Nature and Industry

[ShaneS]

Continuing my exploration of the often overlooked landscapes of Hawaii I was hanging around the cement plant the other day...



I would love to get your feedback on this one. The light and the shape of the cloud over this pile of gravel were what caught my eye.

[Mike Buckley]

The light and the shape of the cloud over this pile of gravel were what caught my eye.

Exactly the same for me. That was the very first thing I noticed. Just a wonderful photo that should contribute very well to your collection of overlooked scenes.

[James G]

Shane, interesting capture which I keep looking back at. I think you have done well balancing the contrasts between the gravel pile, the retaining wall and the sky.

If were working the image I think would probably look to deepen the blue sky a little more to make the impact of the cloud a little stronger.

That said, a striking image.

[Rita]

I can certainly see that this would fit in the category of 'overlooked landscapes in Hawaii'. It is not something that I picture when I think of your location. Great image by the way.

[Shadowman]

Nicely captured, would never connect this shot with Hawaii or landscapes.

[NorthernFocus]

Feedback...Hmmm? H..A..W..A..I..I.. There's a reason some landscapes are overlooked

[ShaneS]

Firstly thanks to all for commenting...you guys don't think we have cement plants in Hawaii? That's kind of the point of my project - we put our pants on like everyone else

We do have some beautiful beaches though and lot's of Aloha to go around!

James, I have already darkened the sky with a pretty strong gradient and felt that any more would start to look artificial. Another friend of mine suggested darkening the right side of the sky but I pointed out that the sun was to that side and that darkening that side might make this image look flat and be incongruous with the direction of the light of the gravel pile. Thoughts on either point?

[Mike Buckley]

For me, the sky is plenty dramatic looking yet looks natural. I would leave it as is.

[IzzieK]

A very simple image yet the conveyance of a simple message there. I kinda agree with Rita and John here as it is not what I would expect of a Hawaiian holiday to go to and take a shot of, but hey! it is nice that you were able to balance this shot pretty well. Now that Nik software is free, if mine, I'd probably run this through Color Efex to get it more dramatic effect.

[ShaneS]

I'm not on holiday Izzie, I live here There is plenty of great scenic work out there that is more what you might want to use as inspiration if you were planning a visit.

Not sure what you mean by more dramatic though?

I have NIK but got this result with fairly simple PP - I did my edits in ACR and added separate curve layers for the foreground and sky then sharpened and voila here you have it.

[FootLoose]

Good composition, Shane. I like the contrast between the soft clouds (nature) and the harder lines of steel and coarser texture of the gravel. IF you hadn't mentioned it was a cement factory, I would have assumed the gravel is ready to be spread over the bare ground and pounded into a roadway. ie industry taking over nature.

[ShaneS]

Greg, it may have been asphalt - I'm not up on these things so I called it gravel in the most generic sense of the word

This plant is across the street from the 'gravel' and might provide more clues to those in the know.



And this was a workshop off to the side which made me think it was a cement plant (It took me a bit to realize that the foreground circle was the interior of a cement truck (I think?)

[FootLoose]

Greg, it may have been asphalt - I'm not up on these things so I called it gravel in the most generic sense of the word

[/IMG]

Me too, Shane. It could be blue metal, "roadbase" crushed slag etc. The technicalities of the road building process are not a concern. I saw it as layer of colour in an engaging composition.

[James G]

Hi Shane,

I have already darkened the sky with a pretty strong gradient and felt that any more would start to look artificial. Another friend of mine suggested darkening the right side of the sky but I pointed out that the sun was to that side and that darkening that side might make this image look flat and be incongruous with the direction of the light of the gravel pile. Thoughts on either point?

I certainly would not darken the sky to one side. I agree that would look wrong. As regards my original thought, if you reduced the overall brightness that too would look artificial. I was thinking more of the gradient filter you have used. The sky naturally becomes more blue as you approach the vertical view, particularly when the sun is where it is, so I would only be looking to intensify what is already there a little more. I suspect the danger with this would not be looking artificial, but banding may be introduced which you certainly don't want

It is just a thought, and as I said earlier, I really do like this capture,

[John 2]

Continuing my exploration of the often overlooked landscapes of Hawaii I was hanging around the cement plant the other day. .......................

Interesting project but just don't get set in your ways.

I'm taken by the cloud as well. It's a nicely balanced image with just enough gradation in the sky.

[Mike Buckley]

Interesting project but just don't get set in your ways.

Good one!

[IzzieK]

I AM the one on holidays at the moment, and what I was saying was 'holiday' tourisy photos of Hawaii. I do not know if I will ever have a chance of going to Hawaii either.

I am thinking of using graduated filter different colour than usual, when it comes to clouds and then adjusting the vertical shifts to the point of personal taste. I cannot do it here in my smallist laptop screen. A 14" screen is not really an appropriate place to edit an image...if you know what I mean...we all had done it before. Anyway, I brought my calibrator package here so my screen is calibrated but I am also teaching my daughter-in-law how to calibrate her computer and her laptop so she can print her creation, just that my monitor size is killing me.

Don't mind me -- I am just an old fart thinking out loud about something more creative (?) to do with clouds. As I had already said, it is a nice shot, simple yet effective.

I'm not on holiday Izzie, I live here There is plenty of great scenic work out there that is more what you might want to use as inspiration if you were planning a visit.

Not sure what you mean by more dramatic though?

I have NIK but got this result with fairly simple PP - I did my edits in ACR and added separate curve layers for the foreground and sky then sharpened and voila here you have it.

[ShaneS]

Thank you Greg, James, John and Mike - I do try to not to get set in my ways

Izzie you made me smile and think that you have improved so much in your post processing that your terminology is lost on me You mean the vertical shift or placement of the bottom of the graduated filter I think? Having asked that I am pretty happy with the shot the way it is and may just experiment a bit with the graduated filter to see if I was too timid in its application. I am not a fan of shots that tend toward the surreal so I may just leave it as is.

Thanks again to all for taking the time to comment.

[IzzieK]

I really mean the vertical shift. If you are happy with your image, then so be it. No need to please me or others. It was just a suggestion.