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Lighthouse: The thought process ...

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Regit Young

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Hi guys and gals, no funny post here.... But would like to share some pictures and thoughts with you :)

I've seen a lot of pictures here (thank you for them) and in my books, they are all excellent... why else are they posted then?!?!? :))) While technical-details varies, and we can pick all day on them; I'm actually very interested to know why a certain picture is taken and above all, chosen to be shared with all.

I think an interesting way to share a pic is to go through the thought process. This way, perhaps the viewers can relate better to the picture.

Below is a picture I'm "posting" and I going to attached a post to this one, going through some thought process. If you interested to see why this shot, feel free to see that post; if not, you can just skip the details :)

Thank you for looking :)

EXIF:
http://www.pbase.com/image/27180830/original



--
Regit Young, FCAS Member, PBase Supporter
48 species caught, 802 species to go ...
'Seeing and interpreting are entirely personal processes' - Steve Parish
http://www.pbase.com/regit
 
I like "life" and people in a shot, and if people can fly, I would like to include them in my bird-in-flight shots :))) ... ok, maybe not, but I like to include them whenever I can.

In taking this lighthouse, the above is no exception. This shot is actually the second shot I took... the first does not have a birdie in it :)

http://www.pbase.com/image/27180824/original



The above is a backlit shot, and naturally I tried to take some frontlit shots as well :)

http://www.pbase.com/image/27180825/original



While I like them both, I can really relate to them. They are "lighthouse" shots for sure, but they are just that and nothing more ....

How about "we-are-there-at-the-lighthouse" shot then? So I got my wife to pose for me in some of the shots. The first one I took look like this:

http://www.pbase.com/image/27180826/original



Problem: I don't really like this as the foreground is a little weak. This, from what I've learned, is a big no-no especially for a wide-angle shot. So I got my wife to move to the foreground...

http://www.pbase.com/image/27180827/original



Problem: While this look a bit better, the perspective is a little ordinary. This time, instead of asking my wife to move, I moved :)

http://www.pbase.com/image/27180830/original



Problem: This (the one I posted) is much better IMO, but I notice someone behind. So I changed the height of the shot a bit and tried to eliminate the person in the background....

http://www.pbase.com/image/27180829/original



Also tried to cropped one of them into a portrait-oriented shot ...
http://www.pbase.com/image/27180828/original



For a moment, I was sure I'm gonna to post one of the last 2. But I didn't choose the last one because in such a tigh-cropped, the pic lacks the "dynamism" offered by a ultra-wide angle.

I also dropped the 2nd last, as I find on further consideration, the one I posted tells a better story that MAY make people think. For one, what are they doing? Since it was sunset and none of them is looking into the sun... Are they waiting for someone, or did they missed each other? ... Are they in an argument? Looks like they are not looking eye-to-eye ... etc.

Hope you get the picture :)

There you go, that's why I posted what I posted. Thank you for looking at this one as well :)
--
Regit Young, FCAS Member, PBase Supporter
48 species caught, 802 species to go ...
'Seeing and interpreting are entirely personal processes' - Steve Parish
http://www.pbase.com/regit
 
Regit

Great post, I have just gotten back from NYC and on the drive in this morning I was evaluating im my mind some of the scenes I tried to capture, and came up with the fact that I didnt think some through enough. This gives great insight into the thought process and how those tie to the type of equipment in used and the compostional skills needed to marry them together into one great shot. Soemtime I get so excited over a shot I just point and click.
TY
-Mike
 
Super composition and great light. Fantastic shot.
Regit Young said:
Hi guys and gals, no funny post here.... But would like to share
some pictures and thoughts with you :)

I've seen a lot of pictures here (thank you for them) and in my
books, they are all excellent... why else are they posted then?!?!?
:))) While technical-details varies, and we can pick all day on
them; I'm actually very interested to know why a certain picture is
taken and above all, chosen to be shared with all.

