Discussion:
[photos] some landscapes from Stradbroke Island
(too old to reply)
Troy Piggins
2010-01-27 06:52:21 UTC
Permalink
I called them "landscapes" for want of a better word, but that's
probably an insult to landscape photographers. Not really my
strongest set, but I did like some of them. For some reason many
of them were taken in portrait orientation.

Hit me with your best shot. Critique away. I'm keen to improve
my landscapes.

All taken on a recent holiday to North Stradbroke Island.

Early morning light.
Loading Image...

Trying a long exposure here, wanted to get the waves all
smokey/milky. The shot is missing something, though. Not sure
how to improve it.
Loading Image...

I was in the water for this shot, hand-held. It's called Brown
Lake. Wanted to capture the colour of the water bottom right.
The brown colour comes from the tannin in the surrounding Tea
Trees.
Loading Image...

Just liked the dark silhouettes of the weird shaped tree in the
FG, kind of framing the shot, although probably taking up too
much of the frame?
Loading Image...

I really like this shot for some reason.
Loading Image...

Liked this one too. Think the sky was pretty cool.
Loading Image...
--
Troy Piggins
Russell D.
2010-01-27 23:36:39 UTC
Permalink
Post by Troy Piggins
I called them "landscapes" for want of a better word, but that's
probably an insult to landscape photographers. Not really my
strongest set, but I did like some of them. For some reason many
of them were taken in portrait orientation.
Hit me with your best shot. Critique away. I'm keen to improve
my landscapes.
I'm no expert but I do have opinions. I'll do what I can.
Post by Troy Piggins
All taken on a recent holiday to North Stradbroke Island.
Early morning light.
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2010/2010_01_25/troypiggo_4534.jpg
It's kind of blue (pun intended). Not a critique just an observation. To
nit-pick, I feel like I want to see more of what is to the right, more
rocky beach. That is the most interesting part to me.
Post by Troy Piggins
Trying a long exposure here, wanted to get the waves all
smokey/milky. The shot is missing something, though. Not sure
how to improve it.
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2010/2010_01_25/troypiggo_4539.jpg
I think my problem is the blurry tree but you can't stop the wind so I
don't know what you'd do. I like the colors in it.
Post by Troy Piggins
I was in the water for this shot, hand-held. It's called Brown
Lake. Wanted to capture the colour of the water bottom right.
The brown colour comes from the tannin in the surrounding Tea
Trees.
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2010/2010_01_25/troypiggo_4541.jpg
I think a polarizing filter would have helped get more color out of the
lake bottom.
Post by Troy Piggins
Just liked the dark silhouettes of the weird shaped tree in the
FG, kind of framing the shot, although probably taking up too
much of the frame?
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2010/2010_01_25/troypiggo_4551.jpg
Great photo. I really like it. For me the dominance of the tree really
works.
Post by Troy Piggins
I really like this shot for some reason.
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2010/2010_01_25/troypiggo_4555.jpg
I do too. The colors make it happen. I like the way the color of the
water works with the greenish/blueish color of the foreground rocks.
Post by Troy Piggins
Liked this one too. Think the sky was pretty cool.
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2010/2010_01_25/troypiggo_4577.jpg
I'd like to see this in landscape orientation with more sky.


I enjoyed those Troy.


