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Sydney
1st PlaceSydney
Firsty


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Postcard II (Advanced Editing V*)
Camera: Nikon D200
Lens: Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4.0 AT-X Pro DX
Location: Sydney Australia
Date: Nov 19, 2006
Aperture: f 11
ISO: 100
Shutter: 15 sec
Galleries: Urban, Architecture
Date Uploaded: Nov 19, 2006

What can I say, an 8.... Thanks :)

and to think I wasn't going to enter a shot of the opera house as I'm trying to find other things to shoot around Sydney, but I went out on a boat on the harbour the night before and it was so still and cloudless that I just had to get up at 4am and take this shot
yes it is a morning shot and the sun is still behind the horizon and the moon vanished in the lightness about 10 mins later

converted from raw with rawshooter pro:
note rawshooter starts with just the white balance set from the camera
color temp lowered from 5600 to 5060 to enhance the blue
tint lowered from 7 to 3
exposure -0.22
fill light +11
shadow contrast +17
highlight contrast -27
saturation +24
vibrance +6
rotate and crop
export as tiff

edit with PS2 :
not much done here :)
very light dodge on the dark shadows on the tips of the opera house sails
forgot to do the light sharpen I normally do before I resize :(
add text - font is called Arabolical and the color is picked from the roof
resize and output sharpening
change color profile for web viewing
add border and save for web

Statistics
Place: 1 out of 266
Avg (all users): 8.0639
Avg (commenters): 8.8654
Avg (participants): 7.8319
Avg (non-participants): 8.3113
Views since voting: 21766
Views during voting: 510
Votes: 219
Comments: 134
Favorites: 91 (view)


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AuthorThread
09/30/2008 07:30:46 AM
Wow!! Magic!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/09/2008 10:25:19 AM
Great shot, amazing lighting
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/09/2007 09:16:25 AM
Lighting is great.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/03/2006 11:34:04 PM
What a presentation to bury the competition! Congratulations on your well earned BLUE!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/03/2006 03:32:51 PM
Beatuiful postcard, many congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/02/2006 11:52:04 AM
Another great photograph Keith, congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/01/2006 08:43:07 PM
this is my first ever post, and what an excellant shot it was to be rercieving it, Nice work
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/30/2006 11:29:52 PM
Great Photo....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/30/2006 06:05:25 PM
Excellent photo, and a fantastic city too! Congrats buddy!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/30/2006 02:33:31 PM
Beautiful!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/30/2006 02:30:11 PM
Perfect - little else to say other than congrats on your blue ribbon, breaking an 8 score-wise, and your personal best - doesn't get much better than that Keith!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/30/2006 11:11:22 AM
fair dinkum mate. yohoho
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/30/2006 10:06:20 AM
This photo is absolutely stunning! Fantastic!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/29/2006 05:23:51 PM
Congratulations, a stunning shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/29/2006 03:07:51 PM
This was one of my 10s in this challenge, some of the night shots were superb and this is outstanding. Congratulations on the Blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/29/2006 01:10:02 PM
I was there and a postcard like picture of the jewel makes me want to go back.... congrats... beautiful work...

Have a beer at "Fortune of war" oldest pub.... great place...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/28/2006 11:12:32 PM
Another fine piece of work Keith. Awesome shot. You're on a sweet roll. Congrats again.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/28/2006 04:13:20 PM
Firsty got Firsty :-) Congrats! Great image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/28/2006 03:03:03 PM
A Fabulous Image Congrats on your Blue Ribbon
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/28/2006 01:27:17 PM
Great!

What was the person thinking who gave you a 1.

