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Headlands Havoc
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Headlands Havoc

by Mike Ryan

Gallery: LandscapePosted October 13, 2010176 views17 comments
The Mendocino Coast in Northern California is as rugged as it is photogenic. It's generally an under photographed area and has many rewards if you are willing to go on the hunt.

Nikon D300 / 18-200 Nikkor VR / Lee .9 ND filter

A couple things to note. The haze on the mid left region is mist and sea spray and the brownish tinge on the bottom right is that brown sea scum stuff.

Large size is available as well. Thanks for looking/commenting. :wavey:

Comments

17 comments
Comment posted by David Bostedo on October 13, 2010 at 10:12 PM
I like this Mike, although I'm not completely sold on it. The techs look really good and I like the sky with the sea and showing the whole channel. I'm not so sold on the water treatment and how it came out - maybe longer or shorter shutter speed would have been better. And the composition works but it's almost like a find the central rock peak distracting. I don't know that there was a better choice though.
Registered on May 5, 2006, 178 Posts, 2224 Comments
Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on October 13, 2010 at 10:12 PM
This is exactly what I would imagine if I were thinking of the California Coast. Really nice!

Chris
Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments
Comment posted by Tom Dobrzanski on October 13, 2010 at 10:58 PM
I really like that composition Mike :) Also, I must say I like the water texture. It gives the main rock a very interesting surrounding. A stable, left alone subject surrounded by the angry sea.
In my eyes I would perhaps give a bit more contrast to the sk
Great subject and a great capture Mike :)
Registered on September 27, 2010, 17 Posts, 164 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Overacker on October 13, 2010 at 11:01 PM
Mike,

I think this is outstanding! Personally, the SS for the water is just about right. I think much longer and this little inlet turns in to a dull white mist. The motion in the surf here is key in portraying the turbulence and "havoc" that you were trying to capture. I have no nits or suggestions. I'm just really enjoying this.

Now when you say "Headlands" I think of the Marin Headlands and I'm trying to picture where such a pronounced inlet would be in that area... A fabulous location for sure.

Lon
Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments
Comment posted by Kenn Leonhardt on October 13, 2010 at 11:38 PM
I'm a fan of the shutter speed and its effect on the water - it really captures the chaos of it. Any longer and I think it'd just lose too many details. I expect this would work quite well as a B&W if you're interested in trying that out, though it works just fine as it is in colour.
Registered on March 29, 2008, 27 Posts, 1710 Comments
Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on October 14, 2010 at 1:19 AM
Sweet seascape! Love the light and the haze. It gives the image some nice pastel feeling.
Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments
Comment posted by Giovanni Russello on October 14, 2010 at 3:06 AM
Great seascape, Mike.
My only suggestion would be to crop a bit from the bottom.

gio
Registered on January 21, 2007, 95 Posts, 1617 Comments
Comment posted by Paolo De Faveri on October 14, 2010 at 8:30 AM
Wow, what a place! You captured the sea fury perfectly, love the processing and shutter speed. Only suggestion would be to check the centre of the clouds, it looks a bit hot there.

:toast:
Paolo
Registered on August 29, 2007, 318 Posts, 1651 Comments
Comment posted by Gary McGhee on October 14, 2010 at 10:08 AM
I really like your view point here Mike, the centered rock is in the perfect spot. The channel of water between the two land masses makes a great lead and keeps the eye focused on that middle rock. Great movement in the sea too.

Gary.
Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments
Comment posted by Steve Sieren on October 14, 2010 at 10:21 AM
Fantastic composition MIke, you captured the rugged feel of the North Coast area. Reminds me of Ray Atkinson's work, I've heard he was the original Pacific Northwest photographer but finding info on him is nearly impossible.

Mendicino Brewing is a place I can pass up when driving along the 101 up that way. :wink:
Registered on January 2, 2008, 360 Posts, 5321 Comments
Comment posted by Dean Sauskojus on October 14, 2010 at 3:12 PM
I like the softness of the sky and then how it is repeated in the surf. I would bring the colors up slightly just to give it a little more pop. Nice find Mike. Great job.
Registered on September 29, 2009, 137 Posts, 2659 Comments
Comment posted by Eric Good on October 14, 2010 at 4:41 PM
Interesting symmetrical composition. I like the way you framed that center stack with the stretches of rocks on both sides. The only thing that could have made this any more symmetrical is if the cloud shapes filled in the URC. :wink: But hey that's Mother nature... Nice work!
Registered on March 17, 2007, 116 Posts, 4764 Comments
Comment posted by Nicolas Belokurov on October 14, 2010 at 5:00 PM
i like the comp Mike and the colors are very natural.
Good work
Registered on July 22, 2009, 41 Posts, 533 Comments
Comment posted by Doug Roane on October 14, 2010 at 7:21 PM
boy, that pointy rock just hits you in the face due to it's central position -- but hey, I think it works! Nice job, Mike!
Registered on December 12, 2008, 213 Posts, 2226 Comments
Comment posted by Anne K. Rusk on October 14, 2010 at 9:04 PM
I really like the wave action here; I can almost hear the waves booming! I might try croping some off the top to minimize the blue, but that's a really minor thing since the image is so great as is.
Registered on October 10, 2010, 65 Posts, 904 Comments
Comment posted by Shaun Mazurek on October 14, 2010 at 10:10 PM
I love this composition. I would not have thought to place the see spire in the center. This is a case where breaking the rule of thirds really paid off :)
Registered on June 12, 2010, 21 Posts, 162 Comments
Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on October 15, 2010 at 3:36 PM
Quite impressive, Mike. I like this. I would likt to see a different composition, maybe with a less central position for the central rock.

D&L
Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments