[smarti77]

I returned to one of my favorite local spots this evening and was rewarding with great conditions.
The posts are from an old jetty / pier that has partly destroyed years ago.

1. My favourite single exposure...from about 50 taken...



This one is a HDR from three bracketed jpgs (-2,0,+2) using photomatix. I also used CS2 to blend it back closer to the '0' jpg to avoid the overdone cliche HDR look...
2.



Another HDR (more of the cliche look) with my son Brandon pretending to be an angel...
3.


Critique / reworks always welcome.
Shane

[Irma]

Wonderful pictures Shane....
Excellent colors!!
I like a lot the last one... I think the idea worked out really nice, Brandon looks very sweet there...
I love the shadows of the poles as well... Superb!!

[EnglishBob]

Great Work, I love number 2 the best, I think because of the reflections.

[Toad]

Shane: #2 has a great look to it - but #1 maybe captures the *mood* better. Either way, they both work. #3 is also a super concept.

[Russt]

G'day Shane I have seen quite a few shots of the old jetty and yours are right up there I really like #2. The concept of #3 is great ........well done!!!

cheers

[Banded Drake]

Great shots as always Shane .....


....... Shawn

[Zig]

Excellent; really tasty use of hdr there Shane, and not an easy thing to get on top of in my experience. Photomatix does a better job than Adobe I feel.
I'm trying vainly to be "critical"...the vapour trail miffs me a bit but this is just my taste. The one of your boy is outstanding, truly; the copmposition works very well here...but the twig is a little distracting. It invites comment, yet if this were placed to the boy's right, it'd even up the composition and add its own resonance if he were gazing at it. Hope this makes sense.
Lovely; has inspired me to do some more hdr certainly; great to see your work.

[NT73]

We are all going to be different in what we perceive.
I like #1 possibly best.
I like #2 as it has more colour but it looks too bright for me.
I like #3 and yet! maybe not.
I must try harder, I say to myself when I see shots such as these.

[smarti77]

Thanks all for your comments. Its interesting to hear other peoples opinions (sometimes it even alters my opinin). I want to print either no1 or no2 but still cant decide. I think I will work on the lighting a bit more on no2 before deciding.
I also value the constructive criticism - I would love to try and reshoot the last image with perfect smooth sand and no twig. I will be surprised if I can find such conditions again plus trying to get him to stand still for three quick shots...