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Teardrop Of Sky
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Teardrop Of Sky

by Sean Bagshaw

Gallery: LandscapePosted December 8, 2010465 views28 comments
I enjoyed a near perfect evening photographing on the southern Oregon coast with Chip Phillips recently. The tide was out, the sky was beautiful and the light was just magical. The small pools on the beach were so reflective that they gave the impression you were peering into a parallel universe. It took blending three exposures to contain the dynamic range in the area of sky around the sun. The light everywhere else in the scene was gorgeously well balanced in a single capture thanks to diffusion from the cloud layer.

It is pretty intimidating to post on NPN these days. The technical and artistic level of a lot of people's work has really gone off the charts. It is dang impressive and humbling. Thanks for any feedback you might have on this image.

Canon 5D MKII, 16-35mm f/2.8L lens, no filters, 3 exposures blended for the sky.

Comments

28 comments
Comment posted by Bill Chambers on December 8, 2010 at 11:04 AM
Beautiful shot Sean. I love the little rim of light reflecting off the sand by the pool! Excellent job of blending too. Well done.
Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments
Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on December 8, 2010 at 11:15 AM
This certainly conveys well the feeling of looking into another world. Wonderful composition and the processing is seamless.
Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments
Comment posted by Kenneth Arni on December 8, 2010 at 11:22 AM
Outstanding Sean, beautiful work. I love the drama in the sky and the comp. :toast: :toast:
Registered on December 24, 2008, 112 Posts, 629 Comments
Comment posted by Stan Rose on December 8, 2010 at 11:22 AM
Just perfect, Sean! The blend couldn't get any better. :toast:
FWIW, i agree the quality of stuff on ESS especially is getting stronger and stronger--partly due to some great photographers joining up, partly due to some long time members really upping the ante. But it doesnt intimidate me one bit, and it certainly shouldnt intimidate you--just look at it as a good excuse and good inspiration to work harder and keep trying to improve--even the best can always reach new ground :wink:
Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments
Comment posted by Tyson Fisher on December 8, 2010 at 11:26 AM
Great work here Sean! I really like this just as it is, but I'm wondering if you also might have captured something that shows the pool a little more prominently displayed in the middle as opposed to the left.
Registered on September 17, 2008, 44 Posts, 623 Comments
Comment posted by Marc Adamus on December 8, 2010 at 11:34 AM
Whew, boy! WOW! :toast:
Registered on September 17, 2005, 780 Posts, 8091 Comments
Comment posted by Jason Kim on December 8, 2010 at 11:41 AM
Looks like a beautiful evening, the composition is great and your blend work is perfect.
Registered on July 1, 2006, 60 Posts, 1233 Comments
Comment posted by Sean Bagshaw on December 8, 2010 at 12:01 PM
Tyson - I did, however I'm not sure if I like it as much. Moving the view to the left to center the pool in the frame meant loosing the balance of rocks along the horizon and the leading line of the outlet going to the sea. It also partially brought in some rocks the the left side of the frame that were distracting. I might go back and give it another look because having the pool featured more front and center was my first instinct. Thanks!

