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Between a Sharp Rock and a Soft Place: Lizard Head Rock, Rye
1st PlaceBetween a Sharp Rock and a Soft Place: Lizard Head Rock, Rye
hotpasta


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Object Isolation by Contrast (Advanced Editing V)
Camera: Nikon D200
Lens: Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM for Nikon
Location: Lizard Head Rock, Rye Backbeach, Australia
Date: Dec 28, 2007
Aperture: F20
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/3 second
Galleries: Landscape, Seascapes
Date Uploaded: Dec 28, 2007

 The Image: This is Lizard Head Rock whick I entered in the Best of 2006 challenge. Went back there at 5:45am this morning to get some shots and got some nice stuff as the sun was coming up.

Used a slow shutter speed for movement (1/3 sec) and a small aperture (F20) for crispness and depth of field. I wish you could see the detail in the full size image. The blown out highlights from the sun on the left bother me, but nothing much I could do about that.

The Edit: Grayscale, Duotone, RGB, Levels, USM, D&B not in that order. Used Noise Ninja over the sky. I really worked the image using sharpening and d and b. Got the most I could out of it to increase the textures and contrasts between the sharpness and the softness.
The Prediction: Over 6????

Post: Well, thanks everyone! A personal best and a BLUE ribbon to start the year with...wonderful!

My last ribbon of the 8 I won in 2007 was on September 2, 2007. I thought I would never breakthrough. From November 20th to January 6th I have placed in the top 10 seven times, with two fourths, two sixths, a seventh in there. So this is a really pleasing result.

Here is an outtake image:


And here is another:


Just a little funny story about this image: When I got to the beach at twilight, I was alone on this huge expanse of sand and sea, no one in sight and just the sound of the waves. I ran towards the rock as fast as I could as I wanted to get some great light, and as I came to a rock ledge, there were about 6 very suspicious guys with backpacks sitting on the rocks waiting for something or someone. I thought: I am a gonna here. These guys are going to clean me up and throw me into the sea. I think they were illegal abalone divers.

I said a nervous 'Hi' and they watched me walk past them all the way to Lizard Head Rock. I was nervous the whole time, but eventually the early morning walkers and their dogs started arriving. Phew!

I had ALL my gear with me in my bag. Next time, I don't think I will go alone. I will drag someone out of bed as my protector...Sarah, my 16 year old daughter... :)

Statistics
Place: 1 out of 188
Avg (all users): 7.7683
Avg (commenters): 8.5000
Avg (participants): 7.4928
Avg (non-participants): 7.9684
Views since voting: 17963
Views during voting: 362
Votes: 164
Comments: 109
Favorites: 74 (view)

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AuthorThread
 09/30/2012 06:24:16 AM

NEW SHERPET 'JEWEL' AWARDS TO THIS AWESOME IMAGE IS ONE OF THREE THAT I AM GIVING MY SHERPET 'JEWEL' AWARD OF EXCELLENCE DUE THE THE TALENT AND AWESOME PHOTOGRAPHY FROM THIS PHOTOGRAPHER... FROM SHEZ...

CONGRATULATIONS ENZO XOX

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/08/2009 03:29:32 PM
WOW I like this a lott
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/16/2009 01:18:17 AM
Enjoyed the story! This shot is often in my mind when I'm shooting seascapes.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/13/2008 12:48:03 PM
Enzo-I may have commented on this already but if not..just to say that this is superb. Outtakes are great too.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/13/2008 12:35:31 PM
This is NUTS!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/08/2008 02:02:06 AM
AMAZING!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/12/2008 08:30:17 PM
Congrats Enzo on a another blue and a great shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/12/2008 09:17:06 AM
Congatulations...it was the obvious blue. Just perfect. I like your story. I bring a little can of pepper spray with me when shooting in lonely or frightening places - unless my 6'2" husband is with me - especially if he's in his tutu (then I KNOW no one will mess with me)! **** Back again. Just noticed this is a new PB for ya. Double congrats!!

Message edited by author 2008-01-12 09:18:16.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/10/2008 05:38:27 PM
I love the way you have used contrasts!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/10/2008 11:52:19 AM
Magnificent shot, congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/09/2008 06:17:21 PM
Well done Enzo, a well deserved personal best for an amazing image. I have been looking to capture something in this spirit, I am thinking more and more of getting that 10-20 lens :o)

Added it to my favourites.

JJ
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/09/2008 05:28:46 PM
Awesome shot.. amazing score as well eh?

Nice one matey
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/09/2008 02:28:10 AM
Hi

I love your shot of the rock, and I live at Rosebud, perhaps you could settle an arguement and tell me where the rock is..

once again wonderful shot.

Pat
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/08/2008 09:20:21 PM
Oh my - congratulations - awesome shot!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/08/2008 07:16:48 PM
Oh what an awesome shot!! Congratulations on the Blue and a stunning image!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/08/2008 02:08:25 PM
Great use of light and texture. Good enough for a ribbon, so you got one. Nice pristine sand, too.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/08/2008 08:38:04 AM
Stunning image, the tones in this are beautiful.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/08/2008 01:07:56 AM
You made the right choice! This one is exquisite and your PS work really paid off. Bravo! Ann
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/08/2008 12:18:39 AM
Absolutely a beautiful image!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 09:57:54 PM
I loved the photo during the challenge (gave you a seven). It wasn't my pick to win, mainly because I felt that the contrast portion had a lot to do with the post processing (dodge/burn). Still you can not deny the beauty of the photo. Incidentally I would have given it a higher rating in FS.

