Postcard from Suva

[Stagecoach]

Due jointly to a lack of time, inspiration and dry weather the camera has remained almost unused over the past few weeks so needing some therapy what better way than to sit on a log on the foreshore, watch the sun disappear and wait in anticipation.

Yes, just another sunset but the pleasure just watching the scene evolve was worth it

No 1 - 15s, f/11, 66mm


No 2 - 8s, f/11, 66mm


Today the Indian Prime Minister arrives here, hoping to get some shots of something different.

Grahame

[HaseebM]

Excellent images! Hope you get to take images of our PM.

[bnnrcn]

Both very nice Grahame IMO white borders in #1 make the image look pale although the image itself is very nice. Since #2 has stronger colors , white borders don't effect the image so much.

[deetheturk]

Very nice Grahame, if I had to pick it would be #2, but both nice images

Cheers David

[dje]

Both nice shots Grahame. You indicate 66mm for both so I assume the first is cropped significantly. In some ways I prefer this shot because of the crop and lovely pastel shades.

The Indian PM has just been in Australia for the G20 and be also addressed the national parliament. He received almost "rock star" treatment here so you guys have a bit to live up to.

Dave

[Stagecoach]

Excellent images! Hope you get to take images of our PM.

Thank you Haseeb, unfortunately a failure at managing to get a pic of you PM.

[Stagecoach]

Both very nice Grahame IMO white borders in #1 make the image look pale although the image itself is very nice. Since #2 has stronger colors , white borders don't effect the image so much.

Hi Binnur,

White borders I can take or leave, but they give them that postcard look

As for the difference in strength of colours I find I have great difficulty with this type of scene deciding which way to go. Minor tweaks only are needed between the two.

Similarly I find the sharpening an interesting challenge and my preference at present seems to be to sharpen the foreground more than the horizon but what's satisfying is producing an image where it's very simple to make these changes and retain IQ.

Grahame

[Stagecoach]

Very nice Grahame, if I had to pick it would be #2, but both nice images

Cheers David

Thank you David,

I'll see if I can sell No 2 to the souvenir shops here then

Cheers,

Grahame

[FootLoose]

Very serene scenes, Grahame, I would like to capture a image like either one of these. Unfortunately, there is not much beyond the shoreline here, except of cargo carriers.

[Stagecoach]

Thank you Dave,

No 1 image is of the mainland to my right and No 2 is a 70 degree swing to the left to a small island some 36 Km away from the camera. The 66mm just happened to suit the framing for both but I have many at different variations.

My log where I can sit in comfort with camera and tripod on the foreshore sure encourages some lazy photography

Watching the build up to the welcoming ceremony for the Indian PM this morning was quite impressive and with the first ever tight security I have ever seen here it was the first time I could not get access to where I would liked to have been.

Having watched four days of round the clock working repainting road markings on the route to and vicinity of the welcome along with flower beds being re-planted and polished I just hope he appreciated it Seriously, a good show was put on.

Grahame

[Shadowman]

Nice captures.

[JBW]

given s\a choice between a politician and your shots of the sunset i opt for more sunsets.

[Stagecoach]

Very serene scenes, Grahame, I would like to capture a image like either one of these. Unfortunately, there is not much beyond the shoreline here, except of cargo carriers.

Fortunately Greg we are surrounded here with many small islands so there's a good chance you can get one in the shot if wanted. The other bonus is there is a reef surrounding most of the main island so waters are often calm to help the serenity of the scene.

[Stagecoach]

Nice captures.

Thanks John

[Stagecoach]

given s\a choice between a politician and your shots of the sunset i opt for more sunsets.

I fully agree Brian. Sunsets I find are also far less vocal than many of our politicians

[IzzieK]

+1 to Brian's comment. What is wrong with another sunset? Nothing, but one your own is special. That! my friend, is the difference. I like both images though I feel that Binnur's comment has merits. Perhaps same shots, same framing size but different colour of frames -- just to keep you busy-er? This ones are not in your Smugmug site yet? (last time I checked.)

[Brownbear]

Hi Grahame,

Just to say that I think these are both especially beautiful. I love the first for the beautiful soft colours, and the 2nd for the beautifully rich but still soft colours. Which I prefer is dependent on my mood. I think the 2nd makes for a better postcard. I bet both of these would would sell very well if offered at one of those touristic shops.

Aside... I also like both of these cropped in half (even though the foreground is lost ) simply because as such they look like a never-ending medley of gorgeous light and soft colours.

[Donald]

Yes, just another sunset but the pleasure just watching the scene evolve was worth it

And that, I suggest, is so much of the pleasure of photography for those of us who like being out in the landscape. Very often I don't bother trying to capture a picture if I don't think it will work as an image, but that doesn't stop my pleasure at watching clouds, light, etc evolving, developing, changing. It's one of those blissful moments when all worries get put away.

[bnnrcn]

IMO less strong colors in #1 suit the image very well because of the layered mountains and the strong colors are in harmony with the dark rocks in the FG in #2 . So, IMO no need to worry about the colors

You might try a different colored border for #1 as Isabel suggests. Then you wouldn't lose the postcard look.

Hi Binnur,

White borders I can take or leave, but they give them that postcard look

As for the difference in strength of colours I find I have great difficulty with this type of scene deciding which way to go. Minor tweaks only are needed between the two.


Grahame

[Stagecoach]

+1 to Brian's comment. What is wrong with another sunset? Nothing, but one your own is special. That! my friend, is the difference. I like both images though I feel that Binnur's comment has merits. Perhaps same shots, same framing size but different colour of frames -- just to keep you busy-er? This ones are not in your Smugmug site yet? (last time I checked.)

Hi Izzie,

Thanks for reminding me to upload my latest to SM, I have been a bit slack on that lately due to my images being all over the place having not yet organised my older drives into the new PC.

Grahame