Stan - Thanks for the pep talk :-) I certainly am inspired by y'all.
Registered on February 14, 2007, 99 Posts, 479 Comments
Comment posted by Kevin Trinkner on December 8, 2010 at 12:39 PM
Beautiful capture Sean, looks like an amazing night for shooting. Looks very natural throughout. Great work. :toast:
Registered on June 30, 2008, 203 Posts, 2641 Comments
Comment posted by Justin Reznick on December 8, 2010 at 12:53 PM
One of the strongest foregrounds I've ever seen on a coast image Sean, love it! That sky and its reflection are incredible. No nits here!
Registered on November 24, 2009, 79 Posts, 515 Comments
Comment posted by Anne K. Rusk on December 8, 2010 at 12:56 PM
Sean,
This feels very balanced to me. I like how the fg is attached, literally, to the bg by the finger of water. The silouetted stacks balance the sky so well and the clouds are awesome!
It's funny for me to hear that you are intimidated by the images out here since I am intimidated by yours! :biggrin: Keep 'em comin' because they inspire me to try harder!
Registered on October 10, 2010, 65 Posts, 904 Comments
Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on December 8, 2010 at 12:58 PM
This is killer! What a great sky to compliment the sweet, sweet foreground. That lit curve is amazing and even has some abstract potential on its own. :toast:
Registered on July 26, 2007, 244 Posts, 2807 Comments
Comment posted by dean hebert on December 8, 2010 at 2:00 PM
great shot Sean! Well composed and put together. :toast:
Registered on August 4, 2010, 70 Posts, 1132 Comments
Comment posted by Raymond D Smith on December 8, 2010 at 2:19 PM
I always have enjoyed the images from the west coast on ESS. There seems to be an overabundant amount of photographers out there and your work has always shined and this is no exception.Great lead in line, the blend looks great[glad you left the sun area burnt out] and the reflected light on that sand edge is perfect. Can't ask for anymore just great all round.Cheers
Registered on January 22, 2009, 12 Posts, 479 Comments
Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on December 8, 2010 at 2:53 PM
It's perfect, Sean. Comp, light, everything.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments
Comment posted by Jason Miles Kirk on December 8, 2010 at 3:04 PM
Wonderful image Sean....
Registered on January 9, 2007, 7 Posts, 55 Comments
Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on December 8, 2010 at 5:13 PM
What a perfect reflection! The touch of golden light on the foreground is magical. In relation to the reflection, the sky might be a bit dark (for a natural look), otherwise great processing.

Don't feel intimidated.. you have some killer work, and I look forward to your posts every time!
Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments
Comment posted by Robert Dayton on December 8, 2010 at 6:29 PM
Great light and colors, Sean! It looks like you're right on with
the processing.
Registered on November 11, 2008, 281 Posts, 3958 Comments
Comment posted by Kory Lidstrom on December 8, 2010 at 8:59 PM
A pretty shot and a great job on the blend. I do wish the compo was a tad more balanced; the LRC is a bit blank. But, still a nice image.
Registered on November 19, 2008, 49 Posts, 1035 Comments
Comment posted by Jared Atencio on December 9, 2010 at 12:45 AM
That pool really is amazing, but what makes this for me is the warm light on that curve around the pool! Blend looks great as well
Registered on June 23, 2009, 21 Posts, 422 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Hackley on December 9, 2010 at 11:42 AM
Stunning compostion and blend work, well seen, a pleasure to view, way to go.
Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments
Comment posted by Darren Huski on December 9, 2010 at 12:46 PM
Fantastic.

Well seen and well done!
Registered on August 17, 2008, 61 Posts, 340 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Bristol on December 9, 2010 at 4:19 PM
Fantastic! I love the light and the comp is awesome. Really well done, Sean.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI.
Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments
Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on December 9, 2010 at 7:18 PM
A beautiful composition, and image! About the intimidation, you are kidding, right? :wink:

Chris
Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments
Comment posted by Ben Horne on December 9, 2010 at 9:34 PM
The sweeping curve of the foreground pool is great for this composition. I really like how it is catching light on the right side, and the rippled reflections of the clouds gives this a very natural feel. Your processing is very natural for both tonality and color.
Registered on August 27, 2009, 51 Posts, 959 Comments
Comment posted by John Williams on December 9, 2010 at 11:18 PM
Love the crystal clarity Sean, and the flow through the photo is excellent.
Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Metternich on December 10, 2010 at 1:20 PM
Jaw dropping :toast:
Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments
Comment posted by David Edwards on December 10, 2010 at 3:22 PM
A very nice comp, Sean. The mirror reflection is the stand out feature for me, which is very nicely spaced around the fg rock and leads my eye out to the bg very effectively. Beautiful work!
:toast:
Registered on December 6, 2008, 142 Posts, 2623 Comments