Also, on a side note, I especially like your first outtake, even more so than your entry.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 09:01:47 PM
I'm glad u used this outtake and also that thosae joggers showed up :) Congratulations Enzo!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 08:23:24 PM
This is eye sushi

delicious and wasabi

leaves me euphoric
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 06:11:40 PM
the sigma 10-20 is such an amazing lens. i love mine. it looks like you love yours too..... =]
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 04:57:04 PM
Look at you go Enzo. Great image, amazing score. Me and Oliver are going to be gunning for you this year. Watch your back. ;)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 03:24:54 PM
this is absolutely beautiful. great job...in awe
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 03:24:30 PM
Coming back around again, I think this image ROCKS!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 02:56:07 PM
Wonderful image - well deserved Blue
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 02:42:00 PM
Absolutely stunning image, Enzo. If Nick Brandt took landscape/seascapes - he'd wish for the book cover to look something like this. Straight into my fav's.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 01:02:56 PM
some really beautiful treatment here, lovely mix of tones and motion/ sharpness.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 12:13:43 PM
stunning Enzo, congrats on the ribbon, but more so your PB, nice one ;-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 11:32:11 AM
What a stunning shot, congratulations on your blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 10:10:36 AM
masterfully done, congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 09:39:36 AM
Hi Enzo, congrats on the blue - fantastic shot !!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 09:38:54 AM
Congratulations on another amazing shot. I would love to see that in a large size.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 08:47:15 AM
Originally posted by photom1946:
A wonderful TEN!!!! amazing, perfect, and probably the winner.


I'm so pleased you won! Congratulations...AGAIN!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 08:19:38 AM
Congrats, Enzo - an absolutely spectacular image!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 07:16:56 AM
WOW not only a blue but a PB. Congrats man... Well done
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 07:05:05 AM
Congrats Enzo
being a Melbourneite and a frequent peninsula visitor i must admit i havent been there
i might have to drop in on Friday when i'm down that way
congrats again on the blue ribbon
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 06:45:14 AM
Great
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 06:32:06 AM
Great tones awesome image Congrats Enzo!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 05:25:06 AM
stunning shot. Well deserved.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 05:12:02 AM
Congrats Enzo, well deserved blue, shove it in the box with the rest *WINK*
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 04:58:41 AM
Beautiful photo, well deserved ribbon,Enzo you are a hi class photographer ....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 04:27:21 AM
Outstanding image, well done.. congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 04:16:09 AM
congratulations,well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 03:51:11 AM
wow, amazing! congrats on the blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 03:28:32 AM
Congrats for this amazing great blue ribbon Enzo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 03:28:16 AM
Lovely work, Enzo! Congrats on the blue! Love a B&W scape! : )
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 03:18:34 AM
Congratulations on your blue ribbon and PB.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 02:52:55 AM
Congrats, Enzo, on a very well deserved ribbon for a wonderful image and your new PB!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 02:45:07 AM
What an image! Congrats on the blue - well deserved.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 02:04:41 AM
Special work Enzo. This is sublime. Faved for sure and congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 01:55:48 AM
You are UNBELIEVEABLE - I think this is SUBLIME! SO PROUD to 'know' you - hope the knowing rubs off on me one day - GRIN!

This image is BEAUTIFUL! WOW
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 01:54:10 AM
Yes...yes...yes....

I am so dam pleased about this fine result, and that you won the BLUE.....

This is totally awesome and congratulations Enzo, my dear Aussie DPC friend
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 01:45:06 AM
Great shot and the out takes are breathtaking as well ... nice work ... even nicer that it's taken in Aus!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 01:38:25 AM
Heyyyyyyyyyyyyy congrats on a great image. Beautiful details.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 01:32:38 AM
OMG what an amazingly captured photo! You really got it! Congrats on the blue ribbon, it deserves two. LOL.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 01:28:00 AM
Beautiful image Enzo, and a beautiful spot, i've been there...... Congrats on a great start to the year, and thanx for your comments..... Alan
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 01:13:20 AM
Huge congrats on the blue, Enzo. This is a most stunningly beautiful image and just so perfect for the challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 01:02:54 AM
Congratualations Enzo, really captured the theme in this shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 01:01:25 AM
Nicely composed & wonderful textures. Congrats on the blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 12:59:03 AM
beautiful shot, congrats on the first!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 12:54:50 AM
Excellent! The contrast, tones and slight sepia were perfect for this shot. Congrats on the personal best!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 12:54:06 AM
Wow Enzo, way to go!! Congratulations on a well deserved blue ribbon and a new personal best!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 12:38:08 AM
one of my top choices! CONGRATS on the Blue!

so well seen and so well done
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 12:29:06 AM
This is amazingly beautiful. Congrats on the blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 12:28:28 AM
Congrats, awesome work!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 12:23:53 AM
Congrats, Enzo, on another stunner! Topping "Sunrise Waves" is really an accomplishment.

