A Complicated Sunset

[Alis]

On one of her upper lips off memory (I was more of a Norma Jean guy to be honest!).

I see. Mine was Sharon Stone but then I move on to Jennifer Connelly!

[Warren]

Hey Colin, let me start off by saying it is truely a great shot. My question is a simple one, at least I think. Are you telling me (us) that that shot is pretty accurate to what you saw that day? I have a hard time discerning what is real and what is 'enhanced' nowadays. Although, sometimes you can really tell when an image has been altered. When I first saw the picture, I just thought it was digitally manipulated because it was truly spectactular. How can I make my sunsets 'pop' like that?

[agaace]

If one day I make a shot like this one, I will call myself a pro, sit down, do nothing and charge for looking at my shots!

[Colin Southern]

Hey Colin, let me start off by saying it is truely a great shot. My question is a simple one, at least I think. Are you telling me (us) that that shot is pretty accurate to what you saw that day? I have a hard time discerning what is real and what is 'enhanced' nowadays. Although, sometimes you can really tell when an image has been altered. When I first saw the picture, I just thought it was digitally manipulated because it was truly spectactular. How can I make my sunsets 'pop' like that?

Unfortunately, these type of shots take us well into the area where differences between the way the camera works and the way the human eye works are worlds apart. The basic composition remains the same, but the shot clearly shows the effects of a 16 minute exposure on the clouds (because there is movement); although the human eye can see that the clouds have moved this much, we just don't see it the same. Same goes for the smoothing of the water etc.

So that's major point of difference. In terms of post-processing, there's really two elements to it; part "A" compensates for the inaccuracies of the capture (correcting a less than perfect exposure, white-balance etc) and part "B" adjusts other parameters for what looks best (contrast of clouds, saturation etc).

By my way of thinking it's really not any different to a photo of - say - a bird where you can examine details of plumage that you wouldn't be able to resolve with the naked eye, or a stop-motion shot that the human eye would miss (say a bullet breaking a glass). In all of these cases the camera captures things differently to our eyes; not better - not worse - just different. And if those differences give us "facinating detail", freeze "a moment in time", or provide "nourishment for the soul" then we've done our job well (in my opinion)

[Colin Southern]

If one day I make a shot like this one, I will call myself a pro, sit down, do nothing and charge for looking at my shots!

Hi Agata,

You'll get there

And by the way, I have thought of holding an exhibition and charging for entry (to be deducted from any sales).

[Warren]

Colin,

Thanks for the explanation. I have to agree with the other person that said if she could take a shot like that to sit back, relax, charge a few and just look at the pictures.

If you get a chance, please take a look at my albums that I have posted and offer any advice or comments as to how I can take better pictures. I know that I am not on the same level as you are, but I think that we can always learn a few things to become better at something, and thats all I really want to do, just become better, and hopefully I have a camera that will allow this to happen.

Thanks again in advance.

Warren (aka WJW1741)

[Alis]

Colin, I have been thinking about the title of your shot since you posted it: what exactly makes it complicated?

I would be the first person to say that these are complicated but what makes this specific shot so complicated?

Thanks,

Alis

PS: On second thought, may be you mean the scene itself is complicated not the shot, technique-wise?

[KentDub]

It's complicated because few if any of us can measure up to Colin! There's somethin different he's doing!

[Colin Southern]

Colin, I have been thinking about the title of your shot since you posted it: what exactly makes it complicated?

I would be the first person to say that these are complicated but what makes this specific shot so complicated?

Thanks,

Alis

PS: On second thought, may be you mean the scene itself is complicated not the shot, technique-wise?

Hi Ali,

I was meaning the scene, not the technique. Often the sun just pops below the horizon without any dramas, but on this occasion it wasn't as "straight-forward" as it usually is.

I struggle with image titles - so don't read too much into them

[Alis]

I struggle with image titles - so don't read too much into them

I see, just checking. I have been reading it as it is something about the technique, but as soon as I wrote the question, I realized the other reason!

But you are generally good with titles.

I think Rob is exceptionally good with the titles on here!

[jacsul]

Show-off . Just joking, as always Colin a masterpiece. Great work.
Jack.

[carregwen]

Hey, Colin, this ain't fair. You live in NZ, and as such as have nothing better to do than turn out photographic masterpieces and eyeball attractive sheep. Some of us (in the northern hemisphere) have to keep the world spinning round.

BTW Great shot.

PS I forgot to mention. Nothing better to do than drink Hawkes Bay vino!

[agaace]

Hey, Colin, this ain't fair.

"It's not fair and I think you're really mean
I think you're really mean
I think you're really mean.."

Sorry, I had to..

[Colin Southern]

You live in NZ, and as such as have nothing better to do than turn out photographic masterpieces and eyeball attractive sheep.

Have to say I don't eye up the sheep anymore - not since "the incident" (involving a real beauty, but she turned out to be the sherrif's gal!)

One of the local jokes: "New Zealand - where the men are men, and the sheep are nervous!"

PS: And I might point out that my masterpiece STILL didn't win the monthly challenge! (Grrrrrrr!)

[The Blue Boy]

That photograph is the puppy's back wheels Colin!

But the hideous border and title have to go mate. Either that, or it has to be submitted to this group on flickr for repentence!

Scroll down to read the offences.

[Colin Southern]

That photograph is the puppy's back wheels Colin!

Thanks, I think!

But the hideous border and title have to go mate. Either that, or it has to be submitted to this group on flickr for repentence!

Scroll down to read the offences.

I like my borders Truth be know though that I only use them here - the "real stuff" is printed on canvas without any kind of border.

[Donald]

I like my borders

This is surely the call around which we can all gather for a worldwide 'save-our-borders' campaign to destroy the anarchists that would strip us of all that we value and love in our society, and for which we have emptied many a bank account in pursuit of our digital dreams.

[Colin Southern]

This is surely the call around which we can all gather for a worldwide 'save-our-borders' campaign to destroy the anarchists that would strip us of all that we value and love in our society, and for which we have emptied many a bank account in pursuit of our digital dreams.

It could add a whole new dimension to the term "border control"!

[JK6065]

Colin,
(did I already say this one is stunning? )
Your borders look fine to me but why do you stick to just one borderlayout and use it one a great variation of shots. Why don't you let the borders suit the image a bit more and design them for a specific picture?

[Colin Southern]

Colin,
(did I already say this one is stunning? )
Your borders look fine to me but why do you stick to just one borderlayout and use it one a great variation of shots. Why don't you let the borders suit the image a bit more and design them for a specific picture?

Hi Jeroen,

In a nutshell, I like uniformity - must be the excessive / compulsive tendencies coming out in me Think of it as my "signature branding"