This is one of the most unusual photos I have ever seen - and I have seen a lot. Somehow, conditions have just come together, broad light, frost and ice rounding the contours of things, the layers of ice, the smoothness and lack of micro detail, to craft a visual impression that this is actually a model, perhaps no taller than about 12 inches. However, the sea is made of tiny droplets, too small for a model, so that seeing this gives me a strange feeling of unreality - My mind finds it hard to accept that I am not looking at a model superimposed on a real seascape. As we can't see a very detailed full file image of the photo on this website, there is nothing I can do to lessen the strangeness of it.
However, a lovely photo, whatever fortuitous combination of light and time got you there to capture it - and if it ever goes large, as it were, or you feel like showing a snippet at original size, where sea meets building - I would be most grateful if you could put it in answer to this email - my mind just can't see the top of the lighthouse as anything but a model, and yet the sea is real - strange and unsettling feeling, when we are so used to fake things being so cleverly designed to suggest they are real, and yet here is a real scene cunningly pretending to be fake - if only the lighthouse keeper had been up on the lighthouse itself, or had been standing in the doorway below. Very well taken, and congratulations - I would love to see any more taken at the same location perhaps that day or in different light or weather conditions - please?
excellent !!
just one critic if i may: the rule of the 2/3 here would have been magic !
but i love the color, the movement & the mood.
great photo :)
The "rule of thirds" is only *one* of a number of compositional rules-of-thumb. THis image uses a different one, the "triangular" model. The lighthouse is precisely centered in the image, which plays up the concept of "strength" as it stands there foursquare and absorbs the battering of the elements. There are basically three triangles at work here: an overall triangle of shattering spray with the top of the lighthouse forming its apex, and two smaller triangles, left and right, with the lighthouse itself forming the vertical side of each triangle. This is very powerful juxtaposing of elements, and it's part of why the image works so well. Another key element is the footbridge leading us in from the left. Imagine the image without that bridge, and see how much less powerful it would be. Why? To a large degree because the footbridge injects a counterpoint of tremulous frailty and human scale to the image; it's easy to imagine being ON that bridge, and that's a daunting prospect.
Now, as far as rule-of-thirds goes, the only way I can see to even *have* it in this image (without cropping off the right side so the lighthouse is on a 1/3 line, which would kill the dynamic explosion of spray) is to use a wider lens and include more image on the right. I can't see exposing more tot he left, because the bridge would become too dominant then. So give us more on the right, turbulent water and empty sky presumably, so the lighthouse is on the 1/3 left line, and would the image be stronger? I don't think so, I think it would be less focused and intense.
****
Great work, Drake. For those who think it's overprocessed, my response is "WTF?" I know overprocessing, LOL, and by my standards this is almost too UNDERprocessed. I may take a swing at it with tone mapping just for the hell of it :-)
There may be more famous Lighthouses, but living in the state with the most lighthouses (along 3000 miles+ of coastline, and accessible) is a blessing, isn't it?
The hard part isn't the Wintery shooting conditions, it's the driving conditions in Winter trying to get to the Lighthouses that limits us. Lucky (and smart!) you living where you do. Beautiful (and powerful) shot. Congratulations.
Did you shoot any at 1/30 or 1/15.It really is a very beautyful/I really think you should make a poster or let Nikon put it in their center.Harvey Sherman
This shot is absolutely awesome. Congratulations on the well deserved ribbon. I can't believe you can get out in conditions like this and take photos.(Well I do, coz you've proved it!)
Ohmygoodness. This is one of the most beautiful, dramatic photos I've ever seen. A fine choice for top honors in this prestigious challenge! Congratulations!
Congrats!! I had a feeling about this one! I also like the lighthouse in So Hay, but I doubt I'd ever get a picture like this!! Nice work, very dramatic!
THANK YOU ALL for the red ribbon and the wonderful comments, you have made my day!!
I hope people are not getting tired of this lighthouse - it is obviously one I like to vist frequently. I am trying to get as many different weather/sea conditions as I can....unfortunately the most dramatic shots are in the winter...
Oh, this is Drake and that marvelous lighthouse going for another high score. You've got my ten, it's way below zero where I live today and this picture sums up how I feel.
Lighthouse Drama
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