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Bodie Island Light Station
Bodie Island Light Station
jmsetzler


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Postcard III (Advanced Editing VII*)
Collection: Portfolio
Camera: Canon PowerShot G9
Location: Manteo, North Carolina Outer Banks
Date: Mar 30, 2009
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO: 80
Shutter: 1/500
Galleries: Landscape, Black and White
Date Uploaded: Apr 4, 2009

 I'm not a postcard photographer for the most part. I rarely raise my camera at scenes that are postcard worthy. I find it really difficult to get something unique at a spot that has been photographed literally thousands of times by hundreds or thousands of photographers. When I do, since my preferences in photography are generally black and white, I tend to go that route, which is a rather major turn-off for the postcard crowd as well. I expect a dose of the standard "I would love to see this in color" comments... This particular photo does look really nice in color, and the sky is a nice deep blue behind the lighthouse in the morning sun. One of my simple philosophies of photography is that if the color is not adding major impact to a photograph, it comes out. This is one of those photos that can go either way for me. It makes a strong image in either presentation.

I had to attend a student conference in Virginia Beach, VA this week. I decided to get up really early and drive to the North Carolina Outer Banks on my way up there, so I left the house around 345 am and arrived in Nags Head just before 10am on Monday morning (3/30/09). I didn't have but about three hours to spend on the banks so I had to pick and choose what I wanted to do carefully. I knew I wanted to photograph two of the lighthouses and I wanted to catch the Wright Brothers Memorial as well. The Bodie Island Light Station was the closest lighthouse to the spot where I entered the Outer Banks, so I went there first. This lighthouse is 170 feet tall and was constructed in 1871 and 1872. This is the third build of this particular lighthouse. The first one was constructed in 1847 but not built on a strong enough foundation and it started leaning. The second build was completed in 1859, but was destroyed by retreating Confederate troops in 1861 who feared that Union forces would use it against them.

I dind't even realize there was a "Postcard" challenge up until Friday, so I thought I would toss this one in the heap just for fun :)

Statistics
Place: 107 out of 163
Avg (all users): 5.4438
Avg (commenters): 5.8889
Avg (participants): 5.2000
Avg (non-participants): 5.5714
Views since voting: 945
Views during voting: 289
Votes: 160
Comments: 10
Favorites: 0

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AuthorThread
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Nikon D90
 04/10/2009 11:03:28 PM
wish the horizon was a little straighter, but real potential. maybe a litter more sky on the top would allow the eye to continue to move
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III
Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO
 04/10/2009 01:29:19 PM
A nice strong and smooth image. My only nitpick in there appears to be a slight tilt. That may just be a false perception on my own part. Popped it into my editor to check it, and it does indeed have a tilt to it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D800
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR
 04/07/2009 11:48:49 PM
Lighthouse looks tilted slightly to me, maybe it's me this morning!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Pentax K-R
Pentax DA L 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL
 04/07/2009 12:00:31 PM
The sky is pretty dark, and your vertical is off a bit.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Olympus E-520
Vivitar MF Zoom 19-35mm f/3.5-4.5 Series 1 for Olympus
 04/06/2009 10:24:57 PM
This is a wonderful image with one little flaw - the light tower windows looks like streaks and are not defined. Those who are familiar with the light would know what the streaks are, but those who are could count this as an image defect. It might have worked to clone them out or maybe adjust the exposure to add some measure of definition to the windows. Otherwise, it's a wonderful image - very smooth and even tones from white through black. Effective use of lighting. Very well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi
Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III
 04/06/2009 07:19:48 PM
Nice shot, the only thing I would've fix the tilt.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi
Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC for Canon
 04/06/2009 05:58:46 PM
Good use of negative space, well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5D Mark II
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
 04/06/2009 09:34:18 AM
great sky gradient in black and white and great job preserving detail despite the few blown out spots on the tower's edge
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D60
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G DX VR
 04/06/2009 09:29:01 AM
A little bland for me. Needs contrast and some straightening but I still gave it a 6.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D750
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
 04/06/2009 12:26:42 AM
Beautiful tones, excellent B/W image, some text would of helped it for the challenge though...6
  Photographer found comment helpful.
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