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Calm Before The Storm


Calm Before The Storm
Photo Information
Copyright: Scott Thomas (Sharpshooter) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 540 W: 71 N: 1702] (6912)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-05-16
Categories: Daily Life, Nature, Transportation, Decisive Moment, Experimental, Mood, HPP [Heavily Post-Processed]
Camera: Canon EOS 450D (Rebel XSi), - Canon EF-S 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 IS, 58mm Marumi UV, 58mm Hoya Polarizing Filter
Exposure: f/13.0, 1/100 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2009-06-30 0:48
Viewed: 256
Points: 54
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Best viewed by pushing F11 on your keyboard.

I took this shot on the same morning that I took one of my other photos called ‘Moody Morning’. The skies were blue until the dark clouds rolled in and took over, you can see the blue sky being squeezed out just above the buildings. It poured down shortly afterwards, but it didn’t take long for the sun to break back through again.

I’ll upload the unedited original JPEG as a workshop for comparison, and so the blue sky can’t be confused for haloing :). Was quite an unpredictable Auckland day, in which the Sky Tower stood proudly against the dark sky. Standing at 328 metres, the Sky Tower is the tallest man-made structure in New Zealand and offers breathtaking views for up to 80 kilometres in every direction. It was built between 1994 and 1997 and officially opened on March 3rd, 1997.

This was taken from Bouzaid Way, which is a pedestrian access-way between Fanshawe Street and Viaduct Harbour Avenue. It features a raised stone platform with 3-metre marker lights and the Denis O'Connor "Raupo wrap" sculpture. Located immediately opposite the lighter basin to the west, it links the city to the Viaduct Harbour area.

Another one of my HDR experiments from a single JPEG. Taken before I had an interest in HDRs, or I would have shot in RAW using AEB. I’ve explained the process in previous photos, but just in case any one missed it and would like to experiment themselves: All I do is create three duplicate copies of the same image (with different filenames), then use PhotoFiltre to decrease the saturation by -2 for one of them, increase it by +2 for the other one and leave the original image alone. Then I use Photomatix Pro to merge the 3-images together just like a normal HDR process. After that, it’s back to PhotoFiltre for the final touches (saturation, shadows etc). I was at the minimum focal length of my lens (18mm) for this shot so couldn’t stand back any further than this without getting the large guardrail in the frame.

EXIF Data:
Image Quality: JPEG
Device: Canon EOS 450D
Lens: Canon EF-S 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 IS
Focal Length: 18mm
Aperture: F/13
Shutter Speed: 1/100s
Exposure Mode: Manual Control
Metering: Multi-segment
ISO Sensitivity: ISO 400
Date Taken: 16th May 2009, 9:53am

Thanks for viewing.
dareco, chendis, timtim, manujmehta, jjanczyk, suzy, cunejo200, Jonela, werdir, tedesse, mistic, mbrito, mvdisco, colvert, lilimih33, LeoM has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To korbee: Calm Before The StormSharpshooter 2 07-04 02:53
To Silvio2006: Calm Before The StormSharpshooter 1 07-03 18:55
To LeoM: Calm Before The StormSharpshooter 1 07-03 18:17
To lilimih33: Calm Before The StormSharpshooter 1 07-01 19:38
To colvert: Calm Before The StormSharpshooter 1 07-01 19:15
To jone: Calm Before The StormSharpshooter 1 07-01 18:06
To AKITA: Calm Before The StormSharpshooter 1 07-01 18:00
To mvdisco: Calm Before The StormSharpshooter 1 07-01 17:54
To jackal: Calm Before The StormSharpshooter 1 07-01 17:53
To GreenBaron: Calm Before The StormSharpshooter 1 07-01 17:51
To mbrito: Calm Before The StormSharpshooter 1 07-01 17:44
To mistic: Calm Before The StormSharpshooter 1 07-01 17:41
To tedesse: Calm Before The StormSharpshooter 1 07-01 17:40
To werdir: Calm Before The StormSharpshooter 1 07-01 17:39
To Jonela: Calm Before The StormSharpshooter 1 07-01 17:38
To pozaru: Calm Before The StormSharpshooter 1 07-01 17:34
To nicou: Calm Before The StormSharpshooter 1 07-01 17:33
To hay_kes: Calm Before The StormSharpshooter 1 07-01 17:32
To cunejo200: Calm Before The StormSharpshooter 1 07-01 17:24
To suzy: Calm Before The StormSharpshooter 1 07-01 17:21
To soe: Calm Before The StormSharpshooter 1 07-01 17:17
To jjanczyk: Calm Before The StormSharpshooter 1 07-01 17:17
To timtim: Calm Before The StormSharpshooter 1 07-01 17:16
To willie: Calm Before The StormSharpshooter 1 07-01 17:15
To billy-m: Calm Before The StormSharpshooter 1 07-01 17:14
To chendis: Calm Before The StormSharpshooter 1 07-01 17:11
To dareco: Calm Before The StormSharpshooter 1 07-01 17:10
To manujmehta: Calm Before The StormSharpshooter 1 07-01 17:07
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Critiques [Translate]

hello Scott
how are you?
wonderful shot brither, great reflections
fine sharpness and details, sky is unnatural though.
thanks for sharing

regards
Manuj Mehta

I am shocked to read Manuj comment because to me the sky looks SO natural!! I love these cloudy moody pictures. Nice detail and really an interesting scene. Lovely reflections and I like the color of the water. TFS

Hi Scott
grate HDR again
moody atmosphere
amazing details reflection and sharpness
grate work as always!

Have a beautiful day!
Oana

Hello Scott,
I must say that I really like your "moody"serial.Maybe cause I'm lately in that kind of mood.
I like this grey/blue sky,reflection in emerald green water...and totally absence of any move,there is nobody,nothing...just silence and peace...Yes,I do love your picture

warm regards
biljana

ps maybe Manuj thought sky look unreal in sense of outstanding ,in sense of fairy tale...I found it's like that,but not unnatural...