Russell
Troy Piggins
2010-01-28 01:03:30 UTC
Permalink
Post by Russell D.
Post by Troy Piggins
I called them "landscapes" for want of a better word, but that's
probably an insult to landscape photographers. Not really my
strongest set, but I did like some of them. For some reason many
of them were taken in portrait orientation.
Hit me with your best shot. Critique away. I'm keen to improve
my landscapes.
I'm no expert but I do have opinions. I'll do what I can.
G'day Russell. Appreciate it.
Post by Russell D.
Post by Troy Piggins
All taken on a recent holiday to North Stradbroke Island.
Early morning light.
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2010/2010_01_25/troypiggo_4534.jpg
It's kind of blue (pun intended). Not a critique just an observation. To
nit-pick, I feel like I want to see more of what is to the right, more
rocky beach. That is the most interesting part to me.
Gotchya. Out to the right more was a bit messy and distracting,
sloping up a hill, bushes/trees. It kind of threw things even
more off-balance when I looked at it through the viewfinder. Of
course, you couldn't know that looking at the above image and I
can see why you've commented as you did.
Post by Russell D.
Post by Troy Piggins
Trying a long exposure here, wanted to get the waves all
smokey/milky. The shot is missing something, though. Not sure
how to improve it.
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2010/2010_01_25/troypiggo_4539.jpg
I think my problem is the blurry tree but you can't stop the wind so I
don't know what you'd do. I like the colors in it.
Yeah, that tree is a little distracting. I think I should have
framed it without it, rather than try to include it.
Post by Russell D.
Post by Troy Piggins
I was in the water for this shot, hand-held. It's called Brown
Lake. Wanted to capture the colour of the water bottom right.
The brown colour comes from the tannin in the surrounding Tea
Trees.
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2010/2010_01_25/troypiggo_4541.jpg
I think a polarizing filter would have helped get more color out of the
lake bottom.
Pretty sure I actually did have the CPL filter on.
Post by Russell D.
Post by Troy Piggins
Just liked the dark silhouettes of the weird shaped tree in the
FG, kind of framing the shot, although probably taking up too
much of the frame?
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2010/2010_01_25/troypiggo_4551.jpg
Great photo. I really like it. For me the dominance of the tree really
works.
This shot surprises me. I took it with the intention of
achieving what you're suggesting. But when I downloaded and
looked at it on screen, I didn't think that much of it. Despite
that, I've had a few comments from people that it's the pick of
the bunch. Certainly not my pick, though. Funny how everyone is
different.
Post by Russell D.
Post by Troy Piggins
I really like this shot for some reason.
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2010/2010_01_25/troypiggo_4555.jpg
I do too. The colors make it happen. I like the way the color of the
water works with the greenish/blueish color of the foreground rocks.
Yeah, thanks mate. This was my fav of the bunch.
Post by Russell D.
Post by Troy Piggins
Liked this one too. Think the sky was pretty cool.
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2010/2010_01_25/troypiggo_4577.jpg
I'd like to see this in landscape orientation with more sky.
I did take some landscape orientation shots of this, but they
just didn't do it for me. I'll re-look at them with your
comments in mind.
Post by Russell D.
I enjoyed those Troy.
Russell
Thanks again for taking the time to comment, Russell. Really
appreciate it.
--
Troy Piggins
Noons
2010-01-28 04:09:47 UTC
Permalink
Post by Troy Piggins
I called them "landscapes" for want of a better word, but that's
probably an insult to landscape photographers.  Not really my
Nothing wrong with naming a style, Piggo.
And please take my critique as a feeble attempt, not my specialty
either.
Post by Troy Piggins
Early morning light.http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2010/2010_01_25/troypiggo_4534.jpg
Nup. Doesn't work for me. Not the colour, just the composition.
Something missing. Either a strong cross diagonal, or a half-and-
half, dunno, something to say "I saw this you beaut thing, see?". Just
the colour is not enough.
Post by Troy Piggins
Trying a long exposure here, wanted to get the waves all
smokey/milky.  The shot is missing something, though.  Not sure
how to improve it.http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2010/2010_01_25/troypiggo_4539.jpg
I like the idea but I'd suggest this: if you want to show "smokey"
water, then make it use up more than half the image area. Or spread
it over more than half. As is, it looks nice but it's not the main
thing about the shot, that moving tree is nearly as large and attracts
the eye away from it.
Post by Troy Piggins
I was in the water for this shot, hand-held.  It's called Brown
Lake.  Wanted to capture the colour of the water bottom right.
The brown colour comes from the tannin in the surrounding Tea
Trees.http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2010/2010_01_25/troypiggo_4541.jpg
Interesting shot. I like it a lot, if anything I'd use up more of the
"red water" in the image.
Once again: this is the main attractive of the shot, it needs to use
up more image estate.
Post by Troy Piggins
Just liked the dark silhouettes of the weird shaped tree in the
FG, kind of framing the shot, although probably taking up too
much of the frame?http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2010/2010_01_25/troypiggo_4551.jpg
Again: what is the shot about? The tree silhouette or the u-beaut
beach framed by a tree?
I'd go for much more of the tree if the first, or a lot more of the
beach if the second.
If using the tree as a frame, then little detail in it and around 1/5
of the image area, at most.
Post by Troy Piggins
I really like this shot for some reason.http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2010/2010_01_25/troypiggo_4555.jpg
Excellent shot. This one would really have worked out well in
landscape. For some reason, I associate big sky with landscape aspect.
Post by Troy Piggins
Liked this one too.  Think the sky was pretty cool.http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2010/2010_01_25/troypiggo_4577.jpg
Same thing, mate: landscape. The bit of cloud already cut off at the
top, lose it altogether with the landscape framing. As is, it lost
the impact of the cloud at the top by truncating it and therefore lost
in impact of what you wanted to show in the first place.

