Tell me what you think

[dazza65]

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_tTNM6pa83V8/Ta5kYke68eI/AAAAAAAAADc/1BbyDjOdIUY/s1024/IMG_1766.jpg

Taken on a wet and windy morning on Phillip Island

[sejac]

dazza65! Your first post! A big welcome to Photoholics.

Jeez, I'm going to feel guilty saying anything but nice things about your work! But C&C is what you want, I'm sure.

I think your shot exudes a sort of moody, brooding atmosphere overall. That seagull is well positioned. Good stuff in that department.

When I first saw your image (and before I realised it was your very first post!) I felt the dark foreground was perhaps a little too dark and black. No big deal, but I think the sea, headland and the sky are maybe a little too grey and flat and need a bit more contrast. If the sea had a breaking white wave or two for example. Something to catch the eye a bit more. The clouds have more drama in them which you could bring out with a bit of PP.

Maybe straighten the horizon too. And I can see a dust bunny just above the headland.

Look, I've been picky, only because I think your shot is a good one and I think you have a good eye. As I said - heaps of atmosphere, and that is not easy to achieve.

I'll look out for lots more shots from you real soon.

[PBO]

I agree - and the vignette/frame is way too dark and definite, but this scene has real potential, you have a good eye

[Isac]

Same as Odille and Charles, lose the vignette as the photo already portrays an eerie feeling with it's darkness. By adjusting the levels to (1.8 between 0 and 255) and adjusting the Channel Mixer (red to 110), green and blue at zero should give it more punch and give the clouds a more menacing look.

[Seesee]

Agree with all of the above with emphasis on levelling that horizon.

[dazza65]

I'm hearing you. Horizon is my most common failure. I'm conscious of it on a tripod but as soon as I start chasing a shot (this was shot on a beach on the run but fixed to a tripod) I get caught in the moment and shoot without looking at the horizon. Be happy to hear any suggestions for reminding yourself of the basics every time. I know it can be fixed later but you always lose a bit in the process and the shot never looks as you envisaged it whilst shooting,

BTW - I'm a first poster but I've been shooting seriously for 6 years and combining my skills with my career (journalism) I even managed to get a photojournalism piece published in Outback Magazine. Not sure it qualifies me as professional but it was for me (a self taught photographer) quite a milestone.

Will have a second look and repost.

[dazza65]

here is a second crack, thanks for the help.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bx83tD4y0ng/TbUyl85VuII/AAAAAAAAAEQ/OyLfadLFIOg/s1152/IMG_1766b.jpg

[Lost]

Why so dark and black; the second image is a black blob. Sorry. It's a great scene and very will photographed. But it did not look that black when you photographed it. maybe you had your sunnies on!! the image does not look sharp to me.

Quick fiddle to how i feel the scene would have looked.

done in LR

lots of fill light

Dodge and burn with the adjustment

added contrast

[Glyn]

I went along similar lines to 'lost'