Landscape Critique

Ive been struggling to get the slow silky water effect on my k-x with the kit 18-55 lens.

Im using cheapy ND filters. An ND8 and a ND4 both screwed onto the lens. At high F numbers Im still only getting 2 second exposures. This was the best I could muster. Ive also got a massive dust problem so try and ignore some of the spots ive missed!

Its a beach in Newcastle Co Down btw

Beautiful, I love it.

I can't see how flattening the sea further with even longer exposures would do anything but detract from that.

Well done,
Rob.

Thanks Rob - your kind comments are much appreciated.

QC

the sea looks fine but it has a purple cast over the sky and horizon.
just a thought ,is this a "landscape" or "seascape", we had a landscape competition and the judge dismissed shots like this as not landscape.

Hi - the purple cast is deliberate (filter)

I appreciate what you say - it is of course a seascape

it was just a thought, how people feel as a lot of members did not agree me included,discussion for another place perhaps.

When you talk about high F numbers and 2 second times you don't mention how the ISO rating is being controlled. If you leave it on auto would that explain the time issue?

its Iso 100. aperture priority. 6 second exposure

If you want a silky smooth look you need a decent 10 stop filter Alistair, but I happen to like a shorter exposure that retains some texture in the water as yours does here. Between 1 and 4 seconds usually works well.

Regarding the colour cast caused by the filters, I'm not sure that it adds anything to this particular image and I would be tempted to remove it by using a white balance eyedropper tool (Adobe Camera RAW has one, other software probably has similar tools).

I do like the image though, it has a lot of atmosphere.

Regards
David

Confusing points of interest for me. I think its a stronger image if you crop out the beach/rocks.

You've got a very dirty sensor, lots of spots and specks across the image that could do with cloning out.

If you want a longer exposure maybe trying waiting until there is a bit less light.

What do you consider a high f number?

I think i'd tend to agree.

My main input for constructive criticism would be that the image looks 'flat' to me. IMO it needs more depth, more three dimensional. Maybe an adjustment brush increasing contrast in the foreground and more misty in the background.

p.s the purple cast is very distracting

This is closer to the vision I'd have for this pic

I wish I could offer some help but cannot offer any from experience, however, I do like these shots

A panoramic letterbox crop could give it a different ambience and allow the viewer to drift into the vast space and feel they have left the land behind them maybe?




I do enjoy the fact that your image has hints of flowing texture in the water - still not made my mind up on the hyper-silkyness of water with 10 stop ND's yet?!?