Please note: I am really struggling to nit-pick, they are great shots.
Troy Piggins
2010-01-28 05:50:10 UTC
Permalink
Post by Noons
Post by Troy Piggins
I called them "landscapes" for want of a better word, but that's
probably an insult to landscape photographers.  Not really my
Nothing wrong with naming a style, Piggo.
And please take my critique as a feeble attempt, not my specialty
either.
Post by Troy Piggins
Early morning light.
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2010/2010_01_25/troypiggo_4534.jpg
Nup. Doesn't work for me. Not the colour, just the composition.
Something missing. Either a strong cross diagonal, or a half-and-
half, dunno, something to say "I saw this you beaut thing, see?". Just
the colour is not enough.
Fair enough. Certainly is missing something, just can't put my
finger on it.
Post by Noons
Post by Troy Piggins
Trying a long exposure here, wanted to get the waves all
smokey/milky.  The shot is missing something, though.  Not sure
how to improve it.
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2010/2010_01_25/troypiggo_4539.jpg
I like the idea but I'd suggest this: if you want to show "smokey"
water, then make it use up more than half the image area. Or spread
it over more than half. As is, it looks nice but it's not the main
thing about the shot, that moving tree is nearly as large and attracts
the eye away from it.
Good point about making it more of the feature. That should have
occurred to me. Think I was too caught up in showing that tree
left for some reason.
Post by Noons
Post by Troy Piggins
I was in the water for this shot, hand-held.  It's called Brown
Lake.  Wanted to capture the colour of the water bottom right.
The brown colour comes from the tannin in the surrounding Tea
Trees.
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2010/2010_01_25/troypiggo_4541.jpg
Interesting shot. I like it a lot, if anything I'd use up more of the
"red water" in the image.
Once again: this is the main attractive of the shot, it needs to use
up more image estate.
Point taken.
Post by Noons
Post by Troy Piggins
Just liked the dark silhouettes of the weird shaped tree in the
FG, kind of framing the shot, although probably taking up too
much of the frame?
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2010/2010_01_25/troypiggo_4551.jpg
Again: what is the shot about? The tree silhouette or the u-beaut
beach framed by a tree?
I'd go for much more of the tree if the first, or a lot more of the
beach if the second.
If using the tree as a frame, then little detail in it and around 1/5
of the image area, at most.
Yeah, that's kind of what I was saying in my OP. It's kind of
having a bet each way, although that wasn't my intention. Still,
quite a few have said they like it the way it is, so who knows...
Post by Noons
Post by Troy Piggins
I really like this shot for some reason.
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2010/2010_01_25/troypiggo_4555.jpg
Excellent shot. This one would really have worked out well in
landscape. For some reason, I associate big sky with landscape aspect.
Post by Troy Piggins
Liked this one too.  Think the sky was pretty cool.
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2010/2010_01_25/troypiggo_4577.jpg
Same thing, mate: landscape. The bit of cloud already cut off at the
top, lose it altogether with the landscape framing. As is, it lost
the impact of the cloud at the top by truncating it and therefore lost
in impact of what you wanted to show in the first place.
Yeah, must get out of this habit of portrait orientation for
landscapes. I've use a 10-22mm lens, no excuse for needing that
orientation unless absolutely necessary.
Post by Noons
Please note: I am really struggling to nit-pick, they are great shots.
No worries, and thanks for taking the time. Appreciate it.
--
Troy Piggins
Noons
2010-01-28 09:06:34 UTC
Permalink
Post by Troy Piggins
Yeah, must get out of this habit of portrait orientation for
landscapes. I've use a 10-22mm lens, no excuse for needing that
orientation unless absolutely necessary.
Oh look: it works, in many shots.
This is an example I took a while ago:
http://wizofoz2k.deviantart.com/art/forget-about-fishing-72779462
(click foto to see larger)
Used a tele zoom. But here I wanted to emphasize the "tunnel" effect of the view.
It was taken from the same spot as this one:
http://wizofoz2k.deviantart.com/art/ripped-apart-72779304
a kind of "slot" between trees.
So I went for portrait and it sort of worked fine.

When I want "big sky" stuff, invariably I end up with landscape: it's then so
much easier to make the clouds and the view look more "together" without
chopping off one or the other.