I think an interesting way to share a pic is to go through the
thought process. This way, perhaps the viewers can relate better to
the picture.

Below is a picture I'm "posting" and I going to attached a post to
this one, going through some thought process. If you interested to
see why this shot, feel free to see that post; if not, you can just
skip the details :)

Thank you for looking :)

EXIF:
http://www.pbase.com/image/27180830/original



--
Regit Young, FCAS Member, PBase Supporter
48 species caught, 802 species to go ...
'Seeing and interpreting are entirely personal processes' - Steve
Parish
http://www.pbase.com/regit
Click to expand...
 
Regit Young said:
Hi guys and gals, no funny post here.... But would like to share
some pictures and thoughts with you :)

I've seen a lot of pictures here (thank you for them) and in my
books, they are all excellent... why else are they posted then?!?!?
:))) While technical-details varies, and we can pick all day on
them; I'm actually very interested to know why a certain picture is
taken and above all, chosen to be shared with all.

I think an interesting way to share a pic is to go through the
thought process. This way, perhaps the viewers can relate better to
the picture.

Below is a picture I'm "posting" and I going to attached a post to
this one, going through some thought process. If you interested to
see why this shot, feel free to see that post; if not, you can just
skip the details :)

Thank you for looking :)

EXIF:
http://www.pbase.com/image/27180830/original



--
Regit Young, FCAS Member, PBase Supporter
48 species caught, 802 species to go ...
'Seeing and interpreting are entirely personal processes' - Steve
Parish
http://www.pbase.com/regit
Click to expand...
love the shot. love the light. love your wife's post. love how she turn away from the sun. love everything except the lighthouse ha ha ha.
 
Very good composition.

In fact, everything is good from pic to story ...
Regit Young said:
I like "life" and people in a shot, and if people can fly, I would
like to include them in my bird-in-flight shots :))) ... ok, maybe
not, but I like to include them whenever I can.

In taking this lighthouse, the above is no exception. This shot is
actually the second shot I took... the first does not have a birdie
in it :)

http://www.pbase.com/image/27180824/original



The above is a backlit shot, and naturally I tried to take some
frontlit shots as well :)

http://www.pbase.com/image/27180825/original



While I like them both, I can really relate to them. They are
"lighthouse" shots for sure, but they are just that and nothing
more ....

How about "we-are-there-at-the-lighthouse" shot then? So I got my
wife to pose for me in some of the shots. The first one I took look
like this:

http://www.pbase.com/image/27180826/original



Problem: I don't really like this as the foreground is a little
weak. This, from what I've learned, is a big no-no especially for a
wide-angle shot. So I got my wife to move to the foreground...

http://www.pbase.com/image/27180827/original



Problem: While this look a bit better, the perspective is a little
ordinary. This time, instead of asking my wife to move, I moved :)

http://www.pbase.com/image/27180830/original



Problem: This (the one I posted) is much better IMO, but I notice
someone behind. So I changed the height of the shot a bit and tried
to eliminate the person in the background....

http://www.pbase.com/image/27180829/original



Also tried to cropped one of them into a portrait-oriented shot ...
http://www.pbase.com/image/27180828/original



For a moment, I was sure I'm gonna to post one of the last 2. But I
didn't choose the last one because in such a tigh-cropped, the pic
lacks the "dynamism" offered by a ultra-wide angle.

I also dropped the 2nd last, as I find on further consideration,
the one I posted tells a better story that MAY make people think.
For one, what are they doing? Since it was sunset and none of them
is looking into the sun... Are they waiting for someone, or did
they missed each other? ... Are they in an argument? Looks like
they are not looking eye-to-eye ... etc.

Hope you get the picture :)

There you go, that's why I posted what I posted. Thank you for
looking at this one as well :)
--
Regit Young, FCAS Member, PBase Supporter
48 species caught, 802 species to go ...
'Seeing and interpreting are entirely personal processes' - Steve
Parish
http://www.pbase.com/regit
Click to expand...
--
Yves P.
PBASE Supporter

Some pictures I like:
http://www.pbase.com/yp8/root
 
Funnily enough I like two shots the best - first and last - for different reasons, though.