Message edited by author 2008-01-07 00:24:23.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 12:22:12 AM
Stunning B&W effort. Congrats Enzo!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 12:21:57 AM
Congratulations on a superb b/w editing job Enzo - this is a well deserved blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 12:13:28 AM
Yep - you got the magic touch with this one. Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 12:09:22 AM
wonderful. amazing, really amazing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 12:08:42 AM
Enzo!!! I am thrilled for you!!! Woo Hoo on your Blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 12:06:41 AM
Congratulations! Stunning image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 12:04:11 AM
Congrats Enzo. This is awesome.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 12:03:42 AM
Grats on the ribbon - well deserved.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 12:03:08 AM
This just comes to prove I dont know what I am talking about lol
Anyway Grats on your shot. Excellent photo. :P
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2008 12:01:36 AM
Hot damn Enzo! I knew you still had it in you... :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
01/06/2008 10:48:44 PM
Love the tones and composition of the shot. Like how you've burnt the bottom part of the shot, have mixed thoughts about the top right part though. But it comes together quite nicely. Top10 fave.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/06/2008 06:34:04 AM
10. One good photo. I enjoyed it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/05/2008 10:26:21 PM
Wonderful!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/05/2008 09:28:24 PM
This is a very nice capture, and a nice of black and white.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/05/2008 08:10:55 AM
What a superb photograph! The detail and texture is incedible, and the mono conversion masterly - Excellent!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/04/2008 06:43:09 AM
8 - Wow, excellent use of contrast all through the image. Looks like a beast arising from the sea. Really like the shoreline. Tones are very nice. Good qualities in this image make me almost not notice (or care) the horizon (just a personal thing). Guessing the gradient upper right is color in the sky.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/03/2008 04:04:29 PM
Looks alive. Great contrast throughout.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/03/2008 03:21:13 PM
love the long exposure on the sea, as well as thw shape of the rock against the sky. B&W really suits this shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/03/2008 11:53:36 AM
Outstanding photograph. This to me is a masterclass in texture and lighting! Everything from the sharpness of the foreground sand to the details of the rock look amazing, with light and texture changes all over the place. This is one of those photos I wish I'd taken :) The only thing I think that could improve this photo would have been a more interesting sky, but hey, just being nitpicky.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/03/2008 10:05:51 AM
A wonderful TEN!!!! amazing, perfect, and probably the winner.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/02/2008 10:03:47 PM
gorgeous image! 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/02/2008 12:01:00 AM
Simply outstanding. You've taken a simple subject and elevated it into something special.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/01/2008 08:24:53 PM
stunning. just stunning.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/01/2008 08:02:03 PM
I like the burning here - it creates beautiful tones, and the contrasts are splendid.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/01/2008 06:09:30 PM
What a stunning photo!!! I'd love to see this one on the front page. Good Luck!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/01/2008 10:19:26 AM
very nice
7
Jack
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/31/2007 07:35:02 PM
excellent shot , excellent choice - 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/31/2007 05:25:14 PM
gorgeous. one of the best in this challenge
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/31/2007 10:51:39 AM
Stunning!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/31/2007 10:49:03 AM
I really hope you Ribbbon. Full on 10! Stunning
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/31/2007 10:35:30 AM
Easily my favourite in the challenge. Wonderful B&W composition with outstanding sharpness and contrast.

Meets the challenge very well and I shot that I would give my eye teeth to have taken

Beautiful...I so hope this ribbons for you, bump to 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/31/2007 10:03:56 AM
Great job ! This captures the essence of this contest beautifully.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/31/2007 09:40:46 AM
wow this is really stunning. love it!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/31/2007 08:31:45 AM
vignette is ok here imo. nice shapes. you made the water look cool.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/31/2007 07:45:11 AM
Good
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/31/2007 06:21:31 AM
Ooh da looly, I'll look for this on the homepage.
Edges look a bit over vignetted to me, but maybe that's just my opinion. At the same time that I like the editing, I don't like it. I like it because it draws me into the image and has a great tonal value and emotional impact. But I don't like it because it looks unreal. The edges really that dark? The sand really that bright just right there? The lighting on the surf really like bright on one side and faded on the other? Really?
Nitpick: the title could be a lot simpler imho. Something like "Lizard Rock" or "Between" would have sufficed.
Another nitpick, rock looks oversharpened. All that being said, I love how this image turned out, and I'm sure the rest of DPC will as well. And that's why I say I look forward to seeing in in the top 3. I hope to join you there, but I guess we'll see.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/31/2007 04:24:25 AM
love this picture awsome tones and contrast
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/31/2007 04:17:14 AM
Very Nice!! I love the way that the light hits the beach and the smoothness of the water.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/31/2007 12:29:53 AM
beautiful, shame nothing really stands out here as far as contrast 6
 12/31/2007 12:20:18 AM
OMG!!! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/31/2007 12:07:48 AM
That's truly inspiring.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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