I like both of these, the dynamism of the crashing waves is outstanding. I particularly like the first for the light, colour and lovely refelction in the pool. Very nicely done.
Those are fantastic! I am glad you made it to Little Corona, I saw how cool the clouds were looking as I left LA late in the afternoon and I was heading to the beach. I actually was trying to make it to Little Corona, but as I raced the sun, it pulled ahead, so I went down to my other haunt, Huntington Beach and I got some cool shots there. (none processed yet)
I really like what you did in #1, I think the arch looks cool from that angle, I have shot some similar, but I didn't capture the spray like you did. What I really like which I am not sure I would have liked had I not seen your shot, was how you did capture that spray. Usually I am trying to shoot 3 to 4 second exposures for that silky water, and typically if you used the shutter speed you used on #1 in let's say the wave crash in #2, it would not have looked well, but here, with the angle it is hitting that rock, that shutter speed is perfect! I just love the energy that plays out.
I also really like #2, but you may want to try to get a bit more definition in the clouds, here is a little trick I use.
Press Ctrl & Alt & ~ (the tilde) to select the luminosity (high lighted areas).
Set the Feather to around 200, although sometimes a lower # works better.
Press ctrl & J to create a new layer from that selection.
Change that Layer Mode type from Normal to Multiply.
This will darken the highlights a bit.
If it isn’t enough just Duplicate the Layer and darken it some more.
You can fine tune the effect by adjusting the opacity on the layer.
Flatten the layers and you are ready to do your normal processing!
Great job here! Maybe we will bump into each other some time down at the beach!
JimFox wrote:
Press Ctrl & Alt & ~ (the tilde) to select the luminosity (high lighted areas).
Jim
#1 is fantastic. I was thinking about going to the shore but bugged out. I wish I would have gone now. The wave burst is really awesome.
If I could point out on the tut that Jim posted. I can never get CMD & ALT & Tilde to work on a MAC, however, If you CMD>Click on the RGB layer in channels its the same Luminance selection
Great stuff again. Maybe we will have some more clouds tonight!
I like both of these, the dynamism of the crashing waves is outstanding. I particularly like the first for the light, colour and lovely refelction in the pool. Very nicely done.
Thanks for the comments... The light was beaatiful last night. You just couldn't go wrong.
mccaf wrote:
#1 is fantastic. I was thinking about going to the shore but bugged out. I wish I would have gone now. The wave burst is really awesome.
If I could point out on the tut that Jim posted. I can never get CMD & ALT & Tilde to work on a MAC, however, If you CMD>Click on the RGB layer in channels its the same Luminance selection
Great stuff again. Maybe we will have some more clouds tonight!
Thanks... Hopefully we have more great clouds tonight.
Those are fantastic! I am glad you made it to Little Corona, I saw how cool the clouds were looking as I left LA late in the afternoon and I was heading to the beach. I actually was trying to make it to Little Corona, but as I raced the sun, it pulled ahead, so I went down to my other haunt, Huntington Beach and I got some cool shots there. (none processed yet)
I really like what you did in #1, I think the arch looks cool from that angle, I have shot some similar, but I didn't capture the spray like you did. What I really like which I am not sure I would have liked had I not seen your shot, was how you did capture that spray. Usually I am trying to shoot 3 to 4 second exposures for that silky water, and typically if you used the shutter speed you used on #1 in let's say the wave crash in #2, it would not have looked well, but here, with the angle it is hitting that rock, that shutter speed is perfect! I just love the energy that plays out.
I also really like #2, but you may want to try to get a bit more definition in the clouds, here is a little trick I use.
Press Ctrl & Alt & ~ (the tilde) to select the luminosity (high lighted areas).
Set the Feather to around 200, although sometimes a lower # works better.
Press ctrl & J to create a new layer from that selection.
Change that Layer Mode type from Normal to Multiply.
This will darken the highlights a bit.
If it isn’t enough just Duplicate the Layer and darken it some more.
You can fine tune the effect by adjusting the opacity on the layer.
Flatten the layers and you are ready to do your normal processing!
Great job here! Maybe we will bump into each other some time down at the beach!
I am sure you got some great clouds at Huntington. I would definitely like to see them. I tried your multiply trick and I am pretty happy with the results. Thanks for the advice
http://it3.net/cdm5.jpg
I've been shooting most of my stuff at Crystal Cove recently, but I am starting to branch out to other spots now. Ill be looking for Nikon gear the next time im in Little Corona or Huntington. I am always happy to meet another photographer.
I do a lot of time down by Crystal Cove also, especially if I am getting ready for some backpacking, I will train by running in the sand and the hills down there, and then shoot after I am done. I am leaving in the morning for 4 days of Fall color shooting up in the Eastern Sierras around Bishop and beyond, so I will have to try and squeeze in processing a couple of the shots from last night. Do you have a super wide? Last night was one of those nights, where a super wide was the only way to go!
As to the trick, all credit goes to Mark70x70, I learned it from him. But I tell you, I use it alot! Isn't it amazing how quickly and easily you can pull some detail back from a pretty dead sky? I like how it worked on that shot of yours.
I would have to say that I am jealous. I love that part of the Sierras this time of year. I was up there a couple of years ago for a fall shoot right after I got my 20D. I certainly wish I had a wider lens last night, but mine is only a 17mm on a 1.6 crop sensor. It still does a decent job, but I often wish that I could get more.
I hope that you have a great trip to the Sierras. I look forward to your posts when you get back. Hopefully you get some great fall colors with some dramatic skies.
