Point Lobos, a photo from California, West

Photographer's Note

Point Lobos, near Carmel-by-the-Sea in central California, has been described as the "greatest meeting place of land and water on Earth". That may be a bit exaggerated, but it is certainly a wild and beautiful spot. When the California coastal fog rolls back (you can see it on the horizon) and the sun lights up the water and shows the kelp and the sand through the water, it becomes a fantastic place to spend a few hours hiking and shooting photos...

cozy, ribeiroantonio, ChrisJ, SKOYA, jusninasirun has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

cozy (998) 2008-06-15 1:08

Hi Phillip,
I have seen many many land and seascape shots here on TE, but this is the first time I see a flock of birds positioned so perfectly in the frame! Perfect shutter to create just enough movement without blurring the birds too much! You probably have a great deal of patience to wait for just the right moment to pull the trigger, I suppose that is what makes great photographs like this! Fantastic shot!
Well done!
Regards,
Costa.

asival (5307) 2008-06-15 1:15

Hi Phillip

You're very luckey to get those birds posing for you just at the right time
great DOF here with beautiful colors

GJ

Assi

Bartleby (13552) 2008-06-15 4:02

Hello Phillip,
I like the dynamics in the upper part of the picture with the birds and the clouds..the wide lens was a very effective choice here. Besides it gives a good sense of depth and the scenery is well-managed. Well done.

Yours,
Philippe

rgarrigus (0) 2008-06-15 4:45

Hi Phillip,

Love that sky and the birds. This is one plus to shooting at this time of day. You were able to capture the birds in a meaningful way and not just as smudges across the clouds. I think you should have reduced the foreground and focussed more on the sky but I appreciate that you didn't have a lot of time to think about it. I might crop to a square or 5x4 format to give emphasis to the birds and sky and to reduce the immediate foreground and that dark patch of water to the left.

Cheers!

Bob G.

[workshop] [compare]

ribeiroantonio (22730) 2008-06-15 5:48

I really like your photo because of the beautiful colours and that wonderful sky with superb clouds and the birds flying towards them. However, I either would have cropped the bit of pathway or show it a bit more. But, this is a personal idea.
Antonio

dkeus31 (27739) 2008-06-15 9:15

Hi Philip,
a nice image, I like the trails in the sky and with all the birds, it is even better!
regards,didier

ChrisJ (171888) 2008-06-16 1:10

Hi Phillip

Good repetition of the gulls & cloud patterns & I like the splash of yellow from the cliffside flowers. My only quibble is the oe top of the rock, at left. Good sharpness & high pov. Tfs!

albertz (2468) 2008-07-06 2:35

I like how the birds follow the clouds, pleasing composition and congrats to your timing. Well done.

jusninasirun (17529) 2008-07-21 23:36

Just marking and I'll be back. Regards, Jusni

Adrian_S (1179) 2008-11-29 6:00

A great mosaic of elements to descover in your picture. A lot of details to attract your attention. I also like the diagonals towards the centre of the imagine: birds and cluds in the upper half, rocks in the lower half. It must have taken a lot it attention from your side to take this picture, since it obviously is far from being a snap-shot. Great work!!
Adrian

johnmcc (126) 2009-05-15 17:39

Hello Phillip,
I have to think of Hitchcock's "Birds" as I look at "Point Lobos." But yours is not terrifying; acutually quite a beautiful composition. The colors are very sharp and the picture has me flowing from bottom to top. Also, I agree totally with your review of "Robbie." I often wonder where the reviews are coming from and on what are they based. Thanks for your display of Pt. Lobos and your input on the TE philosophy.
John from Mill Valley

jbemmels (0) 2009-06-08 0:34

Hey Phillip,

Wow! I love the top part of this photo!! The path the birds are taking seems to be the same path as the clouds, giving your photo a sense of harmony and order. Was it luck, patience, skill, accident, a bribe for the birds?

Since I see on your profile that you also appreciate negative criticism, I would agree with above comments that something about the bottom doesn't quite seem right... the white rock seems a bit too bright compared to the rest of the photo, and the little bit of path at the bottom kinda reminds the viewer that there are humans around, not just birds, sky and sea. But really, this is just picking details, great shot overall!!

Cheers,
Jordan