Picked up a friend

Great composition..that little starfish is the icing on the cake. Looks like you had more dynamic range than you could handle though...two blended exposures might have made it more enticing.

Great picture. I agree with Doug, the sun is overexposed. Could you still fix that by blending two version of the same RAW file?
Regards,
Christoph

This is two blended exposures...I should have mentioned that. I'm gonna have to try to do something with it, I guess...I didn't know if that blown sun would be OK with the scene...

I think it works as it is, Rick. Of course, if you CAN fix the sun, I'd like to see the revised version.

The blown sun doesn't bother me, but the dark area to the left is a bit of a distraction. I would crop a little off the top to eliminate the little grey cloud URC. I love the light on the starfish. Did you get any close-ups of the starfish and the water/shore?

The colors and light are gorgeous here, Rick. You've done a great job of blending AFAIC. Shooting into the sun like this normally makes it nearly impossible to find any detail in the foreground. Yours is all lit up and glowing nicely.

Now about the starfish. You don't need it. This pic, IMO, would work great without it. Between the reflection and the curving water, this seems quite complete.

Nicely done, Rick. I have to agree with Tony about the starfish. I think the sweet light and the graceful curve of the water carry this image.

Ed

I totally agree with Tony. I don't mind the burnt out sun at all but as someone who's spent time at the ocean, the starfish looks like a dried starfish that you placed there and IMHO it ruins the shot.

- Dan.

I think this is a beautiful shot. I don't have any problem with the sun at all.

Duane Rosenkranz

Very nice!

Very nicely composed. I also like the light and detail in the sand.
Not sure about the starfish. It does look like it was placed there (it hovers over the sand where I would expect it to be partially submerged) but at the same time it goes well with the scene.

Guy

Fantastic comp and sweet light. I agree with extending the range of the scene just a bit with possibly combining two images. In regards to the starfish - I think that's up to you. The purists / photographers may be right that this works without the starfish as well or better, but if you're looking to sell the image, I would guess the starfish version would win out.

Thanks for the comments, I'll admit premeditated intentions as I approached this beach with flashing green dollar signs in my eyes...I'm doing a show in Lincoln City next month at the Casino, and I needed to beef up my stock of cheesy tourist-leading comps I'll drag this guy along with me to the beach until a better comp comes along...

I also agree that the sun and sand are good. I have not decided about the marine life in the image.....

Joe.

Really sweet image, Rick. The sun being a little hot doesn't bother me much, but the starfish does seem a little too contrived. What was your aperature? Any chance that stopping down would have yielded a sunstar to compliment the starfish?

Rick...CRAP! Why didn't I think of THAT! MANNNNN!!! Now I'm gonna have to drive over there this week after work and try that again!!!
I was at f/14 here...MAN, I'm kicking myself...thanks buddy...

Hey Rick,

I coulda been there on the same day! We were just there a few days ago. I didn't come away with anything good, though. You, on the other hand, certainly did. The light is wonderful and the compo is fantastic. I do find the starfish to be a little bit "posed", for lack of a better word. Overall, a definite keeper.

its just gorgeous - even if the fish looks contrived I dont mind

my frustrations with digital have been the chernobyl sun - sometimes cant avoid it even at minimal aperture - not sure how colr neg would have done - or grad with chrome - ultimately your blend is probably the best solution

Hi Rick,
I really like it, the strarfish is an added bonus IMO!

Well done and good commentary.

B.

VERY NICE SHOT

While I like the starfish from a compositional point of view I have to agree with others who have said it looks as though it was placed there. It looks "dried out" if that makes any sense....its "legs" are curling up rather than in direct contact with the sand...not something I've seen happen before in a natural setting.

Also, the reflection of the clouds in the water is lighter than the clouds themselves. Reflections are naturally darker than the object being reflected. Should be easy to fix.

This image has alot of potential and with a little more work should be a good seller for you. As is I'ld lose the starfish.

Rick,

Neat idea, but I have to agree with Tony and Dan B. on this one. It looks a bit contrived to anyone who spends any amount of time on the beach.

Youssef,
I think that anyone who has been to the Oregon Coast, or any coast with starfish, will recognize the fact that one does not usually see a starfish taking a casual stroll along the beach, like this guy...instead, we would all expect to see them clung to rocks with a death grip (see attached jpeg for example)
So, contrived...yes, a leader for the eye to draw attention + remind people of the coast...yes as well (all of course IMHO).
Thanks to everyone for their feedback!

The sun doesn't bother me, but being from Tucson, I'm used to the sun looking blinding like this ;-) I think the starfish is a fun idea. I really like the silhouetted hills.

The starfish... Contrived, perhaps, but I still think it adds a lot to the image. I suppose it really is a matter of what you want from the shot - reality, which there seems to be little disagreement that starfish as sitting there just isn't quite right, or an artistic presentation, which I think you have greatly succeeded with.

Thanks for posting.