Why I choose Pentax....

....so that I could go out on wet dreary miserable days and not worry about my camera getting wet

To blow the new year's eve cobwebs away we decided to go for a (as it turned out) blustery and wet walk at Southwold Harbour with the campera

By the end of the walk it was blowing a gale with horizontal driving rain.

There was not much colour and these were about the best I could muster. All with K5iis and DA* 16-50, ISO 400.

1. Wet fish shop open for business;



2. Boat for sale



3. Aground and decaying



4. Waiting for the summer



5. Choppy waters



6. Muddy walk to the windpump



7. Gloomy path



8. Beached



9. Windswept beach through a wet lens



All the above we single images with P&P in LR4

I also tried some bracketed shots, merged in photomatrix for a slightly grungy feel

10.



11.



12.



C&C welcome



PS. Happy New Year

Nice shots. Prefer the less HDR one's to be honest/. Think the first is my favourite. The cryptic water mark is less annoying in these but still pokes the eyeballs.

Its' good to see some pics in not s ogood weather though

The exaggerated HDR 'lighting effects' don't make up, I'm afraid, for the lack of any decent light falling on the scenes worth capturing. Its all just dull, grey & flat. For that reason alone for me the shots don't work.

There's clearly potential here, especially with the contrasting bright paint colours on the boats, but again, there has to be some light to work with.

Thanks Smeggy. The HDR ones were just a bit of fun really. In some cases they work in others they don't. In these cases it's probably the later. The main aim was to bring out some definition in the sky. The truth is that there wasn't much and I was able to tweak the higlights in LR4 enough to show what there was anyway.
However I took bracketed shots so I was damn well going to use them
But I agree, they don't really add anything.

McGregNi, You're right that the light was dull, grey and flat but sometimes that's what there is. Personally I still think it's worth trying to capture an image that reflects the atmosphere at the time and I still felt that they were worth sharing. To me these are a reflection of the place at that time and should give the viewer an impression of 'being there'. It WAS dull grey and flat

However we all see things differently and that's why I welcome C&C

A nice set there. Think there is a lot of potential there!

A shame the weather wasn't great but as you say not a worry when using a Pentax!

Thanks Tom. The reason we(I) chose Southwold for our walk was because of the potential for nets, boats, huts, flotsam, etc. etc. When the sun is out it can be a magical place with photo opportunities around every corner.

Yesterday the driving rain and freezing wind took the edge off the experience, prevented the use of a tripod and meant that you didn't want to stand anywhere too exposed for very long. Glad you liked them

I do like these, for me nasty weather frequently makes for more interesting photographs than a sunny afternoon shot. I particularly like number 9.

I am from the NW Highland coast, and as a youngster used to get bored with 'bad' weather. It took a New York painter (Jon Scheuler)to open my eyes to the beauty that was always there in the clouds and rain.

Ralph, on the whole I think the natural ones are preferable. Obviously you wanted to emphasise the gloom, but I think there is a bit of inconsistency in the lighting in the images - the sky doesn't seem to change much, but a few seem just a bit too dark to me (5, 7 and 9) compared with the others. On the other hand, I wonder if selective application of brightness and contrast might help stress the dismal day, while adding a bit more strength to the images? E.g.




Philip

Complete waste of time in my opinion ... I am not wanting to be disrepectful to the photographer and I do understand the point of view that says 'this is what it looked like, there's a certain atmosphere to the location in this weather thats worth recording', and on this level then the photographer has done an admirable job.

My point is wider than just these shots. Whilst they may meet those aims of recording I referred to above, I don't think they are 'good photographs' on the basis of the poor light. I feel they are an example of photographs that should not be taken - not at that time anyway.

I think that's a bit harsh Nigel, I know you're not having a go at Ralph here, but to me there is a lot of merit taking photos in dull and flat conditions, in fact I think it is preferable to bright midday sun. We can't always have 'perfect' lighting and this is not a reason to not take photographs, we just have to make the best of what we are given.

I agree with the comments above about the HDR ones, these are not for me and I also think the levels could do with an overall increase in some of the non HDR ones. I like the compositions and the images definitely convey the sense of dark and gloom in the weather conditions, all in all a very good set of photos.

Regards
David

What you say nicely highlights the opposing views on this David ... you say we have to make the best of what we are given. I agree if it's the only chance you'll ever get to record the location if that is your aim.

But I think we have to be realistic about the elements that need to come together to produce an attractive and inviting image - and some sort of decent quality of light is a key requirement here - without it (as in these shots) I would say its not worth it.

I recently spent 4 days in the Lake District of which almost 3 full days were constant rain. On one of those I went for a walk around Derwent Water and got some of the best shots of the whole 4 days, despite the light being very flat, the clouds low etc. In these conditions the colours can either be very monochromatic or they can really sing, depending on what the subject is. It's up to the photographer to drag out the best possible results. I like this because most people don't venture out in such poor conditions so the photos can end up looking very different from those normally shot in the same location.

Anyway, this is going off topic a bit and I don't want to detract from Ralph's photos, which I think are very good and well worth the effort he obviously went to.

Regards
David

No, I can't say anything about those shots of yours either, this is not about them ... I've no doubt that there are certain subjects and locations where flat and dull lighting can work - macro in a forest perhaps .

But really, those situations where poor weather offers special opportunities are usually when you get that late break in the clouds, a streaking beam of sunshine through dark clouds, that sort of thing. Its not common with uniformly grey skys and with the entire ground in shadow that you'll get anything that interesting.

Anyway, I don't have anything negative to say about the actual skills of the photographer here - not compositions, exposure and technique - I applaud all of that. But I disagree that it was worth the effort.

@ David and Nigel, I sort of agree with both of you, there are some occasions that you go out with the Camera and you know that because of the conditions you will get nothing, when the rain comes down biblically in Cumbria at the moment (When doesn't it at the moment?)I stay in, just not worth going up anywhere if there is no view but I live there, I have that choice. If it's a once a year holiday, you don't, You go, you take pictures, you have to it's what you do, you make the best of what you can get in the conditions and share em around afterwards.
When it's grey and gloomy in the Lakes and I have to go out there, A because someone's paying me to go and get a particular shot (Not too often these days, dammit!) I go and try to get what the client wants! And B, when It's grey and gloomy in the Lakes and I'm going because I'm climbing the walls at home because it's the first day in a fortnight that I can see my hand in front of my face! I change my shooting strategy over to black and white and running water with grad filters etc.
All are worthwhile but not ideal, not as good as the sudden shaft of light, not as good, as the rainbow but if you don't go you don't get anything...

Sums it up for me. You get out and take photos on New Years Day, or you stay in and watch TV. Guess which option gives the chance of catching "that moment"