Western Union sailing out of Key West

Dixie

This is the Western Union which sails out of Key Westk, Florida. It was originally used to lay telegraph cable on the ocean floor - hince the name Western Union.

It is now used to carry passengers on sunset cruises, etc.

This was taken during a very hazy sunset. I did enhance the sunset slightly with PS using the 85B Warming Filter and a slight saturation increase.

Comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Click on the image for EXIF data.

annnna8888

Wow, lovely colors. I would make the format of the photo more a landscape one and crop a bit at the top and bottom though. You did great with post - one couldn't tell the day was hazy.

Ana

Angelo

Dix:

Another magnificient image. Your artistry is beyond compare.

Fred W

Nice shot Dixie.......you're inspiring me !!!!!

saurora

annnna8888 wrote:

Wow, lovely colors. I would make the format of the photo more a landscape one and crop a bit at the top and bottom though. You did great with post - one couldn't tell the day was hazy.

Ana

Dixie

annnna8888 wrote:

Wow, lovely colors. I would make the format of the photo more a landscape one and crop a bit at the top and bottom though. You did great with post - one couldn't tell the day was hazy.

Ana

Thanks for the comments, Ana. Normally I would agree about the cropping, but I was going for the sky and ocean coloring as well. The only reason I cropped at all is because the photo didn't look correct in full frame because I had to have the sailboat to the right side of the frame making it look like it was sailing out of the frame. There were channel markers and some nondescript boats out in front of the sailboat so I shot the photo with the bow of the sailboat close to the right edge leaving the distractions out which left way too much open area behind the boat. The sun was directly behind foresail.

Ideally, I would have been able to zoom in on the boat, but the only lens I carried with me was a 24-70mm and the photo was shot at the max of 70mm. Sometimes you just have to take what is given and do the best you can with it.

The haze was on the horizon behind the sailboat, but in front of the sun diffusing the sunset and making everything have the orange glow.

Dixie

Angelo wrote:

Dix:

Another magnificient image. Your artistry is beyond compare.

Thank you, Angelo. Your comments are always appreciated.

Dixie

Fred W wrote:

Nice shot Dixie.......you're inspiring me !!!!!

Thanks, Fred. Am I inspiring you to shoot or to sail? ...or both?

Dixie

saurora wrote:

Thanks. See response to Ana.

Fred W

Dixie wrote:

Thanks, Fred. Am I inspiring you to shoot or to sail? ...or both?

Hi Dixie,

I won't be sailing but I'll be starting my vacation at the Jersey shore again tomorrow. My big boat is out of the water right now so the best I can do is use my kayak. There will be plenty shooting going on including sunsets, surfing, birding, boat shots......the works. Posting to follow.

ChrisJ

Beautiful shot, Dixie. I don't mind the crop at all. The only thing that slightly slightly distracts me is that it looks like there's a small boat on the horizon in the middle of the subject boat. Very minor nit, and they might just be flags on the sailboat... Perfect exposure.

Seanna

Dixie,

Now that gets my pulse thumping, would love to climb aboard and go . . .
Lovely image.

DavidS

Beautiful.

Dixie

Fred W wrote:

Hi Dixie,

I won't be sailing but I'll be starting my vacation at the Jersey shore again tomorrow. My big boat is out of the water right now so the best I can do is use my kayak. There will be plenty shooting going on including sunsets, surfing, birding, boat shots......the works. Posting to follow.

Fred,

I wish you good shooting, good boating and a great vacation. I will be looking forward to the posts.

Dixie

ChrisJ wrote:

Beautiful shot, Dixie. I don't mind the crop at all. The only thing that slightly slightly distracts me is that it looks like there's a small boat on the horizon in the middle of the subject boat. Very minor nit, and they might just be flags on the sailboat... Perfect exposure.

Chris,

Thanks for the comments. ...and you are observant. However, it isn't a small boat. It is as large as the Western Union if not larger. It was quite a ways the other side of the Western Union, but had RED sails which really stood out. I debated on taking it out - maybe I should have.

Dixie

Seanna wrote:

Dixie,

Now that gets my pulse thumping, would love to climb aboard and go . . .
Lovely image.

Thank you, Seanna. Welcome to DGrin.

Dixie

DavidS wrote:

Beautiful.

Thank you, David.

Ric Grupe

Dixie wrote:

This was taken during a very hazy sunset. I did enhance the sunset slightly with PS using the 85B Warming Filter and a slight saturation increase.

Comments and suggestions are always welcome.

I've always wanted to get to the Keys but have never made it.....and I've been to Florida many times.

I really like this shot. The only suggestion I can make (what I would try) is to decrease the light and saturation on the water only and see what it looks like.

Dixie

Ric Grupe wrote:

I've always wanted to get to the Keys but have never made it.....and I've been to Florida many times.

I really like this shot. The only suggestion I can make (what I would try) is to decrease the light and saturation on the water only and see what it looks like.

Thanks, Ric. I will probably give it a try.

As to the Keys - go in the winter.

It was very hot and I just avoided Chris the tropical storm. I am planning a return trip this January or February. I plan on spending three nights in a tent on Garden Key. Some of the park volunteers and rangers promised to help me get some good shots from areas seldom seen. That will also give me a chance to work in some great sunrises and sunsets with any luck at all.

I will also spend 4-6 days shooting in both the Everglades NP and Biscayne NP. While at the Everglades I will probably also hit Big Cypress which is in the Everglades, but not actually part of the national park. It is the best place to take airboats since they aren't allowed in the actual park.