fun with lighthouses - DPChallenge Forums

03/11/2007 01:19:19 AM · #1

On a day trip out a couple of weeks ago I stumbled across a beautiful place called Wollongong which had some amazing views, and was a perfect day to capture some decent shots. When I got home and downloaded them I realised that I had the ISO on the wrong setting the whole time, and all of the pictures turned out really grainy.
I was disappointed but determined to get back out there at some point to re-take them. So that's exactly what I decided to do today, and once again the day was perfect and I made sure that before I started, all the settings were correct. I've put what I think are the best ones below. I would be really grateful for any critique/comments on any of the photos and of course I will more than happy to do the same back.

mpeters

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

03/11/2007 01:58:40 AM · #2

They look nice, I especially like #2. It has very nice lines leading to the lighthouse. Your sky is very good in all of them. Did you use a polarizer?

#1 seems like it be stronger if the lighthouse was more offcenter...Rule of Thirds and all that noise ;)
#3 I would prefer a bit more separation between the cannon and the lighthouse. They compete with each other for attention.
Of the seagulls I like the first one the best--your great sky again.
#6 Good shot of the waves. Maybe tweek the horizon a bit to level it.

I would change nothing with #2, it is perfect IMHO. :)

Where in the H is Wollongong? Good stuff and it looks like a place you could visit different times of the day and night and come up with some good pics.

Cheers,
Mark

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS for Nikon

03/11/2007 03:15:44 AM · #3

Mark

Thank you so much for your comments and constructive criticism :o)
I was very lucky with the sky today, I'm not really sure how or why it came out so clear and well. I do not as of yet have any filters (which may change after tomorrow when I pick up my new baby (70-200mm)) on my lenses and normally my photos suffer from overexposure on such a sunny day. I guess today I was lucky. Perhaps it was the way I was facing i.e away from the sun?

When you say tweak the horizon on #6, what exactly do you mean? Make it stand out more?

Wollongong is about an hours drive South from Syndey. I've only been in oz since september so most weekends I try and visit some place new and always take my camera with me just in case :o)

Greetmir

Nikon D60

03/11/2007 07:42:15 AM · #4

[quote=dewdodesign] Mark

When you say tweak the horizon on #6, what exactly do you mean? Make it stand out more?

No ... he said tweak it to LEVEL it ... and I agree ... as in do a small CCW (left) rotation on the image to make the horizon ... erm ... horizontal ...

P.S. I threw it into Photoshop and it tells me that 1.7 degrees counterclockwise will make the horizon perfectly level. ;)

I also agree that you don't need the bench and tourist's heads as a distraction in the first one. I would crop that out to the ROT as already mentioned.

I like the first seagull picture the best too but I do not think you need all that dead space on the left. I think the photo would be much improved if you cropped off the left hand quarter of the image.

I also agree that if you were standing about a meter to your left on number 3, that the separation of lighthouse and cannon would help the image a LOT.

All that said ... beautiful skies and some nice photos there for sure.

Oh ... and I ALSO agree that #2 is GREAT with the leading lines of the fence grabbing your view by the neck and leading it straight to the lighthouse. VERY nice image!

Message edited by author 2007-03-11 07:54:30.

03/11/2007 07:46:04 AM · #5

ah okay, I understand - I misread that one!
Thank you for clarifying Greetmir

mpeters

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

03/11/2007 03:55:34 PM · #6

Thanks for clarifying Greetmir ;)

Dewdodesign-- had to go to bed so didn't get your earlier reply until today. AGain, your sky looks great, natural polorization I guess!
mark

Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary

03/11/2007 06:14:44 PM · #7

Yeah - that's the problem with living out here in Oz, I find that by the time I actually get round to looking on DPchallenge, everyone else is in bed! ;o)

Thanks again for the comments.... who knows, I might even venture out there again for third time lucky!

MichaelC

Sony Alpha a7R III

03/11/2007 07:10:17 PM · #8

If you would like some more lighthouses without the long drive, checkout the Macquarie Lighthouse at Vaucluse. Both

Firsty & I have this in our portfolios and it is very photogenic. There is also an old one still there a couple hundred metres away.

I like getting there around sunrise/sunset to get a glow behind it (depending which way you are facing. I also prefer clouds at this time as it adds to the feel and you get great textures.

While you are up that way continue down Old South Head Road to Watsons Bay and take in the magnificent views over the entrance to Sydney Harbour. There the land mass is about half a mile wide between ocean & harbour and great views all around.

There is also some lovely old colonial homes open to the public (eg: Vaucluse House), and lots of old gun placements dotted along the cliff face.