Love the idea of sharing the thinking behind them - one can "over intellectualise" (!!) but you've not over done it, thanks!

The bit that fasinates me is that everyone tends to have a slightly different 'take' or slant on the same image - and your "reject" is often someone elses "winner"
  • like the first is lovely and atmospheric, and i love the silhouetted figures
  • the last one has some impact, and a lovely model, so has to be a winner
p.s. Darn, not a D70 thread :-p
--
Nikon D70
 
great pics as usual regit.

i love the feeling of the posted pic. It seems she is so relaxed taking in the evening sunlight. I love the angle.

great to see people enjoying photgraphy and not camera engineering!!!
Regit Young said:
I like "life" and people in a shot, and if people can fly, I would
like to include them in my bird-in-flight shots :))) ... ok, maybe
not, but I like to include them whenever I can.

In taking this lighthouse, the above is no exception. This shot is
actually the second shot I took... the first does not have a birdie
in it :)

http://www.pbase.com/image/27180824/original



The above is a backlit shot, and naturally I tried to take some
frontlit shots as well :)

http://www.pbase.com/image/27180825/original



While I like them both, I can really relate to them. They are
"lighthouse" shots for sure, but they are just that and nothing
more ....

How about "we-are-there-at-the-lighthouse" shot then? So I got my
wife to pose for me in some of the shots. The first one I took look
like this:

http://www.pbase.com/image/27180826/original



Problem: I don't really like this as the foreground is a little
weak. This, from what I've learned, is a big no-no especially for a
wide-angle shot. So I got my wife to move to the foreground...

http://www.pbase.com/image/27180827/original



Problem: While this look a bit better, the perspective is a little
ordinary. This time, instead of asking my wife to move, I moved :)

http://www.pbase.com/image/27180830/original



Problem: This (the one I posted) is much better IMO, but I notice
someone behind. So I changed the height of the shot a bit and tried
to eliminate the person in the background....

http://www.pbase.com/image/27180829/original



Also tried to cropped one of them into a portrait-oriented shot ...
http://www.pbase.com/image/27180828/original



For a moment, I was sure I'm gonna to post one of the last 2. But I
didn't choose the last one because in such a tigh-cropped, the pic
lacks the "dynamism" offered by a ultra-wide angle.

I also dropped the 2nd last, as I find on further consideration,
the one I posted tells a better story that MAY make people think.
For one, what are they doing? Since it was sunset and none of them
is looking into the sun... Are they waiting for someone, or did
they missed each other? ... Are they in an argument? Looks like
they are not looking eye-to-eye ... etc.

Hope you get the picture :)

There you go, that's why I posted what I posted. Thank you for
looking at this one as well :)
--
Regit Young, FCAS Member, PBase Supporter
48 species caught, 802 species to go ...
'Seeing and interpreting are entirely personal processes' - Steve
Parish
http://www.pbase.com/regit
Click to expand...
--
http://www.deviantart.com
http://jmills74.deviantart.com/
 
Hi Regit,
Here's my thoughts... Great shots.... Great insite....Great Mentor !

I always get something out of your posts and thank you for your insite as to how you set up those shots. My mind is always working when I am shooting first it's composition then it's settings with some experimentation and sometimes I think I have " The Shot " then when I get home and process the day's work I look and say I could have tried this and that and why didn't I think of it when I was on location arrgh. But each day a lesson is learned and I always look to improve and look forward to the next outing. Thanks again for sharing.
Frank Rende

A PBase supporter
http://www.pbase.com/pompapa
 
Hi Regit. Very interesting post. AND excellent shots.
My favorites are the last two.

I prefer NOT to see the 2nd person, as I fint her (him?) too far to wonder about a 'relationship' with the main character. Didn't even cross my mind before you mentioned it.

