SF1 Choices - Feedback appreciated

seastack

Okay, I'll bite. Here are my top picks in descending order of rank for semifinal entry (at this present split second). Whatcha think?

Feedback? What moves you?
Thanks for helping me choose!

Tom



#1



#2



#3



#4



#5



#6


#7

anwmn1

WOW Thonas- Some really nice shots here.

I like both #1 and #6.

Though the central composition works well in #6 I wonder what it would look like if it were moved a little to one side or the other.

seastack

anwmn1 wrote:

WOW Thonas- Some really nice shots here.

I like both #1 and #6.

Though the central composition works well in #6 I wonder what it would look like if it were moved a little to one side or the other.

Right, I did struggle with comp in #6 last night - trying to balance the positions of the spotlighted rock and the curve of the creek. Must have moved the tripod 10 times. Thanks for the input!

Dalantech

I really like the mood and the composition of the first image -has an almost magical feeling to it that just draws me in

For the second: Unless you explain what she's doing the blur in front of the girl is distracting.

I like the color in the third, but my eye doesn't know where to go.

I like the composition of the fourth, but I can't peg what the subject is and it doesn't tell a story or invoke any feeling (not like the first shot).

The star trails and the blurred moon blow the fifth image -if the moon was round and the star trails longer that shot might have worked for me (but it wouldn't displace the first photo).

The long exposure blur of the water in the sixth image is distracting -looks like someone drove a tank on the beach.

In the last image the rock is centered, and centered subjects rarely work for me. If you were closer to the rock to bring out the detail in it and fill the frame, or lower to the ground, then that image would look better -but it still wouldn't beat the first shot in the series.

Good luck! :cool

pyroPrints.com

While I like your current entry, I like most of these better esp. #1.

Damn. I gotta kick my photoes up a notch huh?

Elaine

LOVE #1!!!

ultravox

So do I. #1

pemmett

I like #1, #2 & #7

#1 - Nice image and very inteeresting. Though I may be tempted to loose the stars (maybe)
#2 - I like this photo the bestthumb but it seems that there is either movement or out of focus on the head and especially the eye which is a real bummer

#7 - I like the angle and the composition - this would be my second choice (the first if you can't reshoot the girl)

It's definitely looking good though.

Greensquared

WOW is right. All are fantastic, but #1 would also be my favorite, #7 next, and then probably #3. Very nice.

Best of luck!
Emily

Robert

I’m not usually gone on this type of image, but I do like #1
#7 is interesting, but not wow.
No doubt - #1.

VisualXpressions

3 WOWs... "WOW" I am most impressed with 1, 5 and 7! Great work, very stunning shots...

Winston

eoren1

Great work
Very nice work Thomas!
I vote for 6-7-1 in that order. All are awesome shots. 6 just blows me away with the serpentine curve that has been calmed a bit with the long exposure. I also like that you have been able to keep the details in that one.
E

richtersl

WOW! Someone's had a good 1.5 weeks!!!

#1 and #3 are gorgeous. I prefer either one of those two over the little girl I saw you had entered.

Flyinggina

:jawdrop Sorry to sound like an echo. #1 is my favorite, but wow for all of them.

Virginia

speedracer04

i like 1,5,6 to me the photo of the girl is not nearly as striking

like other people said 1 is great!

Swartzy

Without question
#1 takes all....no contest

tlee

#1

photogmomma

#1! Definitely #1

NO! Wait! You need to post a BAD picture! What am I doing helping out the competition?

seastack

Wow, thank you all for all the great, and helpful, comments! I think it's #1, now I have to decide about whether to remove the star blur.

Interestingly enough #7 would be my favorite if, if only if, ....
I was intentionally breaking the rules with centered comp and I agree with the comment that lower angle would have been better and perhaps a wider angle lens (which I no longer have). Wish I had worked this more because breaking the rules well is very difficult but when it works ... I can't reshoot this for this semifinal, it's a four-hour drive one way, which I did much of in the middle of the night between day job assignments, but I have the feeling I'll be revisiting this and other nearby sites in the near future.

Time, there is never enough bloody time, but that's one of the things that makes this a great competition - we're all working within the same constraints, pushing against the clock, competition, photographer's block, and all the "life happens" events to get the assignment done. It's a big bonus this can be done within the friendly competition of the dgrin community instead of the usual solitary vacuum.

Get 'er done ;-)

And for the fun of it I'll include #8, which I call "God Bless Americana"

seastack

photogmomma wrote:

#1! Definitely #1

NO! Wait! You need to post a BAD picture! What am I doing helping out the competition?

! Best of luck to everyone!

ChrisJ

For me, it's a choice between #1 and #7. The first is very beautiful and serene. #7 has such a strong focal point and gorgeous color, and the mirrored curve of the rock and waterline (and a bit of sand) really work for me. It holds my attention longer, so I say #7.

Just FYI, going by my measure tool, the water line is off .37 degrees in #1.

Great stuff!

seastack

Thanks! , sure it isn't .38? Seriously, thanks for catching that. I actually corrected (or attempted to correct) a curved horizon using transform. Apparently, got in a hurry and sloppy and missed the basics

ChrisJ wrote:

For me, it's a choice between #1 and #7. The first is very beautiful and serene. #7 has such a strong focal point and gorgeous color, and the mirrored curve of the rock and waterline (and a bit of sand) really work for me. It holds my attention longer, so I say #7.

Just FYI, going by my measure tool, the water line is off .37 degrees in #1.

Great stuff!

ChrisJ

seastack wrote:

Thanks! , sure it isn't .38? Seriously, thanks for catching that. I actually corrected (or attempted to correct) a curved horizon using transform. Apparently, got in a hurry and sloppy and missed the basics

Heh, it may well be, but I was only working off the Large.

Nikolai

Tom,
Gosh, tough choice.
For some reason #7 hits me really hard. It's almost surreal.

BistiArt

S Curve all the way

seastack wrote:

#2






#5

Tom I ended with 2... the first is too noisy, whereas the 2nd has a simple s curve which leads the eye to the focal point where the wave is breaking...

I envy you guys who have water and beaches - but you guys could also come to the haunting edges of the world and traverse the Bisti...

Joe

LiquidAir

Of the set, I like #3 the best though I wish it had a little more room to breathe on the right. None of these shots grabs me quite like your LPS#2 entry did.

seastack

Went back through my images and worked on this one for most of the day, wasn't sure I could pull it off. It's multiple bracketed exposures combined in PS - tried HDR but it just didn't work as well.

This is my new favorite. Still playing with subtle crop variations.

Edge of Tides

Nikolai

Tom,

seastack wrote:

Went back through my images and worked on this one for most of the day, wasn't sure I could pull it off. It's multiple bracketed exposures combined in PS - tried HDR but it just didn't work as well.

This is my new favorite. Still playing with subtle crop variations.

Your images make me wanting to drop everyhting and rush to the Pacific shore *now*, even though it will be too late for the sunset when I get there :-)
Definite contender!

Greensquared

Nikolai wrote:

Your images make me wanting to drop everyhting and rush to the Pacific shore *now*, even though it will be too late for the sunset when I get there :-)
Definite contender!

Hmmm...Tom, your images just make me want to drop everything and give up!
Emily

seastack

Greensquared wrote:

Hmmm...Tom, your images just make me want to drop everything and give up!
Emily

Been there, done that. Can't recommend it!
Thanks for the compliment.

Elaine

Ohhh...your new Edge of Tides just might be the ticket! I think that's my new favorite of your batch!