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The Lighthouse at Point Abino - 1917
The Lighthouse at Point Abino - 1917
david_c


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Free Study 2009-07 (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi
Lens: Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Location: Point Abino, ON
Date: Jul 5, 2009
Aperture: f/13
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/400
Galleries: Landscape, Architecture
Date Uploaded: Jul 29, 2009

 This is the lighthouse at Point Abino, near Fort Erie, Ontario. There is very limited access, as the only road there leads through some pricey summer homes of several hundred paranoid Americans.

This is an HDR composite of three bracketed exposures, treated in Photoshop with Silver EFEX and masked out on the lighthouse.

post - Thanks, everyone. I wasn't sure how this would be received, but it was still hovering around 7.0x after 140+ votes, and I was getting excited...the last dozen votes brought me back to reality. :-)

It's nice to have this one on my profile page, and a top 10 in a FS is awesome. Maybe it is a bit cheesy, but it looks great printed and framed. I've just ordered a 24x36 for our living room. Someone "wish listed" it, so please don't think I'm too full of myself if I upload it to DPC prints.

Statistics
Place: 8 out of 419
Avg (all users): 6.8535
Avg (commenters): 7.8182
Avg (participants): 6.6723
Avg (non-participants): 7.4211
Views since voting: 4442
Views during voting: 287
Votes: 157
Comments: 26
Favorites: 10 (view)

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AuthorThread
 10/02/2009 02:18:21 PM
A fantastic shot. I just live down the QEW and never knew this treasure existed
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/21/2009 01:28:47 PM
WHat a great lighthouse and you have captured it beautifully!! You need to take me there with some models one day!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/14/2009 07:42:41 PM
Originally posted by littlewilly:
Please do upload to DPC Prints. I would like to order one. I love it!

Thanks, Bill...I've just uploaded a full-size image and requested a DPC Prints approval. Hopefully, they'll make it available soon.
 08/13/2009 06:43:29 AM
Please do upload to DPC Prints. I would like to order one. I love it!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/11/2009 09:01:01 PM
Originally posted by macrothing:

Fantastic analysis, Macrothing (sorry, you don't have your real name up in your profile). This was not the first time I've requested a CC review, but the first I've actually received one...well worth the wait! I honestly thought this would be a love it/hate it affair, but it turned in to an 8th place Love In. :-)

I took the image early on in the month, and tried a few edits...the biggest problem was that access to the location is only until 6PM, and I was there even earlier. The day was bright and sunny, and I felt the plain image lacked a certain pop. I was playing with the EFEX and accidentally erased a piece of the Lighthouse's base on that layer...well, one thing led to another and here we are.

Yes, a large print shows an immense amount of detail on the structure. As mentioned, I have a 24x36 on order, and a 12x18 at my office.

Thanks again for stopping in.

David
 08/11/2009 06:02:39 PM


Critique Club Critique

First Impressions
Hmm, I remember pondering this image for a while during voting (I gave it a 5). I did like it, but the more I looked at it, as a whole and also the lighthouse exclusively, the more I didn't think the processing/selective desat suited, or rather, complemented the image/scene/lighthouse. But of course, it's your image and vision.

Photograph Information, Technicals & Composition Review
Difficult, because anything I 'suggest' is going to change the image completely, but I'll 'give' anyway - perhaps mine will be a unique view, which you can take or leave as you see fit. With the image as is, I think it is stronger with a more refined crop, especially at the bottom and on the left. I'm a little OC with horizons and while I see the dilemma with the lighthouse if the image is straightened, a perspective correction may have allowed some adjustments to be made - but I'll hazard a guess that it would be difficult to do.

As for the toning, maybe just more 'soft' and subtle with the b&w tones, to allow the lighthouse to dominate more. I just wonder whether the image all b&w (and I know it is 'another image') would have more punch - but it's an out of the box type style and I'm a fan of that. It's individual.

There are some nice elements in the scene/image: the tree, the 'log' just behind it (although the angle doesn't allow that to come into play much), the clouds behind the 'light'. The greenish glass is also nice and, of course in b&w, that couldn't be appreciated.

I don't know if it is your masking and processing, but I get a 'spriteish' feel coming from certain parts of the image.

Also - glad to see you are pleased with a print of this. The details underappreciated at this size probably come into play a lot better. Would certainly make an interesting talking piece.

Comments, Score & Placement Review
8/418 - well, excellent result for you. 6.85 is also an excellent score.

An average of 7.56 from your commenters, and some interesting reactions by them. I always like the honest feedback provided during the anonymity of a Challenge.

Summary
As is, with a selective desat, maybe a little softer with the tones. Otherwise, a bold and individual entry that brings an edge to the 'competition' - which is always good. You will never please everyone's eyes, as long as your eyes are 'pleased' - that's the main thing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/08/2009 10:29:27 AM
I gave this a 7 for the processing. It looks like an etching painted over in watercolors.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/08/2009 09:57:53 AM
Originally posted by AP:
an excellent exercise in post-processing, huge congrats on your top 10

No faint praise, coming from a master post-processing genius like yourself. Thanks, Adam. Bring back your portfolio!
 08/08/2009 09:29:44 AM
Thank you for the great comments, my second highest faved image to date.
 08/08/2009 07:09:57 AM
great lighthouse.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/08/2009 01:34:29 AM
Congrats on your top 10 buddy.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/08/2009 01:01:50 AM
Congrats on the top 10 David.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/08/2009 12:53:20 AM
an excellent exercise in post-processing, huge congrats on your top 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/08/2009 12:12:42 AM
excellent picture...very well done...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/08/2009 12:10:58 AM
Congrats, David. This really stands out!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
08/06/2009 07:15:48 AM
Love the treatment / post processing on this!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/04/2009 09:38:01 PM
Hmm this is nice but the post processing is somewhat noticeable especially along where the bushes meet the base of the lighthouse.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/03/2009 04:01:26 PM
Pretty. Your PP looks good.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/02/2009 11:48:31 PM
A technique that sometimes is overused, but it works just fine in this case. A very different and unique image using an overused technique. I also like the very slight blue color cast to the rest of the image - I believe that makes the difference here. Nicely framed, composed and executed - well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/02/2009 10:04:39 PM
Wow....What an incredible shot. I had to google where this was and would never have imagined it to be a Great Lakes lighthouse. Love how the lightouse is bathed in light and stands out from the surrounding area.You must get a top three with this one. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/02/2009 03:34:47 AM
the selective saturation gives this a great ominous feel 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/02/2009 01:32:43 AM
Not a fan of selective desaturation, but I do like the lighthouse.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/01/2009 07:19:33 PM
An amazing looking lighthouse, very good composition. I don't like the selective desaturation though, sorry.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/01/2009 07:10:03 PM
Nice! Like the selective desat. Has a very old-timey feel to the scene.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/01/2009 10:04:27 AM
I love this-from a gothic novel !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/01/2009 08:18:46 AM
Oh this is fabulous and totally unexpected. I don't always like selective saturation but this really works. Nice going.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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