Pigeon Point Lighthouse sunrise

SeaSurfnBird

Just shot this on the morning of the 14th of December and wanted to get some feedback:thumb

Nikon D600
ISO 50 (L1.0)
F/27
30 sec
40mm
ND 1.2 Grad
Postproduction in LR4.3

W.W. Webster

SeaSurfnBird wrote: »

Just shot this on the morning of the 14th of December and wanted to get some feedback

The whole image appears to be sloping to the left. I'd start by straightening it before all the water drains away!

SeaSurfnBird

Thanks! I'll look at that again.

W.W. Webster

SeaSurfnBird wrote: »

Not much of a difference I think?...

That's because the horizon still slopes down to the left. I can't see any change. Have you posted the corrected image?

W.W. Webster

Uh-oh - you removed it!

SeaSurfnBird

W.W. Webster wrote: »

The whole image appears to be sloping to the left. I'd start by straightening it before all the water drains away!

Here it is after trying to straighten it in LR. I don't see much of a diff. :twitch I think it is an optical illusion with the clouds and the shape of the point. I looked at lens distortion too, but it seemed spot on.

SeaSurfnBird

W.W. Webster wrote: »

The whole image appears to be sloping to the left. I'd start by straightening it before all the water drains away!

W.W. Webster wrote: »

Uh-oh - you removed it!

wow! you are quick! I just refrased my reply, guess I shouldn't delete them before I post a revision. Opps.

W.W. Webster

I don't mean to be pedantic, and you will be seeking other feedback, but the image is still on a distinct lean to my eye, and when I enlarge it (as best I can) against a grid. Look at the masts, or are they power poles - aren't they leaning left to you?

If you used a very wide angle lens, that might account for some distortion, perhaps.

I'll leave it there!

SeaSurfnBird

W.W. Webster wrote: »

I don't mean to be pedantic, and you will be seeking other feedback, but the image is still on a distinct lean to my eye, and when I enlarge it (as best I can) against a grid. Look at the masts, or are they power poles - aren't they leaning left to you?

If you used a very wide angle lens, that might account for some distortion, perhaps.

I'll leave it there!

Oh I very much appreciate your input! Thanks . I did the same and messed around with lens correction under Manual Transform in LR, but it did not seem to help much. The lens is a Nikon 24-80mm shot at 40mm so I would not think there would be much distortion. When I use LR to crop tool angle it is set at .50 after I read your first post. Not much of a change from the original, but the grid horizontal line lines right up with the Ocean surface. I'm going to go look at those power poles now, because they could be off plum due to the wind and the Earth next to the road. Thanks again

Earache

Whew! Now that all that is settled, , I'll chime in.....
Yeah, it's a pretty remote spot, so time and tide have probably tipped those poles - besides, it's hard to find anything actually plumb in California - earthquakes and such.

Nice image - it's a beautiful scene and a dramatic sunset - my nits are the exact centering of the lighthouse and the hot spot on the left edge, though the blur/lighting on the water is great!

SeaSurfnBird

Nice image - it's a beautiful scene and a dramatic sunset - my nits are the exact centering of the lighthouse and the hot spot on the left edge, though the blur/lighting on the water is great![/QUOTE]

Thanks Earache, yes I too struggled with the lighthouse being in the center and I did crop it that way because the sunrise was way too hot on the left side and also to pull the eye more towards the water and rocks rather than the clouds above the crop. I shot it with the rule of thrids in mind with the lighthouse to the right. But also the dark area of the land to the lower left was just too big. I kind of wish I was lower down and closer to the water. The hot spot is probably my biggest issue as well and I might fiddle around with LR graduated filter. Thanks for you advise.

And yes, the power poles are way off plum, I just looked at them. I agree it still looks tilted even though I have tried to minimize it as much as I know how. :gone

kdog

Wow, great image! Terrific light and colors. Horizon looks straight to me. The power poles are slanted, but the lighthouse is straight. To me that indicates lens distortion. But usually barrel distortion would cause them to angle in. So not sure what the deal is unless you over-corrected it. I don't really see it an issue that detracts though. Great job on this otherwise.

SeaSurfnBird

Thanks Kdog!!!

spacefuzz

great sky and great water. Not loving the comp with the placement of the lighthouse, I know you explained why but it is what it is. Id be curious to see a vertical comp with the lighthouse centered, stepping through the forground to a strong vertical element.

SeaSurfnBird

Vertical comp

spacefuzz wrote: »

great sky and great water. Not loving the comp with the placement of the lighthouse, I know you explained why but it is what it is. Id be curious to see a vertical comp with the lighthouse centered, stepping through the forground to a strong vertical element.

Earache

I think this is a very effective crop - it bring into frame the most important elements nice!
BTW - Is this East or West Coast?

SeaSurfnBird

Earache wrote: »

I think this is a very effective crop - it bring into frame the most important elements nice!
BTW - Is this East or West Coast?

Thanks, I put it up as an alternative on my website. I like the horizontal crop myself, but to each his own. The angle of the rocks pulls my eyes to the left and so the curve of the cove pull it back to the lighthouse in the horizontal crop. Thanks for the tip, I appreciate it. This is California. Pigeon Point Lighthouse was built in 1872 and is 115 ft. tall and is tied as the second tallest lighthouse on the west coast along with Point Arena. Point Saint George is taller, but is on an island, so Pigeon Point is the tallest 'original structure' lighthouse on the 'mainland' west coast as Point Arena was rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake. Pigeon Point is great hostel too. http://norcalhostels.org/pigeon

SeaSurfnBird

Square comp
:devbobo