Awesome shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/28/2006 08:04:58 AM
Wow, just beautiful. Fantastic work. congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 11:28:01 PM
You are on fire Keith !! Keep taking those Sydney shots - you can't LOSE !!! If you have the time you need to market this photo, publishers and tourism companies etc, it's a winner. In fact you could put a nice little package of Sydney together and see what happens. They are magnificent photographs :-)
-Lisa
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 08:55:26 PM
Wow! Great shot! And what a score!! Congrats!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 07:50:10 PM
Congrats on another blue ribbon, a very beautiful photograph!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 07:19:57 PM
Shoulda saved it for when the team needs it! But then again, this was too rare an opportunity for an 8+. I will never get to that mark. Just can't see it. So congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 07:15:02 PM
sen-bloody-sational mate! :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 06:32:12 PM
Absolutely stunning! Congrats on that 8.
Those poor poor trolls and their wasted effort.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 05:00:39 PM
On top of all the accolades and a blue ribbon, you now have the highest ever score with the lens you used, and the second highest score with the camera (2nd only to Manny--no shame there!). Wow! Let me humbly throw in my congratulations too. Well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 03:51:15 PM
Wow an 8! COngrats, I am assuming I don't have to check your portfolio to say that Congrats on the Personal Best! A truly remarkable photo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 02:36:53 PM
Congrats on blue, definitely well deserved! :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 01:12:52 PM
Congrats, this is just perfect and the score is more than fitting :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 12:28:46 PM
This shot is GREAT! Congrats on 8+.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 10:47:42 AM
Now you'll really have to find something else to shoot. Any photos of the opera house are going to be downhill from now on ;-) Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 10:33:00 AM
congratulations! Beautiful shot...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 09:46:44 AM
Congrats!! Amazing shot!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 08:35:31 AM
This is fabulous! I gave it a 10 and looked at it many times. Congrats on the well deserved ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 07:21:20 AM
I knew this would win as soon as I saw it. I don't think I've ever seen a score that high! Yet if ever one deserved an 8.06 score,this is it! CONGRATULATIONS! This is outstanding!

  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 07:11:34 AM
Beautiful, Gave it a nine and added to my favorites.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 07:07:53 AM
congratulations. A well deserved win. Just glad the comppeition is over. Been on edge! lol
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 06:31:59 AM
Congratulations on your well deserved blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 05:12:01 AM
"and to think I wasn't going to enter a shot of the opera house as I'm trying to find other things to shoot around Sydney"

You have got my permission to shot the whole England cricket team when they get there.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 04:48:52 AM
wow, it's beautiful..
love the moon...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 03:58:10 AM
Excellent.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 03:48:11 AM
Yeah, BTBB and another great picture! Congrats Keith! Woot Se7endipity!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 03:29:56 AM
Was there last week......what a great shot...Love the moon in the top corner....Congrats 'onyablue'
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 02:56:52 AM
Congrats, Mate! BTBB and new PB with an 8+ score, can you dig it?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 02:54:32 AM
Ohhh congratulations from an Aussie expat! Lovely lovely shot. What are the chances of that...having another Opera House winner? (Duotones 11)

Message edited by author 2006-11-27 02:56:10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 02:38:25 AM
WOW 8, Go team Se7endipity.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 02:29:51 AM
Holy s**t! I thought there was no way I wouldn´t walk away with the blue one with the score I had but congrats :) Can´t take away the first place from firsty I guess, hehe.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 02:23:55 AM
Blues!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 02:22:33 AM
I love your choice of text color.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 02:13:31 AM
Stunning, absolutely stunning
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 01:50:40 AM
yep, I was correct...this awesome shot took the blue...congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 01:44:59 AM
He's done it again!! Congrats, Keith. This was a flawless postcard image.

Message edited by author 2006-11-27 01:45:25.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 01:44:59 AM
"WOW", you did it, and I picked the top two, and so pleased that one of them was yours Keith.....
Just look at that awesome score mate, for such an awesome image.....
It is so well deserved, to a fellow "Aussie", and a perfect Australian postcard that everyone would love. C.O.N.G.R.A.T.U.L.A.T.I.O.N.S.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 01:01:28 AM
Whoooooooooot! Congrats Keith!

