On the beach [3 big imgs]

Since I don't have to submit an entry for the competition this week I had some spare time to work up some shots from 2 weeks ago. It was a very hefty breeze going and it took two days until I got all the sand out of my ears, hair etc. (and yes, I did use the shower but it didn't help immediately). The lens made a bit of a crunching noise but nothing too bad and it's back to normal now...

All with *istD and Sigma 105/2.8 EX DG Macro (didn't want to change lenses)

ooooooooer yummy yummy

Love the first image with the sand grains blowing over the top

the first two images IMHO are OK...ish, I would have prefered them sharp all over then I'd have hung them on the wall, the third is my favourite but I would have cloned out some of the debris.

Number three for me - It looks perfect re the debris, I think it adds to the image, as it subtly breaks up the mass of sand in the foreground and makes it slightly less bland.

Thanks for looking and voicing your opinions.

Yes, the first two have quite a shallow DOF and this was intentional (had to go to 1/2000 s on one of them). Should have made some with smaller aperture as well, just to see if I like them better. My suspicion is, though, that I prefer them the way they are. (But now, of course, I will never know for sure.)

On the issue of debris I did consider cloning it out but then decided against it.

Prieni

I had a strange feeling that was your intention , still doesn't change the fact I think you made a bugger of them and now they'll NEVER get hung on MY wall



Seriously though, it does often pay to take shots with varying depth of field, as you say, now you'll never know

And thanks to you little devil I won't be able to enjoy them anymore because I will always wonder if I would have liked them better with bigger DOF.

I will stick a note on my camera to "aperture-bracket" shots...

Prieni

P.S.: Sorry about your bare walls... Next time it's sunny I will go down again and take some more shots.