Dennisport Sunrise

[Richard Lovison]

This is a DAP Realism style blend with the original at 70%. The paper/canvas option in DAP was turned off so I eliminated the texture. Topaz Clean was then applied along with a levels adjustment.


copyright © reserved 2011, Richard Lovison

[denise ippolito]

Richard, The soft smooth looking flow to the birds is lovely against the peach color tones in the sky. The composition works well and if I scroll up to eliminate a little of the sea it looks nice too. Lovely work with the filters.

[Andrew McLachlan]

Hi Richard, love the effect with the filter here. I really like how the water turned out. Nice one!

[Indranil Sircar]

Beautiful composition, Richard. Wonderful sunrise colors with the distant clouds. I too think taking a bit of the sea may look even better. Nice use filters.

[Judy Howle]

I like the colors and the processing is well done. I agree that eliminating some of the sea might work well.

[James Shadle]

Richard,
Were the birds in this image or is it a composite?
I really like the amount of blur in their wings and placement in the frame.

[Kerry Perkins]

Richard, this is really nice and one of your best IMO. I love the blur and the placement of the birds in the frame. I agree that a little crop from the bottom would add even more attention to the beautiful sky and colors. Super job!

[Richard Lovison]

Richard,
Were the birds in this image or is it a composite?
I really like the amount of blur in their wings and placement in the frame.

James,

Thanks. In the original image, the birds were closer to the upper left corner and had less blur. I moved them lower and to the right for the OOTB rendition and the use of Topaz Clean blurred the birds a bit more.


copyright © reserved 2011, Richard Lovison

Thanks Kerry, Judy, Indranil, Andrew and Denise for your kind words and suggestion. The re-post below has the bottom crop applied.


copyright © reserved 2011, Richard Lovison

[denise ippolito]

Richard, Thanks for the explanation-repost rocks!

[Richard Lovison]

Thanks Denise.

James,

Here's a bit more info on the shot as I know you like the details to be posted.

camera: E-1
lens: Digital Zuiko 40-150mm f3.5-4.5
focal length: 150mm (300mm - 35mm equivalent)
ISO: 100
1/60 sec at f6.3
tripod

This was one of my first views of a sunrise with an unobstructed horizon taken in 2006. Being a Midwesterner raised in Chicago, believe me, this was a big deal. I was like a kid in a candy store, overwhelmed with all that I was experiencing... the ocean, the ever changing colors, the sounds. Looking back I should have spent more time taking it all in visually in a quiet space instead of trying to capture the scenes digitally.

As I was composing the image I noticed the flock of birds approaching and quickly snapped some images as they entered the composition. Only one image contained the birds as they quickly flew up and out of the frame. I was never happy with the look of the ocean as the shutter speed was too fast and the long focal length compressed the waves into unappealing shapes. As I experimented more with the use of post processing filters I decided to use DAP and Topaz Clean to try and simplify the cloud and water details in the original image to get a look I was more happy with. The added blur to the birds was a welcomed surprise.

Richard