar manner that I have here. Regards, Wilson.

The sun looks vivid and real. It looks like you can reach out and touch it. This is quite an accomplishment considering the camera. This of course speaks volumes about the technical and artistic ability of the photographer. Wilson it is always a pleasure to view and always try to make myself a better photographer from the positive contributions people like you make on this site.

What a nice moment you have captured Wilson! Beautiful!!

Wilson, my compliments for this beautiful and bright sunset. The exposure is perfect and the composition beautiful. It is beautifully real! Warm Congrats!

Ben, thanks for your perspective. Peter, likewise it's always a joy to view your wide scope of work, and what one can learn from it is only limited by one's openmindedness. Angel, gracias. I'm sure there are many moments like this in Spain (I still plan to go one of these days.) Grazie Roberto, have a safe trip and keep those sunsets and landscapes coming! ^_^

Nothing bothers me in this magnficent picture. I like the proportions between sky and sea. It's obvious that a sunset picture must have the sun in the low part and the sky occupies the rest of the place.

^^^^^ that sound you hear is clapping. You responded to Mr Greenwood so nicely. Now back to the image. The barrell distortion, I think, gives the clouds that look of almost being able to pluck them out of the sky, so I see no problem there. I don't agree with Howard on this one, I think there is just enough water to reflect the glorious sunset. You are such an inspiration and teacher. I have no suggestions for improvement definately a strong 7/7.

Wilson, this is a nice composition itself, but...IMHO you've pushed color (or just levels) too much. Maybe it's just me, and I maybe wrong, but my guess is that more gentle color/density would be a plus here.

 

To Ben's remark I can only say that it's better to focuse on dicussing the image rather than argue with third-party opinions, tastes are different and the ability to hear your opponents may be helpful sometimes.

Vlad, I appreciate all critiques equally, be it from Paul, Ben, Jack, Jill, Hansel, Gretel, or you. Also, I hope that I don't have any "opponents" here, or should anyone in Photo.Net. I thought that it's a "community" here, one that we all learn from each other and improve ourselves photographically. Vlad, your insight regarding dialing back saturation a bit is well noted and thank you. BTW, by directing your last paragraph to Ben, you've just put yourself in the same position that you had accused him of, yes? Just a thought. ^_^ Peace out.

Wilson I agree with you I see photo.net as a learning community, and respect of others is one of the main ingredient if we want to help others to learn. BTW let's have fun children are always learning that way!and I like your photo!(sorry for my english!)

Wilson, this shot is spectacular! We went over the Deception Pass bridge on our honeymoon back in 1997 and the area is truly lovely. Fantastic use of the clouds and wide angle here. The sun might use a little toning down but otherwise nicely post processed. Keep up the wonderful work!

Sorry, I can't understand your personal attack with the statement "Meanwhile, judging from your photos , equipment is the last thing I would be worrying about."...No Wilson i would not consider that "sensible or civil"...but whatever, i was attemping to be honest and objective, wasn't "attacking" your particular picture but commenting on "the big picture".

 

This has nothing to do with photonet requirments. Lets blow it to poster size and see, is an analogy meaning, "if something is posted on here as a postage stamp is it really possible to tell the difference between a large format or a disposible camera ?"...i think you know i was implying that.

 

To make it clearer i was considering digital updating, yes. You see all these pictures here rated very high taken with D100's etc. They are stunning when they first come up on the screen. The digital seems to add a "dreamlike" quality to the image and also it portrays the colouration in a unique fashion.... (referring to landscapes here)

 

However..when you save it and zoom it a bit it becomes a paper tiger. Resolution quickly drops off. The pictures are pretty when presented in this format, yes BUT "blow it up, hang it on the wall and lets then see what we have" is only a way of asking... how can a pic with only 6 megs of resolution rival say a pentax 6x7...with what 100 x the resolution?...so why the unrealistic ratings associated?....because nobody looks too deeply is why.

 

See Wilson a lot of people here bring up the pic for 10 seconds..are wowed, rate it and off to the next one. Your particular pic immediatly grabs the eye because of the extrodinary cloud colouring and configuration...in fact it is 80% of the scene and holds the eye there. The sun is secondary to the scene itself and more of a reference point than anything else. The pic speaks drama very well in relation to the scene at hand. You as the photgrapher are saying "hey look at this great sunset" and score high in originality because you did that well.

 

On the other hand i am wrong about overbrightened in PS..dropped it down a pile and various things and it didnt make a differce at all to the sun being totally blotched out and unrealist. In my view this is the failure of digital metering or basic quality to handle the extreme contrast of the scene, and just blotched out the sun..the sun is round in reality, we know that. In this scene its just a mess..its not obscured by cloud either. Maybe a ND filter was required, thats possible. Grayscale this pic and blow the sun...we know its there but where is it??...In other words i am saying the camera doesnt have the quality to portray the entire scene like a large or med format does...it has a certain "eye candy" that wow's when presented and people rate based on that then move on.

 

I had a coolpix before and traded it in on this F5..they seem to excell at certain scenes, still life..or produce dreamy landscapes but my personal view is "its either a portrayal of reality or call it art". The definition is always up for disscussion, as we know, but i believe your pretty pic here is more of a documentary on a beautiful sunset than an attempt at an "art" type portrayal. So based on that i would rate it 4/6....previous rating was wrong.

 

Have posted a similar pic to demonstrate these thoughts..not as dramatic in the originality but the same "type" sunset. Those mountains on the horizon are 40 miles away..Vancouver Island...feel free to critque it Wilson...thanks.

 

http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2709824&size=lg

Paul, thanks for your elaboration. By the way, I never said once that your comment was an "attack," and never felt like I was attacked. I simply observed, anaylized, and provide feedback accordingly. Like I said, I appreciate all feedback, and stated that I comprehended your saturation comment, and readily accept whatever ratings anyone care to leave. In return, I also hope that you can accept my thorough analysis, presentation of different scenarios, and my honest opinion which you unfortunately viewed it as a personal attack. I certainly hope you don't. Nevertheless, my opinion remains unchanged. Paul, even though I may have different perspective based on many of your gallery comments, I in fact do agree with quite a few of them. We all have different opinions, and I feel that's what make photography interesting. By all means, please don't stop making your critiques and ratings any work, mine, or any others on Photo.Net. Like I said, I do value your frankness. Lastly, when you finally decide on your equipment, do let us all know what you end up with. Peace out and keep on shooting.