Absolutely stunning shot!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 12:52:26 AM
Well done Firsty. Well deserved 8.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 12:51:22 AM
One of the defining landmarks of Sydney (more so than the Vaucluse Lighthouse ... ;-)), and one of my 10s.
Congratulations on another ribbon in such quick succession.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 12:41:41 AM
You're certainly living up to your name ;-) and this is a gorgeous image. Huge congrats on the blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 12:36:39 AM
Congrats on your Blue!!! And an 8+ score to boot!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 12:26:39 AM
i sure hope the 1 #1 and 1 #2 voter see you took blue! Beautiful shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 12:25:49 AM
Congratulations! Now off you go printing lots of postcards and send to everyone ;)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 12:25:32 AM
Congrats. Amazing how much of a boost color gets you in the challenges. Your duotone version of this opera house is equally stunning yet it scored .7 less than this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 12:22:57 AM
You sure are rackin' them up, Keith! Big congrats on your new blue for this beauty! WOW and a 8!!!! How great is that!

Message edited by author 2006-11-27 00:23:46.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 12:20:15 AM
Originally posted by hotpasta:

and the winner is...siderni!

Excellent...did you take this from Doyles? Great image...good luck (One of the bast, but I am biased) 9


and the winner was Syderni!!! Congratulations...awesome...great win for the Aussies
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 12:19:33 AM
Simply unbelieveable. Congratulations... :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 12:12:31 AM
A 1 and a 2? The vote scrubber is worthless. Grats on this superb shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 12:11:35 AM
congrats!
and thank goodness for not using the star effect on the lights!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 12:11:19 AM
congrats!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 12:10:13 AM
Two blues in a row!!!! Congratulations!!! Great picture, worthy of the ribbon and a 8+ score.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 12:10:07 AM
stunning! check that score! congrats
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 12:10:02 AM
spectacular shot. I specially like the crescent moon in the right corner and the great script also. perfect all round.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 12:09:40 AM
Congrat great Card.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 12:08:30 AM
Dude you dominated this like the Aussies in the first test! you beat a pom too :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 12:07:27 AM
when this challenge was announced my first thought was "Firsty is going to win this with a shot of the opera house from north sydney". I was wrong, you were on the bridge. Congratulations.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
11/26/2006 11:31:06 PM
My one and only 10. SHOULD be a postcard for sure! Lovely colors and reflections and the light and time of day is just perfect.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/26/2006 08:49:00 PM
Wow, that is just fabulous...one of the best I have seen of the Sydney Opera House. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/26/2006 06:57:06 PM
Lovely - iconic. My top pick.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/26/2006 06:57:01 PM
Yup, would make me wanna go there.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/25/2006 10:17:31 PM
I love the moon.....9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/24/2006 11:19:17 PM
Great shot, excellant job bringing out the best part of Sydney...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/24/2006 11:12:15 PM
Nice shot of the Opera House at sunset, nice light, moon, reflections, title.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/24/2006 09:46:12 PM
One of my four 10's in this challenge. I have seen SO many photos of the opera house over the years, yet this one made me look twice. Great timing resulting in stunning light and colors.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/24/2006 03:11:04 PM
It's almost cheating when you have something this gorgeous to photograph. Nice time of day, nice exposure, excellent presentation.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/24/2006 11:19:46 AM
Love the composition, great font. Text is placed well, adds to the photo and doesn't distract.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/24/2006 08:14:16 AM
Wonderful Shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/24/2006 07:13:35 AM
Absolutely postcardable. ;>þ
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/24/2006 01:41:44 AM
Gorgeous!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/23/2006 08:54:13 PM
Amazing! Perfect font as well. nothing I can add except congrats on a great image! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/23/2006 01:01:31 PM
Excellent Postcard. Excellent image!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/23/2006 07:15:14 AM
This would make a beautiful postcard! Ribbon material in my book.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/23/2006 03:47:59 AM
Beautiful, beautiful photo. I could just see this on a postcard. The font style and color of the text doesn't really seem to compliment the picture as much as it could.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/23/2006 03:35:59 AM
This one get top votes from me as Sydney is my favorite city.....
It is also very well taken, and an excellent photo as well.....
Picture perfect in everyway.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/22/2006 07:54:59 PM
Perfect time of day for this shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/22/2006 07:28:04 PM
Great shot with lovely understated text. This is the best shot i have ever seen of this oft photographed place. Beautiful.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/22/2006 04:48:00 PM
OK, glad I finally got to this image. Its one I picked out whilst flicking through the thumbnails. All I can say about this image is that it is just perfect. It really is one of the best in the challenge. Even the tiny moon works for me.. perfect in everyway..