And the cropped shot is really a good find, eve though I love the perspectives of WA lenses.

Thanks and keep it up ! Your post reminds me of a good book I have going through contact sheets related to great photographs of famous photographers. Much, much to learn in the thought-creation process going through the gray matter of the photographer.

Gerald

P.S.: PLEASE FOLKS, DELETE THE ORIGINAL MESSAGE FROM YOUR REPLY !!!!! Specially when many pics are in there !!!
 
. . . this is one of those posts that reassures me that the Internet is fulfilling its promise. Even if the spam, etc. is 99% of the traffic, it is more than offset by contributions like yours that never fail to educate, amuse, or enrich, and usually do all three.

Thankful regards,

Mike
 
first of all this sort of insight is good as it gets people thinking. sure worked for me. had me back to a lot of shots from the weekend - I think I'm hjurrying too much of late. not enough time to sit and think through shots. funny... I used to do it.
Regit Young said:
In taking this lighthouse, the above is no exception. This shot is
actually the second shot I took... the first does not have a birdie
in it :)
Click to expand...
And a fine birdie it is. Classic sort of composition - silhouetted bird at sunset gliding high up i nthe sky. very well executed.

maybe the bird evokes some sort of feeling about freedom and escape, but would probably need something with a larger wingspan - gulls don't quite do it for symbolism! ;)
Regit Young said:
The above is a backlit shot, and naturally I tried to take some
frontlit shots as well :)
While I like them both, I can really relate to them. They are
"lighthouse" shots for sure, but they are just that and nothing
more ....
Click to expand...
Regit Young said:
How about "we-are-there-at-the-lighthouse" shot then? So I got my
wife to pose for me in some of the shots. The first one I took look
like this:
Click to expand...
Regit Young said:
Problem: I don't really like this as the foreground is a little
weak. This, from what I've learned, is a big no-no especially for a
wide-angle shot. So I got my wife to move to the foreground...
Click to expand...
  1. 1 is a bit more than a we were there shot. the way the lighthouse is lit up is great. however the foreground doesn't quite work and you're wife isn't prominent enough amongst the fencing. I think you need to take a look at hwat a real snapshot looks like if you think these are ones...
  2. 2 has foreground problems.
Regit Young said:
Problem: While this look a bit better, the perspective is a little
ordinary. This time, instead of asking my wife to move, I moved :)
Click to expand...
Regit Young said:
Problem: This (the one I posted) is much better IMO, but I notice
someone behind. So I changed the height of the shot a bit and tried
to eliminate the person in the background....
Click to expand...
all too easily cloned out... and you're right perspective worked better with this one than the next.
Regit Young said:
Also tried to cropped one of them into a portrait-oriented shot ...

For a moment, I was sure I'm gonna to post one of the last 2. But I
didn't choose the last one because in such a tigh-cropped, the pic
lacks the "dynamism" offered by a ultra-wide angle.
Click to expand...
agree here if you were to make it a portrait, then you need to bring detail back to your wifes face - too much shadow for such a tight crop.

--
-marek

http://www.iso1600.neostrada.pl/
http://www.usefilm.com/browse.php?mode=port&data=14298
 
You got the spirit that all great photograph have! Which is not only taking picture but also telling a story with it, create an emotion... sadly I haven't reach this step yet (but looking to it). I like all the picture that you take... and I have also notice that when you cant introduce people in those pictures you do it and thst is great! It give life to those photography.
Like Yves told you before... YOU RULES MAN!!
Regit Young said:
I like "life" and people in a shot, and if people can fly, I would
like to include them in my bird-in-flight shots :))) ... ok, maybe
not, but I like to include them whenever I can.

