Challenge yourself.....

[Marty]

I don't shoot lanscapes, I just dont have the patience to wait for the perfect timing, at least that is my excuse.
But after reading on another forum, the challenge is to take a style of image you wouldn't usually shoot, to challenge yourself.
So here goes.....and a little bit of my style of pp.
Was lucky to see these huge black clouds rolling in and had my camera with me (as I always do).
Darkness of image is intentional to create more impact.....

[big pix]

love the shot and the treatment........BUT the very large black border just takes over the image........

[blacknstormy]

Marty, I'm with the venerable BigPix - brilliant shot, but the border overpowers everything Lose the border, and wooohoooo

[babyvtr]

i don't agree! i think it looks fanastic the way it is. well done

[Marty]

Thanks for the comments guys.
Would you believe it, this is the first border I have ever done on one of my images...!
I will try a different style of border.
Also forgot to say, the challenge is for everyone on this forum too..!!

[stubbsy]

Marty

I like both the image and the treatment. Not sure about the border

[rooboy]

Fantastic image - so moody and intense. I'd be tempted to bring up the highlights in the cliff a bit, not actually brighten the whole lot (as I love it dark) but just to mimic the huge contrast in the clouds.

I'm with most others on the border, halve the size and lose the white stripe so it doesn't dominate an incredible pic.

If this is your first serious attempt at landscape photography you're off to a flying start - look forward to seeing some more

[sirhc55]

After stepping out of your safety zone to take a shot of this stature deems a large pat on the back - well done

[Marty]

Thanks again guys, I now see the border is a bit overpowering, I will re-do it later tonught.
Landcsapes just aren'y my thing, there are too many other people creating amazing work.
Rooboy, the right side of the cliffs are actually very dense green trees, that is why it came out so dark in the conversion.
And Chris, thanks for the pat on the back.
To let the truth be told, the pat would have been for getting to the spot to shoot the image. I was sat on the edge of the cliff, over 100ft high. And I am very very scared of heights...
If you look very closely you can see somebody (some fool) standing at the top of the cliff, just back from the ledge. I also have an image with him leaning over the edge to have a look down (foooool).
MArty

[big pix]

Marty..... a border is used to enhance an image, not to distract from the image........ may I say a very small white or grey and then a very small black simply to frame the image...... still a great shot

[moz]

Yeah, I like it. Moody works well for me and the black border emphasises that. Need to be careful printing it, on my dim second monitor it looks boring but on the proper one it has a decent grab to it.

[marcotrov]

Marty a fantastically moody B&W and at the risk of sounding like a broken record ditto Big Pix. Without border it risked being confused with some of Ansel Adam's work
cheers
marco

[Marty]

Hey Marco,
Ansel is a legend to me, so obviously you see where my inspiration comes from, many thanks for the comparison.
All my personal work is b/w regardless of subject.
My commercial shoots are generally colour.
Moz, it looks great on my calibrated monitor, but as always they loose the detail and impact when saved for the web.
Cheers Fellas

[Marty]

Ok then, version two with a more subtle border.
Thanks for all the constructive suggestions for the border.
Just for reference, being subtle isnt always me, just ask my friends what I sometimes say to them.....

[nito]

Border or no border it is still one fine shot.

[Manta]

Now you're talking Marty! Much better without the border.

We've had many a discussion in the past regarding borders and it's a subject that really polarises the membership. Most, like me, are of the opinion that if the image isn't strong enough without the border, no frame is going to save it. If, however, it stands alone then.... it stands alone!

Borders are fantastic for web gallery pages and for sticking shots up on your wall that you don't want to frame. When critiquing images posted here, I much prefer to see just the image. Anything other than that can distract me too much and my attention span is already way too short.

That being said, if all your shots are of this calibre, you don't need no stinkin' borders anyway, gringo.

[big pix]

now I can see a great image....... well done

[Marty]

Cheers Nito and Manta,
It's funny as I have never used borders on my images before.
I simply print them as they are, then they get stuffed away in my draw not to be seen for a while.
I am extremely self critical of my work, usually after a few looks I start to pick faults and they get 'filed' away....
I do however like some of the subtle/classier borders I have seen on the web, but I do hate some of the real cheesy and cheap ones, they actually make me ignore the photo.
Not sure which side of the argument I stand with the border debate, probably just sit on the fence and watch the others argue the merits.
Cheers
Marty

[Marty]

Bigpix, I followed your recommendation, small white and small black border.
And have to agree I like the look, I will be printing this version tomorrow.
Cheers

[Geoff]

Marty - great shot and MUCH MUCH better without the border! Being so close geographically we should definately do a shoot together soon!

[Marty]

Geoff,
thats a great idea as I have just found an amazing spot for photography.
It invovles hanging upside down over a sheer cliff edge a few hundred feet high.
The resulting shot would most certainly be a winner.
But as stated I am not keen on heights, or being near the edge of anything high.
Will give you a call next time I plan on visiting this secret area.
I will pass you my camera to take the winning shot...
Marty

[Geoff]

 LOL Marty! I was thinking of saying before I got to the end of your post ''I'll hold your feet" I'm not soo bad with heights, but lets use your camera Got insurance?

[Marty]

Shhhhhh, don't tell anybody, but it's not insured.
If anyone is game enough to grab it from me, well they must have a lot of courage......
And its so bloody heavy, they wouldn't get too far with it.
Marty

[moz]

I'd be up for that, as long as I can bring my climbing gear.

[Hlop]

Great photo, Marty!

Looks like place somwhere between Dee Why and Curl Curl but I might be wrong. Anyway it seems to be very familiar to me ....

[Marty]

Hey Moz,
you are welcome to come along and do the climbing....
Here is a link to the local climbs, but I don't think the ledge I found is listed as a climb route.
And it looks like climbing is currently banned here.

http://www.sydneyclimbing.com/xgo_north_head.html

Mikhail, it's actually the Manly side of Nth Head, at the carpark just around and up from Shelly Beach.
This is a fantastic place to shoot the surf on very big days.
It's called 'Winki' or 'Deadmans', only the very brave surf there on a big day as its exposed to the ocean and is very shallow.
And you can easily climb down to sea level depending on the shooting angle you want.
Do I get a prize for giving away my 'secret' places to shoot.?
Marty

[Laurie]

nice shot, very menancing.

[moz]

Hey Moz, you are welcome to come along and do the climbing.... And it looks like climbing is currently banned here.

Darn. I wonder if they'd buy "I'm just taking photos"... but I'm not going to try it. Would hate to have fallout on the climbing community from that. I'll stick to trees