But like I said: some shots, portrait works fine.
John McWilliams
2010-01-28 16:16:47 UTC
Permalink
Post by Troy Piggins
I called them "landscapes" for want of a better word, but that's
probably an insult to landscape photographers. Not really my
strongest set, but I did like some of them. For some reason many
of them were taken in portrait orientation.
Hit me with your best shot. Critique away. I'm keen to improve
my landscapes.
All taken on a recent holiday to North Stradbroke Island.
Early morning light.
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2010/2010_01_25/troypiggo_4534.jpg
Trying a long exposure here, wanted to get the waves all
smokey/milky. The shot is missing something, though. Not sure
how to improve it.
On the whole a nice series. I won't comment on each as my thoughts are
similar to noons'.
For the front runner, a seascape, arguably, though there's a lot of land
in it, you might get better results by either increasing the land mass,
or decreasing it. With that size photo, an inch off top and left, or
conversely, an inch off bottom and right might give you a more favorable
aspect. And mebbe not.

A couple of the 'scapes have the sea horizon off by a fraction. It may
be that most won't even notice that, but be it because I am a sailor, or
have done a number of seascapes, that one degree or so throws it off for
me.

I have often done shots similar to the tree-ocean one in vertical, but I
am getting away from that for an entirely obscure reason: I want my
shots to fill the screen of my HD tv: they are damnably gorgeous when
they exactly fill it, so I have a crop set to 16:9.....

Thanks for posting those.
--
John McWilliams
Troy Piggins
2010-01-28 20:49:01 UTC
Permalink
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Post by Troy Piggins
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2010/2010_01_25/troypiggo_4534.jpg
Trying a long exposure here, wanted to get the waves all
smokey/milky. The shot is missing something, though. Not sure
how to improve it.
On the whole a nice series. I won't comment on each as my thoughts are
similar to noons'.
For the front runner, a seascape, arguably, though there's a lot of land
in it, you might get better results by either increasing the land mass,
or decreasing it. With that size photo, an inch off top and left, or
conversely, an inch off bottom and right might give you a more favorable
aspect. And mebbe not.
A couple of the 'scapes have the sea horizon off by a fraction. It may
be that most won't even notice that, but be it because I am a sailor, or
have done a number of seascapes, that one degree or so throws it off for
me.
I have often done shots similar to the tree-ocean one in vertical, but I
am getting away from that for an entirely obscure reason: I want my
shots to fill the screen of my HD tv: they are damnably gorgeous when
they exactly fill it, so I have a crop set to 16:9...
Thanks for posting those.
Thanks for the comments. Can't argue with any of your points.
All filed away to (try to) implement next time. :)
--
Troy Piggins
N
2010-01-29 10:53:16 UTC
Permalink
Post by Troy Piggins
I called them "landscapes" for want of a better word, but that's
probably an insult to landscape photographers. Not really my
strongest set, but I did like some of them. For some reason many
of them were taken in portrait orientation.
Hit me with your best shot. Critique away. I'm keen to improve
my landscapes.
All taken on a recent holiday to North Stradbroke Island.
Early morning light.
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2010/2010_01_25/troypiggo_4534.jpg
Trying a long exposure here, wanted to get the waves all
smokey/milky. The shot is missing something, though. Not sure
how to improve it.
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2010/2010_01_25/troypiggo_4539.jpg
Just an opinion here. If you like fog, then these slow wave images might
appeal. Personally, I like waves to be visible. Slow down just enough to
show movement, but keep the form of the waves.
Post by Troy Piggins
I was in the water for this shot, hand-held. It's called Brown
Lake. Wanted to capture the colour of the water bottom right.
The brown colour comes from the tannin in the surrounding Tea
Trees.
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2010/2010_01_25/troypiggo_4541.jpg
Just liked the dark silhouettes of the weird shaped tree in the
FG, kind of framing the shot, although probably taking up too
much of the frame?
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2010/2010_01_25/troypiggo_4551.jpg
I really like this shot for some reason.
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2010/2010_01_25/troypiggo_4555.jpg
Liked this one too. Think the sky was pretty cool.
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2010/2010_01_25/troypiggo_4577.jpg
--
Troy Piggins
Troy Piggins
2010-01-29 22:40:13 UTC
Permalink
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Post by Troy Piggins
Trying a long exposure here, wanted to get the waves all
smokey/milky. The shot is missing something, though. Not sure
how to improve it.
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2010/2010_01_25/troypiggo_4539.jpg
Just an opinion here. If you like fog, then these slow wave images might
appeal. Personally, I like waves to be visible. Slow down just enough to
show movement, but keep the form of the waves.
Thanks mate. Appreciate your thoughts.
--
Troy Piggins
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