Mizen Area Landscapes

We had a BWI outing to Mizen, which was, as always, lovely. The light was superb, and the colours of the sea and sky were just phenomenal! I know I'm no landscape photographer, but I was still pleased with these anyway, and thought I'd share because I thought you might all like to see how tropical it can look here!

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xx

No-one got any comments? :/

xx

Hey Laura, I like the B&W conversion, it looks great.

The colour shots for me are not wide enough, when I look at each section, in my mind I want to stitch them together to see the whole expanse, if that makes sense

Can I be perfectly frank?

The last of the set is by far the best. You have followed the golden rule of B&W photography in that you have all the shades of grey through black to white, giving an almost 3-D effect.

As for the others, I think you need to get back to basics, I'm afraid. The horizon needs levelling in most of them. Whether the camera was tilted or whether it is an optical illusion, the viewer is looking at the water going up or down hill, depending on whether they are left or right handed.

The coloured images have no focal point and to my eye appear flat. The colours on the day might have been brilliant, but again, to my eye, you haven't captured it here.

Personally, I would have gone for a lower viewpoint, to get the rocks on the spit as a focal point against a potentially gorgeous background.

Maybe this is a case of a panorama doing the job for you, as all I can see is some snapshots of your day out, with the exception of the last, which is an excellent photograph, with the detail in the grass leading the viewer's eye right through to the horizon.

What time were the photographs taken? If it was between the hours of 11am and 3pm, it could be the colour temperature was against you. Do you have/use a polarising filter, which will help in this sort of situation.

Sorry to sound so negative, I'm just calling it as I see it.

Hey Laura - it certainly looks very tranquil and reminds me of the beaches up on the North West coast of Scotland. I have a vague recolection of going to Mizen head - it has some big cliffs if memory serves me right.

A bit disheartening, but I understand why you've said it, gotta roll with the punches I knew I was hopeless at landscapes... should probably stop trying! Whenever I do try to apply all the above it goes horribly wrong, so I'll stop!

xx

don't stop, just remember to get low and find a foreground. you got it right in the last one.

Laura, never give up, just rise up to the challenge.

I agree, never give up. I actually threatened the camera shop where I pre-ordered my Nikon D800 with turning to the dark side and buying a Canon. <shuddering> I slapped myself twice and calmed down. LOL

Laura, take a tip from me. Get a sheet of cardboard, the kind that business cards are used for. Cut a frame 6X4" in the inside and put it in your camera bag.

Then, when you are out and about and see a sight that you like, look at the scene through the frame. Take the time to use your feet to get to the best position and then take a shot.

Move around and get another viewpoint and take another shot, but above all, take your time. It's not as if the view is going to move, is it?

Good landscapes don't just 'happen'. They are worked out carefully. Remember the rule of thirds works vertically as well as horizontally.

Just keep persevering and post your results here - we'll give you all the help you need.