Local Beach Rocks

[Phoenix]

OK, so I found a local beach with rocks! Bit more photogenic than the Swedish bikini volleyball team that clutters the local sandy one.
May have moved one rock to a better position. Only cost me a mild hernia.
south halls head beach
by JoMacca, on Flickr

South Halls Head
by JoMacca, on Flickr
I am beginning to think I would really really really like to get a polarising or gradual filter or three.
Oh and I did put the rock back.

[Gaz]

You had me at Swedish bikini volleyball team!

*The placement of the rock certainly adds to the scene...well worth the hernia. "Did you fill with a flash?"

*Beautiful colours in the sky and the sand. You've created some great highlights in that rock as well. "How'd ya go moving that one?"

It's about time I moved to the coast I'm thinking...Really missing scenes like this.


Cheers.

[Phoenix]

Hi Gaz, thanks for your comments and feedback.
I took a few images, with and without flash and did choose the one with the fill flash..well spotted.
Rock wasn't too hard to roll on the sand, but getting it in and out of it's rocky water filled hole was troublesome. If the volleyball team were there they could have helped. Maybe loaned me their boulder holders?
I am sure there are wonderous photogenic scenes where you live. I'd love to have more than swaps and beaches. Highest hill around here is the size of an average beer belly.

[Alan]

Beautiful rocks, esp #1 - light is terrific too.

I think this could work really well as a square crop to the left as is. Horizon looks like it could do with a bit of attention

Don't you just hate it when sports people think they can take over a beach. Feel free to post a pic of how they clutter it up

I have a couple of grad ND filters and have never used them - but then you know I'm pretty slack in that area

Cheers

[Phoenix]

Oh bottoms to the horizon, had to triple check and I hate it when you're right sometimes.
Now I would have posted those annoying sports-people but the horizons are all crooked.
A round rock in a square hole. I have been trained not to place the main subject centrally, but I can see there is a lot of boring space on the right. Like the extra contrast too.
Thank you.

[sejac]

I'm thinking the Swedish bikini volleyball team might do for photos much the same as poodles do .....

Now, where was I? I love these Jo. #1 is so dramatic, the way you have come in close to the rock, although the Swedish volleyball team would .... Whoops, there I go again. A seriously good shot. Now, I consider Alan to be a master in the area of composition, but I must say I do not approve of his edit. I don't know where he gets his fancy moder ideas about square crops from. Probably from an App on his iPhone, or tablet. I feel your shot really asks for a landscape mode presentation, leaving a bit of room on the rh edge to include a bit of the Swedish ...... Whoops, sorry. Ignore the last bit.

I like #2 a lot too. So much, that I did a quick edit. Hope you don't mind. Warmed up the sand, Fiddled with the sky to give a bit more contrast. I think I overdid it at the top a bit, but it perhaps shows what is possible. Lightroom has a built-in Graduated filter which allows me to do what I did easily. Highly recommended. when you use LR, graduated filter on camera are needed less!

[Phoenix]

I am sure the Swedish Bikini Volleyball team would be delighted to hear you place them as high as "poodle" in the photogenic stakes. A flattering comment indeed,
I am pleased you found time to have a play. I am quite nervous about adding too much colour, fear it will look fake. Usually use the graduated filter to reduce exposure and maybe adjust white balance. Reackon I could just cut the top half off and have the sand as the image with the way you've brought out the copper tones in the watery sand..
Thank you for taking the time to play.

[bill jolley]

I like your posts I have just brought a ND filter a variable one goes from 2- 400 or that's what leaflet said. Don't know how I managed without one before

[Phoenix]

Thanks for that Bill. Do you find it affects the image quality at all?

[bill jolley]

SORRY FOR NOT ANSWERING SOONER BEEN A BIT BUSY
I DONT THINK IT AFFECTS THE QUALITY BUT CERTAINLY HELPS WITH THE COLOUR I THINK AND SINCE I DO MOSTLY LANDSCAPES ITS A BONUS

[Phoenix]

Thanks for getting back to me.
I see what other people create with their vivid lanscape colours and figure there must be more to it than f16 and a tripod.

[P Plates]

Beautiful shots Jo. Particularly like #1, very dramatic and gorgeous rock. Far more beautiful than the Swedish volleyballers - so just ignore Alan and Charles.

I have a set of grad filters which I rarely use as I can do similar in PS. I do however, have various ND filters which I do love. Just wish we had old jetties or attractive rocks to use as foreground interest.

[Phoenix]

Appreciate your lovely feedback PP. I understand your frustration at a lack of interest at the beach. I started doing selfies and bringing along shells and other bits and pieces as I was frustrated with a lack of interesting foreground at the beach. So wish I could get away more.
Sometimes I shoot random people, surfers, fisherment, dog walkers etc. Sometimes I even asked random people to pose and they do!.
Sounds like ND filters are the go. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.