Picture is taken at Torrey Pines Gliderpoint using polarizer filter.
Adjustment of levels (automatic)
Dodged clouds, canopy and waves
Unsharp mask
Cloned out a few small gliders in the background and a couple of bright rocks on the cliff.
Sharpened the edge of the cliff.
Neat Image is not used.
Statistics
Place: 1 out of 258 Avg (all users): 7.8139 Avg (commenters): 8.6061 Avg (participants): 7.5603 Avg (non-participants): 8.2111 Views since voting: 22375 Views during voting: 427 Votes: 231 Comments: 74 Favorites: 63 (view)
#1: Oh great.. I get to critique a blue ribbon winner.. eeek
#2: A good photo and a fun moment, but a little too distant and hard to make out at first glance.
Composition/Content
I'm about as far from an expert on landscape composition as they come, but I do notice a few things about this photo that stand it out. The line of the waves does a great job of leading you into the photo, and up to the para-glider. In fact, all the lines in this photo help to bring your focus onto the para-glider and offer a nice sweeping dynamic. My first reaction is that the paraglider itself seems to be an after-thought and almost a distraction, but He/She certainly adds an extra element when you sit and view it for awhile. The likeness of the sail with the clouds and waves is a nice touch.
Background
The horizon and sweeping clouds make for a good dynamic, and the infinite DOF really works.
Camera Work/Technical
Exposure is really nice for a sunny day, and I expect you under-exposed in order to do post work. Focus seems a *little* soft to me in many areas, but I suspect the dodging might be the culprit there. I'm personally not too keen on the vignetting I can notice around the border of the image, which in my eyes really causes your dodge work to stand out a touch more than it maybe should have.
Digital Processing
For me, the dodging was just a little bit too strong. It's caused more of a soft-focus on areas where I would have liked to see it a bit sharper. The cliffs especially seem to fade into each other because of this. I like the effect it had on the waves and the sail though. Your clone work was nice, I can't tell at all where any of the cloned-out objects were. One problem I noticed with dodging too, is that when it does soften an image, it's practically impossible.. (with my knowledge of post-processing), to get that sharpness back. While I have touched on the fact that softness is something that bugs me a bit here, I have to say that you did a good job in not having it *too* soft, and then in not over-sharpening it after the fact.
Fits the Challenge
I'd say it's a pretty strong candidate for Stock Photography. It's got a good mass appeal.. (scenery and sporting), and could belong in any of a thousand publications. Apparently, others agree with me. heh.
My Opinion on the Photograph
I'm not overly impressed with the post-produced "look" of this photo, but for the challenge and in general, it's a great photo that people are going to like. Good job, congratulations on your blue ribbon, and happy shooting.
My daughter goes to school opposite this place (UCSD) I have taken some great shots of the hanggliders but nothing like this! Seems like this a hangout for Rebel/300D users! I'm especially glad to note that you used the kit lens for this picture - there is so much controversy over this lens' capabilities - I keep thinking I need to spend more money on L lenses, but this winning picture has changed my mind...
I also keep thinking about buying a better lens. The optics in the kit lens seems to be good enough for my level, but due to shaky mechanics the lens does not appear to me as a precise optical device. I do not think my picture will do a right thing if it prevents you from getting the lens of your dream.
Thanks again for the great comments to all of you, Nikolai
My daughter goes to school opposite this place (UCSD) I have taken some great shots of the hanggliders but nothing like this! Seems like this a hangout for Rebel/300D users! I'm especially glad to note that you used the kit lens for this picture - there is so much controversy over this lens' capabilities - I keep thinking I need to spend more money on L lenses, but this winning picture has changed my mind...
Congratulations on your blue ribbon, Nikolai! You now have the highest-scoring shot ever for the Canon Digital Rebel, a title that I held for all of one week (gee, thanks). It's amusing to note that I stood in the very same spot at Torrey Pines just last month. ;-)
wow - this is one beautiful photograph - i am impressed. The picture without the skydiver alone is perfect, but the skydiver just adds more interest and makes it that much better!
What an awesome sky. The surfline leading in from hte lower left is very nice compositionally. I want to see the paraplane a bit closer. Maybe a bit tighter crop?
Added to my favorites, I love anything that reminds me of California. This picture makes me want to get back on the plane and come back. Actually, yeah, I'm going, see ya!
Superb! Great contrast, the composition is beautiful, and the sky has helped you a lot here. Maybe a little more depth, the foreground looks a tiny bit soft. But that hangglider really adds up as well.
California Coast
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