obviously a ten from me :-) hope to see this on the frontpage.. but its up against some real good contenders.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/22/2006 03:00:00 PM
Wow, you got it all -- the Sidney landmark with reflection, the sunset, and the moon. Terrific! Beautiful colors and light, and nice simple and effective graphics.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/22/2006 02:28:59 PM
would love to go there,
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/22/2006 07:16:42 AM
This is a fabulous shot, but the rule of thirds seems to be barely followed--maybe if the horizon line was a bit lower instead of right thru the middle of the shot?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/22/2006 06:36:26 AM
Wow, what a fine shot and the moon gives it perfect balance.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2006 11:34:28 PM
very nice capture 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2006 11:16:36 PM
Wow! One of the best so far, definately a post challenge card
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2006 08:41:53 PM
Great smooth image! Love the moon in the upper right.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2006 06:49:04 PM
Exceptional image. Perfect lighting and tones. Should do very well.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2006 05:43:52 PM
Simply exquisite. 9.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2006 03:27:22 PM
Superb work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2006 01:57:05 PM
Wonderfully lit, and love the type face. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2006 12:43:54 PM
This is a gorgeous shot. I love it. Can I make a susggestion though? I think it would look much better with a little more saturations. Good luck with the voters!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2006 10:51:41 AM
a timeless classic view. I especially like the moon in the shot. starting it off with a 9.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2006 09:23:43 AM
I never tire of seeing this structure, it is really quite amazing. As is this photo, beautiful light and color. Great job, 10!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/20/2006 10:46:47 PM
The moon really kills me. It mimics the shape of the roof of the building. A famous landmakr - captured beautifully. Wonderful tone and reflection.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/20/2006 08:18:37 PM
Probably one of the best shots I have seen of the Opera House. I love the smooth mirror quality of the water and the sliver of moon in the back.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/20/2006 08:16:21 PM
Gorgeous! Back to bump you up to 9.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/20/2006 07:13:47 PM
Absolutely beautiful... hopefully you'll win the blue ribbon with this! gl 10+++
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/20/2006 06:04:43 PM
good!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/20/2006 05:56:02 PM
Wonderful lighting and catch of the reflection. The moon adds to the image as well. Nicely done! <9>
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/20/2006 04:53:35 PM
Luminous, gorgeous. A fine composition, beautiful evening colors, and thoughtful use of text - I like how the font picks up on the shape of the moon. A winner!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/20/2006 04:42:38 PM
this is awesome. Love the crescent moon. 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/20/2006 03:49:59 PM
Just beautiful lit up at night time.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/20/2006 02:32:46 PM
This is amazing, composition, color, subject...wonderful. I am thinking front page.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/20/2006 02:26:06 PM
Incredible shot!!!! Love the reflection and the moon, too! One of my favorites - 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/20/2006 02:12:36 PM
This is beautiful, I would buy this postcard. The moon is a lovely touch
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/20/2006 01:07:06 PM
Dammit, Firsty... find a new subject! I need some variety on my favorites page. ;-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/20/2006 12:36:22 PM
Looks like a winner to me! The exposure is fantastic... beautiful sky, awesome reflection... what more could anyone ask for? :) - 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/20/2006 12:05:29 PM
One of the many stunners in this challenge! This couldn't be more beautiful!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/20/2006 11:51:49 AM
classic!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/20/2006 11:04:26 AM
LOVE the photo...not crazy with the font choice
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/20/2006 10:38:51 AM
I love that font! It really matches the subject too. Could you PM me what it is? The photo itself is fantastic also. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/20/2006 09:23:21 AM
Beautiful reflections and a perfect exposure, the moon in the corner is the cherry on top. Awesome shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/20/2006 07:22:43 AM
The crescent Moon makes this very special, always a spectacular scene...you've done a perfect job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/20/2006 05:12:55 AM
YAY Aussie!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/20/2006 04:45:26 AM
and the winner is...siderni!

Excellent...did you take this from Doyles? Great image...good luck (One of the bast, but I am biased) 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/20/2006 02:24:58 AM
Very Nice Job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/20/2006 12:14:40 AM
perfect, well done
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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