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Soaring Over Stiltsville
Soaring Over Stiltsville
yakatme


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Best of 2009 (Advanced Editing VII*)
Camera: Nikon D80
Lens: Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4.0 AT-X Pro DX
Location: Stiltville, Biscayne Bay, South Florida
Date: Dec 19, 2009
Aperture: f/4
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/500
Galleries: Sports, Seascapes
Date Uploaded: Jan 16, 2010

 This was not my best shot of 2009. I entered it because I wanted to see the difference in how voters judge this image compared to the abysmal results from an image from a previous challenge.

The post processing of this image was greatly influenced from what I learned after starting this thread in which I asked for honest critique on my second worst score here at DPC. Here's that shot which scored onlyl a 5.1:

I asked for and received honest feedback which was a little brutal at times. I responded with more questions and the thread ended up being very helpful for me. Others also mentioned that they were watching this thread and also learned a lot.

One of the most helpful tips came from nshapiro who suggested that I create a duplicate layer that was converted to black and white and apply it in multiply mode. WOW, what a difference in the sky! Others, like Bear_Music also submitted their renditions which gave me a lot of ideas about how else to edit them.

Here's the original of this entry:

I still pushed the editing on this image further than what I would like for prints. I still think that DPC expects a little too much saturation, contrast, pop, and processing in general and that is what I did for this entry.

Some of the post processing steps were the above described multiply layer, multiple exposures masked, overlay layer masked, numerous control points in Nikon Capture NX2 (I love this program!), messed around with luminance and chrominance in overlay mode in NX2, dodge and burn, noise reduction and sharpening.

Some people don't seem to understand just what is going on here. I am standing on the bow of a boat that is anchored from the stern, so the wake in the water is from the kiteboarder (Tommy) and not from the boat. I am using a Tokina 12-24 for that wide angle feeling of being there and to have a deep DOF. I instructed Tommy to travel directly toward me and to jump within 6 feet of me. The wind at my back immediately sends him flying away from me so that I don't get hit (I've had some really close calls) and I take shot after shot trying to keep the kite within the top of the frame. He can easily launch himself more than twice as high as this but once the horizon is out of the picture you have no reference to judge how high he is.


Statistics
Place: 95 out of 445
Avg (all users): 6.2292
Avg (commenters): 7.2000
Avg (participants): 6.1436
Avg (non-participants): 6.5172
Views since voting: 1217
Views during voting: 428
Votes: 253
Comments: 23
Favorites: 2 (view)

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AuthorThread
 01/29/2010 12:59:40 AM
Your research into processing paid off with this shot. Good timing and composition for this in difficult circumstances, with everything except the house being in motion.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
01/28/2010 10:44:52 PM
that looks like a lot of fun!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2010 09:24:11 PM
Super capture. Excellent colors, especially on the water and sky.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2010 09:23:33 PM
Nice image overall. The bonus is the guy and his expression. Nice editing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2010 04:17:48 PM
Very cool action shot, love his expression.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2010 06:34:45 AM
I'm left wondering how on earth he got there!......6
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2010 01:27:52 AM
wonderful action capture, lovely PP work too , 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/27/2010 10:04:54 PM
Hey, it's stiltsville again! Nice work on the colors in this rendition. There's a part of me that wants to think it's just a little over the top, but the dynamism of the action in the image calls for something a little in-your-face. I works for me!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/27/2010 10:02:33 AM
Fun shot, very nicely done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/27/2010 08:06:00 AM
great shot, especially as he is looking at the camera!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2010 08:57:08 PM
this is a great location...and what a fun shot...really great job...I love the colors
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/25/2010 08:49:47 PM
That's a better one of the hut/house. Great lighting on the guy, the parasail gives a point of interest in the sky which then refers you to the rest of the sky. Great colours, I like it!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/25/2010 01:12:46 PM
Super action shot!! This guy is really the acrobat. Can imagine how difficult it must have been to get him comp wise like this and then with the familiar stiltsville Ive seen being used as practice for some pp work. Magic sky. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/25/2010 09:44:57 AM
looks like great fun
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/24/2010 04:49:08 AM
I don't know if this is the person who had a picture of this stilt building before but if it is you've done a great job in making the same place very exciting! The range of colours in this photo are great
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/23/2010 07:05:52 PM
Neat shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/23/2010 11:02:16 AM
Oh wow all this color, action and eye contact too! Love it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/23/2010 01:27:05 AM
great action stop
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/23/2010 12:03:06 AM
very cool. lots of excitement.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/22/2010 11:47:44 AM
I liked your original "Stiltsville"....."the kid" makes this one much more interesting, I guess you know his face is a little OOF..
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/22/2010 09:47:46 AM
What a great action shot! Definately a different dynamic than the other Stiltsville shot. Action and fun as opposed to quiet solitude. Love the parasailer's expression as he hangs out in the sky. "Hey check me out!" it screams:-) Love the changing patterns & colors of the sky and the details in the ocean - including the cresting of the waves in the bottom left corner. I'll bet this makes/made a magazine spreed! Well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/22/2010 07:17:04 AM
Pretty cool pic. Nice composition. I like how the guy is looking back with a "hey look at me!" expression. Nice image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/22/2010 01:01:33 AM
we saw guys doing this in malaysia your image is fantastic
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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