High Tide - Rialto Beach

Gallery: LandscapePosted October 29, 2009502 views29 comments

I was in Seattle over the weekend, downtown mostly, and it rained every day of course, but i managed to get out to the coast on the least rainy day (Sat). Unfortunately, sunset coincided with high tide, and between that and the storm coming in (the same one dumping 4 ft of snow on CO right now) the short trip to Hole in the Wall/Rock was somewhat of an adventure (jumping the logs and wading waste deep through channels). The sun was totally obscured by clouds, so i decided to frame the small patch of color bleeding in to the north, using one of the huge logs on the beach as the main subject. I'm not sure if i like it or not--does this work??
5D; 17-40; 3 image manual blend.
C&C Welcome!

Comments

29 comments

Comment posted by Angela Classen on October 29, 2009 at 2:33 PM

Stan, I'm not sure about this one... I like the little bit of color in the sky, but wish the seastack was a little more dominant in the scene. I really do like the wave crashing against the seastack, though! Just my 2 cents, which is probably only worth about 1

Registered on June 13, 2007, 434 Posts, 2742 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on October 29, 2009 at 2:39 PM

Does for me. I just wish I had thought of it when I was there last, on a better day than this one was! I think a little less blue on the log might keep it from being quite so monotonal, but that's just my taste. I am also wondering what a 4 x 5 crop, keeping the seastacks in the same position would look like.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on October 29, 2009 at 2:39 PM

It works for me Stan. I like how you used the logs to frame the sea stacks in the distance and little color in the sky (at least you had some color in the sky and a little drama). I visited this beach in Aug 2008 and never saw the sun but did make it to Hole in the Wall for some blah pics at low tide.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Bret Edge on October 29, 2009 at 2:50 PM

I like the cooler tones and the idea behind this, Stan. I do wish that the seastacks didn't merge on the right side with the log, though.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 711 Posts, 6363 Comments

Comment posted by Bruno Silva on October 29, 2009 at 3:07 PM

I took some minutes looking to this image before making any rushed judgments. I feel it needs some time to really apreciate this one. crazy or not, it works better for me if cropped above the small pool in the log, the square is compressing my eyes too much and it would also eliminate that darker area at the llc. just me thinking. nice textures all around and the colors are just fine.

Registered on May 6, 2009, 132 Posts, 1406 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on October 29, 2009 at 3:08 PM

Thanks!
Brett: yeah i agree, a tripod was useless here so i used to log as my tripod--which made the comps limited.
Philip: i actually raised the color temp for the fg to try to make this more monotone--i even considered B&W but since there was at least some sky color i went this way instead. Do you mean a vertical crop (this is 4X5 horizontal)?
Bruno--yep this was defintiely a crazy idea! The pool is actually what attracted me to this scene--but i see your point, thanks!

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on October 29, 2009 at 3:13 PM

I love the creativity here Stan, very cool idea! For me the bottom left black corner has to go, and I would have liked the sea stacks to be less close to the right wood, but that's not a deal breaker for me. Cool to see something not CO from you, not that I mind your CO pictures

Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on October 29, 2009 at 3:16 PM

This works very well for me (mostly), and you certainly earned it! The seastacks and color in the sky are very pleasant, and I particularly enjoy the patterns and textures of the log on the RHS of the shot. It's really a very unique shot. The only small nit I have is that the very LHS feels a bit too dominant -- it's quite close and rather dark. You may want to consider a small crop from that side that leaves about 1/3 of that portion of the log remaining.

Registered on August 24, 2009, 123 Posts, 3099 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on October 29, 2009 at 3:37 PM

I was thinking 4 x 5 vertical, cropping about 2/3d the change from the left and 1/3d from the right, which would preserve that lovely burl, for the most part. That would give the seastacks more prominence and preserve most of the good texture in the log.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on October 29, 2009 at 3:50 PM

Like the color you managed to capture Stan, but those logs are a little bit overpowering. I do like the crashing wave against the stack, and I do applaud your creativity! You only had one day though, gotta do the best with what you have!
Too bad we didn't get to hang out, hopefully next time!

Registered on November 24, 2008, 304 Posts, 3211 Comments

Comment posted by Carl Donohue on October 29, 2009 at 4:09 PM

Hey Stan

You and Seattle must make for helluva lotta bad nasty cold weather. What a combination. :)

The f/g is great .. what a swirl that leads me right into the frame. But given the sky, the f/g is probably a little too dominant, for me.

Cheers

Carl

Registered on November 1, 2003, 46 Posts, 589 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Sieren on October 29, 2009 at 4:44 PM

I love the hole in the sky through the almost hole in the driftwood. From the looks of it and you mentioning high tide I'm taking you now know how difficult ocean photography can be.