Hi Scott,

How are you ?
Very nice pict you have here. Very calm indeed with a great sky and nice reflections. Although there are a lot of details to see i doesn't disturb the calmness of the photo imo. Well seen Scott.

regards, willie

Nice HDR effect
Bit of noise in sky
TFS

Hello,
Nice photo!
Excellent POV and great colours.
Good work!
TFS

  • Great 
  • soe Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 402 W: 0 N: 107] (2461)
  • [2009-06-30 2:58]
  • [+]

Hi Scott
Nice shot with beautiful reflection.Great sharpness and nice composition.
Tin Soe

  • Great 
  • suzy Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 425 W: 38 N: 1261] (4336)
  • [2009-06-30 3:48]
  • [+]

excellent shot and HDR Scott..
I think the reflection of the of the boats
is superb and the green calm water..
now that's a closer look of the needle
tower:) impeccable sharpness and the atmosphere
along with the lighting and the sky looks
pretty intense.. definitely before the storm..
I like your experiments with HDR, success indeed..

compliments and regards
suzy

Hello Scott,
The HDR technique is suited well for this type of scene, and i wonder how it would look if there were lights inside the building. Perhaps you should come back to coincide with the blue hour? You composed the scene well, the water reflection is sharp, the slight graininess in the sky enhances your Note's description of the brewing storm and should not be interpreted as a negative criticism because it provides a wide latitude of exposure and texture. Best regards...
Danilo

Hi Scott,
Great shot my friend.Excellent POV, light and HDR effect.TFS.
Cheers,

hAyAti

  • Great 
  • nicou Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1199 W: 0 N: 2349] (19434)
  • [2009-06-30 4:48]
  • [+]

Hello,

sujperbe image ce c$reflets des bâteus sur l'eau avec la belle tour qui somplombe le tous, superbe ensemble marin.

bravoe t amitié

Nicou

  •      
  • pozaru Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3534 W: 723 N: 2378] (18883)
  • [2009-06-30 4:50]
  • [+]

Very beautiful piece of work

congrats&tahnks,
v

Hi Scott,

The sky looks very ominous the rain couldn't be that far away the reflections of the boats on the lovely greenish water is brilliant imho. The colours are great details are very sharp the pov is excellent and the dof good well done.

Regards
Jon

Hi Scott,

Your HDR work really accentuated the boat reflections and the gloomy skies. The tower makes a nice central point of reference. Very moody calm before the storm! TFS.

Best regards,
Werner

Hello!
The wonderful POV and lovely view.
The beautiful colours and the light,pretty reflection in mirror of water..
Greetings
Tadeusz

hello scott

wonderful atmosphere in this picture, the clouds are amazing
a big storm is coming
the colors are great
very wonderful work

  • Great 
  • mbrito Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1618 W: 118 N: 2771] (11196)
  • [2009-06-30 11:14]
  • [+]

Hi Scott
I like a lot the perspective you've adopted here with all the vertical lines adding a great movement to the photo, what is very well balanced with the great and sharp reflections on the water. Great work.
mb

Hi Scott,
Impressive view on Auckland harbor! Great PP work, showing the emeral colour of water. Excellnt HDR image, and a fine composition, although one nit pick; the leaning buildings are a bit disturbing in my opinion. A perspective crop would have correted that. Anyway stil a superb posting Scott.
Hans

Hi Scott,
Good work Scott, the HDR has certainly brought out the colour in the FG and brings the buildings to life, I also thought the unnatural sky was a result of the HDR processing but your original shows that's the way it was.
cheers
Jack

Hi Scott,
Great HDR composition of this marina,
nice contrast and light,
Excellent POV. and details.
Beautiful reflections and great colors.
well done.
Michel

  • Great 
  • AKITA Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 978 W: 79 N: 66] (11750)
  • [2009-06-30 20:59]
  • [+]

hi Scott,
your title is "Calm Before The Storm", but in my feeling it is "anxiety before the storm"...
your HDR edition looks making unreal impression on the original shot, and maybe it enhanced the subtle atmosphere that is hidden by normal outward appearance.
a little flat contrast actually abstracts grayish ambience, and it looks silent but anxious for my eyes.
(the basic mood in the contemporary world must be anxiety...)
thank you for your excellent picture.
Akihisa

  • Great 
  • jone Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2205 W: 171 N: 0] (28352)
  • [2009-07-01 1:00]
  • [+]

Hi Scott ;)))
Impressive 3D perspective and nice atmosphere...TFS
Best wishes,
J ;)

Bonjour Scott
Very good ppwork which gives beautiful clarity and contrast to the buildings and the boats.Nice colours and a real HDR atmosphere
Regards

Hello Scott!
I love this PP work!!!
Wonderful colours, great detail, nice reflection!
Excellent work, again!
Best regards!
Lili

  • Great 
  • LeoM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 56 W: 0 N: 61] (302)
  • [2009-07-01 23:19]
  • [+]

Hi Scott,

Absolutely stunning !! Great work on this HDR and having looked at the original, its just as lovely in a different way. Great talent ! If you had gone a little to the right, you would've capture my yacht in your picture? LOL, kidding :-)

TFS
R

Ciao Scott, great urban view with fantastic sky, splendid reflections, wonderful composition, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • korbee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1349 W: 0 N: 1643] (13394)
  • [2009-07-02 13:28]
  • [+]

Personally,I believe everything is a bit massive in the picture(the buildings are a bit screaming for attention :]]),but....for sure lots of details to see and sharp.
Maybe some more distance would be ok .
Good intensions you have Scott in this shot.


jan

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