Winter Dune

Gallery: Man & NaturePosted March 3, 201093 views6 comments

Winter is showing early signs of letting go around here, but it is not going quietly.

I took advantage of a momentary break in the bitter weather and walked a stretch of Fire Island to Kismet. I liked this view of a stubborn snow patch hanging on to the primary dune by the lighthouse.

(why is it that every time I relate this description my mind segues to an imaginary personal ad with the words "likes long walks on the beach"?)

Canon 5D MkII, 24-105mm @ 105mm, 1/160 sec,f/10, iso 100, polarizer, freehand

Thanks for any comments.

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on March 3, 2010 at 11:04 PM

Who doesn't like long walks on the beach?!

Embarrassingly I've never been here (or Fire Island for that matter. . .) and this is a photo that encourages me to go there. The way the dunes come together right where the lighthouse "sprouts" is perfect. Additionally the snow on the dune balances well with the white vs. black of the lighthouse.

The only "nit" is what appears to be a halo around the base of the lighthouse, but this very well could be blowing sand in the distance.

- Luke

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Sabiston on March 3, 2010 at 11:15 PM

Luke,

The halo is actually a cloud formation mostly hidden by the dune. I purposely shot from a low angle to hide the house at the bottom of the lighthouse to keep the image 'cleaner'.

I would recommend a visit. Walk the beach by the lighthouse, but make time to park in Field #2 and walk west towards the inlet. It is an uncrowded, beautiful place.

Registered on April 7, 2007, 134 Posts, 443 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 3, 2010 at 11:51 PM

Jim, a very compelling image. I'm mixed about the amount of dead space at the top. I can envision this as a square-ish crop too.
Sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on March 6, 2010 at 9:17 AM

I really like your composition here Jim. Very neat scene. I'm also wondering how this might look with "high key" processing.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on March 6, 2010 at 10:19 AM

Very nice placement of the lighthouse in the frame; the shapes of the dunes work nicely together in the composition. No nits from me. I can't help but wonder why the lighthouse is painted black and white . . .

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

Comment posted by Margo Pinkerton on March 6, 2010 at 8:14 PM

Lighthouse shots can be a dime a dozen, but you managed to give it a different look. First, you were careful to contrast the base of the lighthouse with the dunes, and secondly, you did not center it. Thank gawd! My only suggestion might be to burn down the sky a bit and give it a really moody look. I think it might be spectacular if you did. And I'd love to see it if you do. Right now, the sky and the dunes have essentially the same value.

Registered on October 18, 2007, 39 Posts, 214 Comments