Registered on January 2, 2008, 360 Posts, 5321 Comments

Comment posted by Paulo A.Lopes on October 29, 2009 at 5:37 PM

Before i saw your description the FG log seems to be a cliff wall and i was thinking.. strange forms this rock has!

I like it but im not so sure about the LLC, that dark shadow is annoying me.

Regards!

Registered on October 14, 2008, 122 Posts, 836 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Windom on October 29, 2009 at 6:06 PM

I like the framing of the seastacks although I wonder if it would have been possible to move just a tad to your left and get all of the first stack? The texture in the driftwood makes for an interesting FG. I've been to Rialto many times and have alway been frustrated by my lack of ability to come away with anything meaningful....you've accomplished something I haven't been able to do.....

BTW, it's still raining in Seattle.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 176 Posts, 2302 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on October 29, 2009 at 7:47 PM

Stan,

I love everything about this - except - for the lack of detail on the left. Actually it's not bad and there IS detail, maybe it's because it occupies a lot of real estate that I'm wishing there was more detail and lighter. But regardless, great job on crafting this composition and perspective. You were rewarded with a little patch of WA color - and I hear it's a rarity. :-)

A different and successful view. Nice work Stan.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Rajeev Thomas on October 29, 2009 at 8:34 PM

Stan...first of all excellent blend!!! Great perspective...original composition idea... love the moody atmosphere here ,,,,, I feel like left dark corner needs to be cropped out but then it will crop out the beautiful details also...

Otherwise Stan... another winner!!

Registered on February 20, 2008, 0 Posts, 291 Comments

Comment posted by Wade Hardy on October 29, 2009 at 8:41 PM

I think this is a cool shot and I like the framing of the seastack, but i'm a little unsure about the left side of the image with the log - its a bit too distracting for me. I would be tempted to crop the left side of the image and eliminate the knot in the log - just a thought though.

Registered on May 2, 2006, 121 Posts, 1824 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on October 29, 2009 at 8:55 PM

A fairly Avant Garde composition. Talk about Monty Python's, "And now for something completely different. While I applaud your experiimentation, I have to agree with the points made against it working. I can see how you could not move to the left or the part of the log there would cut your view off entirely.

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Trevor Anderson on October 29, 2009 at 9:08 PM

Creative composition on this highly -visited ( for great reasons obviously) area.

Registered on April 25, 2007, 64 Posts, 483 Comments

Comment posted by Joel Hazelton on October 29, 2009 at 10:48 PM

I like the idea, but I'm also a bit on the fence. Mostly I wish the seatstack didn't merge with the log on the right. I like the cool colors and the hint of pink in the sky, though.

Registered on August 6, 2008, 194 Posts, 1315 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on October 30, 2009 at 12:16 AM

It takes a bit to get my mind around this, Stan. It's quite a composition for sure. I thought the log on the right was water at first. Certainly fun figuring this out. May just be the jpg, but there is some odd noise/banding in the left log.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by David Edwards on October 30, 2009 at 6:49 AM

Very creative, Stan. At first look I thought the fg was a huge frozen cliff... like you've discovered an opening into an unexplored world. I was suprised to read they are logs! It's refreshing to see unusual comp techniques. Great shot!

Registered on December 6, 2008, 142 Posts, 2623 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Goldwasser on October 30, 2009 at 9:12 AM

I actually do like this, it's very moody. I wish there was a little more separation between the log and sea stack on the right.

Registered on May 10, 2009, 127 Posts, 970 Comments

Comment posted by Ricardo La Piettra on October 30, 2009 at 9:39 AM

Unusual compo for sure, but very original, it works for me Stan. Graet scene.

Registered on July 22, 2009, 62 Posts, 730 Comments

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on October 30, 2009 at 10:06 AM

Stan,

I like this just as posted. I particularly like the comp and the drama in the scene. The dark aspects of the scene also appeal to me.

Pat

Registered on May 19, 2007, 953 Posts, 15989 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on October 30, 2009 at 10:56 AM

ends up being a tight and uncomfortable photo ... perhaps the frame is, err, a little too dominant here? the dark blob just beyond the frame is a little distracting ... and do i detect, albeit from afar, a dandelion wave there?

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments

Comment posted by Markos Berndt on October 30, 2009 at 6:08 PM

Beautiful work Stan, the tree in the foreground is perfect it provides excellent framing for the scene.

Registered on November 8, 2008, 7 Posts, 64 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on October 30, 2009 at 11:44 PM

Thanks for all the input folks--i really appreciate it! will probably play with some crops of the lhs. Sorry for not keeping up on commenting, ive been busy but will catch up next week.
Stuart--i assure you there is no dandelion in that wave!

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Shane McDermott on October 31, 2009 at 3:50 PM

Hi Stan

I personally find this an interesting composition to look at. Has anyone else mentioned spirit figure embedded in the LLH log?

Shane

Registered on November 12, 2007, 49 Posts, 1074 Comments