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Canon DSLR Challenge | all galleries >> Challenge 97 - Do-Overs & Second Chances (hosted by Jim Harrison) >> Exhibition > 6th Place
Seascape/Skyscape
by jnconradie
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05-JUN-2007 jnconradie

6th Place
Seascape/Skyscape
by jnconradie

Mauritius

Challenge 81: Simplicity
Challenge 67: In repose
Challenge 52: Nautical


HDR processing from 3 different exposures;
tone-mapping in Photomatix


other sizes: small medium original auto
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jnconradie01-Jul-2007 14:25
Thanks again, everyone. I am delighted that you liked it. Regards jnconradie
dennis laska30-Jun-2007 12:03
beautiful image. lovely colors. vote :0)
Canon DSLR Challenge30-Jun-2007 00:17
That's great, Tomi. It's this critiquing that has helped me learn so much. When I ponder why something works or doesn't, I learn lots. ~ LOnnit
Canon DSLR Challenge29-Jun-2007 18:39
It looks beautiful to me and the composition is fine. shu
Canon DSLR Challenge29-Jun-2007 18:36
neat HDRI, Nico!
fantastic colors.
I just learned through the comments why I like the composition soo much
;)
tomi
jnconradie29-Jun-2007 15:46
:-) Thanks, Lonnit! :-) Regards jnconradie
Canon DSLR Challenge29-Jun-2007 15:25
NO NO NO!!!! Pardon the pun, but you missed the boat!!! Everything says that this crop is wrong, but this is the crop that works! This is far superior to shifting the horizon to the upper or lower thirds. There's no comparison. A mid-line horizon is "undesirable" for two reasons: 1) It splits the image in half, which creates two separate images, leaving the viewer unsure as to what the subject is. 2) It is considered to stagnate the composition, as it is relaxing, not dynamic. My personal thought on it is that a mid-line horizon is extremely desirable in an image that is representative of serenity. One does not want tension in a serene image.

But here we have this serene image, yet there is tension in the sky. I don't think that hurts this image, I think that you have simply misinterpreted your own photo! You were thinking repose - relaxation, peacefulness, calm... But that is not the whole store here. This is those things, yet it is also about how life goes on, and the world still revolves while we are relaxed and not participating for the moment. That there is energy all around us - the world never sleeps. So yes, the image is physicall split, but it is also emotionally split. If you take away the energy, you are missing half the story, and frankly, cropping out the sky makes this an image that is pretty, with beautiful colors, but boring, boring, boring! When I crop the sky, I simply don't care about the picture. Your sky makes a huge statement. It gives the little boat reason to be tired. It's just perfect as it is, so you'd better not do a thing to change it! You were well justified it your risk. This is most definitely an instance where breaking the rule was essential.

Thank you, also, for your appreciation of my commentary. THAT means a lot to me! ~ Lonnit
Guest 29-Jun-2007 15:17
Beautiful image and processing. I simply have to rebel at the notion that having the horizon on the center line is "technically incorrect". -Michael
jnconradie29-Jun-2007 14:59
Dear Lonnit, thanks for your ever insightful and constructive feedback. You have no idea how much I value that! :-)

I definitely knew that I was taking a huge risk composing this one with the horizon exactly in the middle... and in retrospect could kick myself for not shooting other variations as well.

The only way I can explain why I did not crop it as per your recommendation is that I did not want the boat to be too dominant... I wanted it to be all about the water and the sky, with the boat sort of conveniently on the bottom-left thirds intersection.

I stand guilty as charged, though, about the horizon being in the wrong place. Oh, well, I needed an excuse to re-visit and try this again...! :-) :-) Regards jnconradie
ctfchallenge29-Jun-2007 14:44
Beautiful, Nico! I'm wondering here about the rule of not having the horizon in the middle. I think the image works as is, because it is so beautiful. However, I think the rule would apply well here. As I gaze at the image, my eyes are most definitely drawn upwards to the clouds, where they start to become highly textured. I force myself to return to the boat, but again, I am pulled up to the clouds. This tension is counterproductive to the serenity of the boat, particularly if you are going to claim "Repose" as one of the themes. Overall, I think that aesthetically I do prefer the image as presented here, although, if I scroll the image to crop the top and bring the horizon to the upper thirds line, there is no doubt that all the tension is removed from the image and the boat becomes the main subject. Right now, the clouds and the boat are competing for 1st place. I do find the sky essential to supporting the feeling of vastness, and cropping it absolutely does detract. It is indeed a beautiful image. I prefer this crop, even though technically, it is "incorrect". ~ Lonnit