Storm over Kennedy Hill in Broome.

[loose cannon]

Aboriginal people used to collect cockles from the creek system at the base of this dune. Countless thousands of shells on this dune and surrounds.

I'm trying to produce a few images with a Broome flavour for an exhibition and thought this one would suit. First of many from this upcoming storm season I hope!

The idea of an exhibition was dead in the water due to a lack of finance but things are looking up. Currently saving for a printer and once that materialises I'm good to go.

Plan to exhibit some desert images but feel the need to present a few Broomy ones as well. All will be b&w btw

With this image I liked the curve of the dune, the shells obviously, the line of thin cloud that runs across the image just above the small tree. Decided not to crop at all because I like the dark sky at top as it frames the image.

Exif: Sigma dp2 Merrill 1/400 f/11 i100


Thoughts?

[Toddyh]

I like it and my only suggestion would be that darker clouds generally look more menacing. Not sure if you can extract a bit more 'colour' from them?

[loose cannon]

I did give thought to that Todd and decided against in the end.

It would look more menacing with some contrast added to the sky and I might revisit that, hope to get my hands on Silver Effex soon , great software for processing b&w and have another go at this.

Thanks for the feedback.

[seaslug]

I quite like what you've depicted in this image but without your explanation I would not have guessed there were shells covering the dunes. Would it be possible to do a wide angle close up of a shell in the near foreground and still retain what you have there filling the landscape?

[loose cannon]

Another good suggestion. Thanks Greg.

Not sure if I can crop in that far though, maybe next time. I expect to take a few images in this area over the wet season and might give the Siggy 8-16mm a run. It doesn't get enough time on the front of my camera!

This image will be instantly recognizable to locals as Kennedy Hill and I must say, has softened a bit at upload.

Viewed on my monitor at full size the shells are quite noticable and sharp as a tack.

I'll be printing this quite large too and that should help.

[P Plates]

Interesting shot and story behind it. I too wouldn't have known they were shells but as you say it will be familiar to the locals and better resolution shows them more clearly. Good luck with the exhibition - you do b&w well.

[loose cannon]

Thanks Gabby.

I love b&w and have been told it's a bad idea to mix colour and b&w at an exhibition so have chosen to avoid colour this time around.

[Isac]

Beautiful PP on this Mick. Being a sucker for B&W (same as thy Sage), I'd leave it as it is. Sometimes less is more so they say. It has a surreal feel to it almost like an infrared image. Great work.

[Alan]

Looks good Mick. I'm always tempted (and seldom resist), to increase the drama in the sky (I blame Charles as usual).

But I can see how your restraint has resulted in a natural and satisfying image.

Cheers

[loose cannon]

Thanks Alan.

[Alan]

"Shells stipple old dune....

[loose cannon]

And twinkle on a full moon...

[Alan]

'twinkle?!

Elders turn in grave

ok 'stipple' is a bit dubious too, but I'm a bit attracted to alliteration

it's not easy to get this ancient and classic literary art form to come together, esp if you add a photo to the mix

http://www.creative-writing-now.com/...e-a-haiku.html

[Phoenix]

I like: the gentle curve of the hill, the stark black tree that breaks up the foreground, the natural sandwiching with the darkening sky and the darker sand, the gentle leading lines up the dun but the way the clouds seem to be crawling towards the viewer is my favourite part.