In taking this lighthouse, the above is no exception. This shot is
actually the second shot I took... the first does not have a birdie
in it :)

http://www.pbase.com/image/27180824/original



The above is a backlit shot, and naturally I tried to take some
frontlit shots as well :)

http://www.pbase.com/image/27180825/original



While I like them both, I can really relate to them. They are
"lighthouse" shots for sure, but they are just that and nothing
more ....

How about "we-are-there-at-the-lighthouse" shot then? So I got my
wife to pose for me in some of the shots. The first one I took look
like this:

http://www.pbase.com/image/27180826/original



Problem: I don't really like this as the foreground is a little
weak. This, from what I've learned, is a big no-no especially for a
wide-angle shot. So I got my wife to move to the foreground...

http://www.pbase.com/image/27180827/original



Problem: While this look a bit better, the perspective is a little
ordinary. This time, instead of asking my wife to move, I moved :)

http://www.pbase.com/image/27180830/original



Problem: This (the one I posted) is much better IMO, but I notice
someone behind. So I changed the height of the shot a bit and tried
to eliminate the person in the background....

http://www.pbase.com/image/27180829/original



Also tried to cropped one of them into a portrait-oriented shot ...
http://www.pbase.com/image/27180828/original



For a moment, I was sure I'm gonna to post one of the last 2. But I
didn't choose the last one because in such a tigh-cropped, the pic
lacks the "dynamism" offered by a ultra-wide angle.

I also dropped the 2nd last, as I find on further consideration,
the one I posted tells a better story that MAY make people think.
For one, what are they doing? Since it was sunset and none of them
is looking into the sun... Are they waiting for someone, or did
they missed each other? ... Are they in an argument? Looks like
they are not looking eye-to-eye ... etc.

Hope you get the picture :)

There you go, that's why I posted what I posted. Thank you for
looking at this one as well :)
--
Regit Young, FCAS Member, PBase Supporter
48 species caught, 802 species to go ...
'Seeing and interpreting are entirely personal processes' - Steve
Parish
http://www.pbase.com/regit
Click to expand...
--
Phototech
Martin B.
 
Hi Regit,

Thank you very much for sharing your thought process with us. I haven't been hanging out here in the Nikon forums very long, but I always make sure to check out your work for inspiration :)

I've been shooting with a Fuji S602Z, but My D70 is finally shipping tonight (I hope I'm still welcome around here). D100/D70/10D/1DSII... doesn't matter to me (other than the varying strain on the pocketbook), it's only a tool, though there is some lower limit where the tool hampers you from creating what you envision.

I wish there was a dpreview forum on Composition to discuss these issues in a "who cares what camera you're shooting, it's all about the photo!" kinda way...

-John

--
http://photos.skeeterland.com/
 
I understand fully what you're saying :) Sometime a scene can be very overwhelming and when time is limited, thought-out shot may not always be forth-coming :)

In retrospect, I think there's something I should have done that day as well ... DUH!!!! :)))))

Thank you for the comments, Mike.
Mike Mac said:
Regit
Great post, I have just gotten back from NYC and on the drive in
this morning I was evaluating im my mind some of the scenes I tried
to capture, and came up with the fact that I didnt think some
through enough. This gives great insight into the thought process
and how those tie to the type of equipment in used and the
compostional skills needed to marry them together into one great
shot. Soemtime I get so excited over a shot I just point and click.
TY
-Mike
Click to expand...
--
Regit Young, FCAS Member, PBase Supporter
48 species caught, 802 species to go ...
'Seeing and interpreting are entirely personal processes' - Steve Parish
http://www.pbase.com/regit
 
Thank you for the kind words :) I just thought it may be a good way to express one self; and it is a good way for the people here to critic both the pics and the thoughts that go into them :)
SunTzu said:
Very good contributions to this forum, both photographically and
the thought process.

Regards,
Tom
Click to expand...
--
Regit Young, FCAS Member, PBase Supporter
48 species caught, 802 species to go ...
'Seeing and interpreting are entirely personal processes' - Steve Parish
http://www.pbase.com/regit
 
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