Photography at sea.

[activesail]

I am a mad keen photographer, I will snap anything that moves and even things that don't move.

I always take a camera wherever I go and sea passages are no exception. Whiling away many hours, camera ready for that great Scenic or Wildlife Shot.

So I though I would start this thread and hopefully we will see some great passage photography displayed.

I will start with a few examples below of my recent work..I hope you like the shots, please show us yours..

 

[agurney]

A couple of views of Jura

 

[snowleopard]

A couple of very different locations (no prizes for guessing where).

 

[Piddy]

I kind of like this one:

 

[ferrymaniom]

I don't have many, but here are a couple:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/X1kJGwQoYoCYg5Mf5BIZmQ?feat=directlink

This one isn't a photo taken on passage, but I like it so what the heck:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Ujtof_m3OdnaqAPsgNMpMA?feat=directlink

Niall

 

[robp]

I don't have many, but here are a couple:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/X1kJGwQoYoCYg5Mf5BIZmQ?feat=directlink

This one isn't a photo taken on passage, but I like it so what the heck:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Ujtof_m3OdnaqAPsgNMpMA?feat=directlink

Niall

Is that Nessy on the left?

 

[activesail]

The above contributions are fantastic. Thank you I have enjoyed looking at all the photographs posted so far.

This photograph was taken off the Portuguese Atlantic coast but I have seen loads of these birds off Spain and France.

Does anyone know what it is called? It looks similar to a Gannet and behaves in exactly the same way as far as I can tell.

 

[OGITD]

Please!

A couple of views of Jura

Can I have a copy of Jura highres for my wall!?....WOW!....GOOD ONE!

 

[Coaster]

This photograph was taken off the Portuguese Atlantic coast but I have seen loads of these birds off Spain and France.

Does anyone know what it is called? It looks similar to a Gannet and behaves in exactly the same way as far as I can tell.

Your photo shows what appears to be an immature gannet, about 2 years old. They don't achieve full adult plumage until they're 4 years old.

 

[Lakesailor]

What image software do you use?
You really need something like Photoshop to get the best from your shots.
I've just fiddled for a minute and got this from you pic.

 

[highandry]

Somewhere up the Greek coast, far from the bright lights..About 2003/4 (I think..)

Different voyage..Running down the Tradewind in 2007 ( Don't know how to make the photo bigger)

Fluffy Tradewind clouds... and well spotted Eagle Eye..yep it's 3 metres of ally tv aerial..

Westward towards the sunsets and squalls..

Land Ho!

"Well yes of course Darling, we always cruise under sail in the Caribbean, don't we Pippa" (or is that pronounced Pippah?")

San Juan, Puerto Rico and how the rich Americans do it..

This voyage 2009 I'm sculling about in the Med: again...Ooh! Gibraltar..Morrisons..Fray Bentos...yippeee.

Sorry about the sizing/ photography etc: I just take them to show my grand Daughter..

 

[Solitaire]

What image software do you use?
You really need something like Photoshop to get the best from your shots.
I've just fiddled for a minute and got this from you pic.

This was done using Picasa - made a huge difference as well.

 

[activesail]

What image software do you use?
You really need something like Photoshop to get the best from your shots.
I've just fiddled for a minute and got this from you pic.

I also use photoshop. Your example looks very different from the shot I posted but it really depends what one wants to convey through photography.

The photo of the ferry was taken on a stormy overcast day, with a veil of spray streaming of the bows. What I wanted to convey was the drama of that scene with the spray reflecting in the sunlight.

The subtle colours help to convey the atmosphere of that moment in my view. The only photoshop alteration of my shot has been a very slight alteration of the curves and a slight alteration of the Hue, Saturation and contrast. This maintains the true colour of the original photograph, which was my objective.

 

[activesail]

This was done using Picasa - made a huge difference as well.

Again a very different enhanced view but not really one which conveys the depth of the original. Which shows the distant coastline fading into the difference.

It really depends if one wants to show digitally enhanced photographs, which are far removed from the reality of the scene or a representation of the actual scene. Conveying the subtle light differences and shadows which gives a photograph depth.

The temptation to alter photographs digitally, through the use of software is very tempting to most people and Digital Art is an art form in its self but it does not always suit the intentions of the author of the original photograph.

Which you prefer is a matter of taste but for me I prefer less enhancement and a closer representation to the real image.

 

[activesail]

Here is an example of a more enhanced photograph to extenuate the natural colours of the setting sun..

 

[Lakesailor]

Photographers have always manipulated images to suit their purpose.
Initially by use of filters or even by choice of film stock and processing, then by different choices in the dark room. It's always been so.
Digital manipulation is merely another way of expressing what you want to display. Digital files are not represenative of the scene they capture. Much in-camera software modification occurs before you view the file. Fine-tuning it yourself can alter the style of the image.
You make your own choices.

 

[Achillesheel]

Mylor, early morning

First time I have uploaded a photo, hope it works.

 

[Achillesheel]

This one taken by SWMBO. Spot the heron. Where is it?

 

[Solitaire]

Again a very different enhanced view but not really one which conveys the depth of the original. Which shows the distant coastline fading into the difference.

Ok, so I have removed the cropping - I agree that is a matter of choice.

It really depends if one wants to show digitally enhanced photographs, which are far removed from the reality of the scene or a representation of the actual scene. Conveying the subtle light differences and shadows which gives a photograph depth.

I agree, but your picture does not. It is flat and almost monotone. There is no depth or subtly. In my version you can see where the sun is coming from, it has depth by increasing the contrast and you can see the difference between the sea and the sky. Also you can now see differences in the background as the coastline recedes. Again on your's the background just goes away.

The temptation to alter photographs digitally, through the use of software is very tempting to most people and Digital Art is an art form in its self but it does not always suit the intentions of the author of the original photograph.

I agree, but if you are going to post pictures that are flat and lifeless then expect some comment.

The adaptation of the FastCat done by Lakesailor does in no way detract from the fact you wanted to capture - the spay from the bow - IMHO it enhances it as there is depth behind the spray created by returning the vessel to it's original colour and giving it contrast.

As again Lakesailor pointed out, your camera will adjust the picture digitally anyway depending on the cameras setting - white balance, exposure area etc. I don't know what type of camera you are using, but have you tried shooting in RAW?

Which you prefer is a matter of taste but for me I prefer less enhancement and a closer representation to the real image.

Indeed, but I want to see a crisp well defined image with a level of contrast that says I'd like to have been there - not a flat rather boring picture with no depth or contrast or for that matter colour.

Sorry if that sounds harsh, but being a "keen" photographer does not always suffice, play with the camera's white balance and exposure settings, also remember that our brains are complex things that adjust automatically, even the best cameras can't do that to the same degree. Look at the scene you want to capture and think how it will come out. I like natural soft light but that is normally best early morning or evening - you can always predict where you are going to be when the view occurs. Does your camera have a spot meter option? If so, have a play with that and see what a difference it makes.

I use a Nikon D300s and a Pentax Optio compact which is also waterproof. I shoot in "fine" unless I want to do something very specific when I will shoot in RAW, but that is not often. I also have a 345 roll film camera, but don't use that much these days.

This shot was taken using the compact and it is how it was!

 

[glashen]

People do have quite strong opinions about image manipulation particularly the levels and contrast, I have certainly come across those who do not like the "photoshopped" look as in the enhanced images, this is a matter of choice, but I can see that you maybe changing from the actual view has seen by an observer.

This seems to be the case in the two images here, the originals are probably closer to what a viewer would have seen. I personally quite like the higher contrast, but I don't think I would start to muck about with someone else's image, although I am sure it was well intentioned.