pm sent regarding the Samsung.

Hi Folks,

Mrs DS and I had a couple of days away at the seaside earlier this week. We stayed at a place called Châtelaillon Plage just south of La Rochelle. It's the first time I've really taken seaside and sunsets over the sea shots so I'd appreciate some comments and critiques.

To be honest, I took many, many, shots and couldn't possibly show even half of them, so here is a small fraction and a variety. I have plenty of varieties even of the types shown here.

These have just "normal" post processing (all are shot in RAW) and I intend to perform some other pp on some of them. But first things first.

All shots are taken with my K-r and 18-55mm DAL kit lens, as it's the only wide angle lens I have.

Here are some taken on Monday

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And then on Tuesday

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Hi Mark,

I haven't commented up to now because I couldn't really find the words to describe this set. So, I'll just agree with the others and leave it at that!

Sutherland is my favourite part of the world, at least the places I've visited. I've climbed all the mountains you have described and photographed. You have certainly brought back memories. I can remember sitting on top of Suilven in the silence just watching the golden eagles circle around. I was lucky enough with the weather!

I can't wait to see your winter set, but be careful!

Cheers,

ds

Were you really sober?

Looks good.

I'll have to buy a flash first, of course.

To be honest, I wouldn't want to. But I guess that's what makes this original, that nobody else wants to do it either.

If I get a chance I might try to find something like this and photoshop all the interesting bits out. Only as long as you'll buy it off me, of course!

Edit: I see Shaun got in first!

+1

Well, dr, you know more than I do. And if I could ever aspire to a list like that........

Besides, you know damn well that if you could get that DA*300 soon I'd take the 55-300 off you!

That's exactly right, Charlotte. I spent loads of time taking photos that were spoilt by things I hadn't noticed because I was concentrating on the main subject. (I still do that plenty of times). You need to see what is going to be in the whole frame.

But the important thing, as has been intimated, is what you actually want from the shot. Try to make a single object the main point of interest and have it in the right place in the shot. Try to have an interesting foreground, middle and background.

These are quite general ideas but when you get it right it will be obvious. Keep trying! You're going fine.

Hi Charlotte,

I'm a cyclist in lycra! Mind you, I'm perhaps one of those that shouldn't be wearing that sort of gear nowadays!

Dr O must be wondering what's happening in this part of France as I wrote to him today saying just about the same as you, that I'd lost my inspiration.

Perhaps it's the weather change or perhaps there are less and less butterflies, though I took some Red Admirals just yesterday. But with the rain come mushrooms, and I've just spotted some nice specimens nearby. And Dr o is right, landscapes become better this time of year. I think you just have to realise that taking landscapes is more difficult than you'd imagine and you do have to learn and practise.

All the advice you've been given is good advice, and I'm going to use some of it to get out of my malaise. I'm going to try to enter more comps as this narrows down ideas and makes you concentrate on something you may not have done before.