1 2 Previous Next 54 Replies Latest reply: Jun 24, 2008 11:30 AM by LRK 2 RSS

    Lighthouses

    Fred Nirque Community Member
      OK, Linda, I'll kick it off... <br />Devonport Light, 2007, North West Tasmania: <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1YHWrnX2Ymrwd2CXAA96TQjzd4" /></a> <img alt="Picture hosted by Pixentral" src="http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1YHWrnX2Ymrwd2CXAA96TQjzd4_thumb.jpg" border="0" />
        • 1. Re: Lighthouses
          Community Member
          Very nice Fred. Spooky and a bit religious all at the same time.
          • 2. Re: Lighthouses
            LRK 2 MeganK
            Ah, thank you Fred! So glad you started this thread.

            What a fabulous lighthouse! It has a stately authority about it. Feels as if it's talking to you like a wise old man giving noble advice.

            Peter, Please post your lighthouse again.
            • 3. Re: Lighthouses
              Fred Nirque Community Member
              Fisheye de-fished again, Linda.
              I took it while killing time waiting for a ferry - it gave me something to play with during the trip, hence the uncharacteristic use of filters and effects that I don't normally use. :-)
              • 4. Re: Lighthouses
                Community Member
                I like that one too. different look for sure. i may dig one or two up.
                • 5. Re: Lighthouses
                  LRK 2 MeganK
                  > Fisheye de-fished again, Linda.

                  No kidding on the fisheye, de-fisheye. Whatever you did to enhance this image, it works. It's powerful. And I love the little puff of cloud that's illuminated on the far side.

                  What would you think about softening the outer edges of that tree to the left? The sharp edges have a tendency to pull the eye back and detract. If the edges around the tree were softer the eyes would flow around the image without getting stuck in that spot. If that tree were fixed I think this image would qualify as fine art... just my opinion.
                  • 6. Re: Lighthouses
                    LRK 2 MeganK
                    This is from when I started out with my first SLR in 2004. Our lighthouse is not magical like Fred and Peter's. It has more of a recreational or touresty look and feel. Obviously I've enhanced it, and probably a little too much for some people's taste. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=148tZf9iwFIFdkGr9w6TbhC0YLY7no1" /></a> <img alt="Picture hosted by Pixentral" src="http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/148tZf9iwFIFdkGr9w6TbhC0YLY7no1_thumb.jpg" border="0" />
                    • 7. Re: Lighthouses
                      Wade S Zimmerman Community Member
                      I find like Fred's lighthouse myself Linda's as well except in Linda's case the edge stuff is way to distracting and the overly effected image certainly did not need enhancing.
                      • 8. Re: Lighthouses
                        Fred Nirque Community Member
                        I wasn't too keen on the edging the foliage gained either, Linda, but this was done on a laptop during an ocean crossing and I have no I idea what I did to get to where it got. I was just messing around to kill time (I don't travel well at sea....) <br /> <br />Here's the original: <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1beWEKAOLFzHkmDX1igOA3BImQ7G" /></a> <img alt="Picture hosted by Pixentral" src="http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1beWEKAOLFzHkmDX1igOA3BImQ7G_thumb.jpg" border="0" />
                        • 9. Re: Lighthouses
                          LRK 2 MeganK
                          The original is wonderful too. I take it this was still after being de-fisheyed.
                          • 10. Re: Lighthouses
                            Fred Nirque Community Member
                            Definitely after de-fishing. The original horizon was bowed upwards severely being that it is well below the middle of the frame. I'll see if I can find it, but don't hold your breath :-)

                            I used the fisheye because it was the only way I could get the whole lighthouse into shot with the sun hidden behind it and the shadow continuing through bottom of frame - the 12-24mm lens had me back far enough so that the sun was above the top of the dome and shining straight into the lens. From this spot using the 12mm the lighthouse would have been cut off just above the top window.

                            A fisheye adds an
                            i enormous
                            amount to your angle of view, even after de-fishing. I would have used the warp tool only to do this one, btw.
                            • 11. Re: Lighthouses
                              LRK 2 MeganK
                              It seems you get a more pleasing wide angle effect by using a the fisheye and then defishing, than to use a normal super wide angle lens and try to correct distortion.
                              • 12. Re: Lighthouses
                                Fred Nirque Community Member
                                That is most definitely the case where you have people at the edges or corners of frame - rectiliniar ultra-wides will always "add weight" to those unlucky people, stretching bodies and heads horizontally. As can be seen on the Fisheye-Hemi site examples, using a fisheye in tight spots to photograph relatively undistorted people after de-fishing is a preferable visual option.
                                • 13. Re: Lighthouses
                                  greenjumpyone Community Member
                                  Fred, <br />what a neat shot of your lighthouse. I actually like your OP version better than the original! <br /> <br />Linda, <br />I like your artsy view of your lighthouse. <br /> <br />Michigan has a plethora of lighthouses, but I've not had the pleasure of shooting any of them. I did get this one while in St. Augustine, FL, last May. It was four images stitched vertically, hand held: <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1Mr7sWUPWQhlCJviNHfRiFMFN26gKX0" target="_blank" /></a> <img src="http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1Mr7sWUPWQhlCJviNHfRiFMFN26gKX0_thumb.jpg" border="0" />
                                  • 14. Re: Lighthouses
                                    Community Member
                                    I find i am not drawn to many lighthouses that are just a tower,and have no house or structure with it. not that i have seen that many, but here are two i took at the portland headlight in maine. i think this might be one of the most photographed lighthouses in the U.S. i almost got locked in the evening i shot that full moon,because they close the gates right after sunset, then you call the cops to get out. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=12ErEKIWEhMkm4St2oNbg1sMme15O1" /></a> <img alt="Picture hosted by Pixentral" src="http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/12ErEKIWEhMkm4St2oNbg1sMme15O1_thumb.jpg" border="0" />
                                    • 15. Re: Lighthouses
                                      Ann Shelbourne Community Member
                                      I posted this here previously but perhaps it is appropriate for it to make a a re-appearance because it is an interior view of Hopper's St. Augustine Lighthouse: <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1gydAwHEBVzWqsUVfeR9GyiiLil1" /></a> <img alt="Picture hosted by Pixentral" src="http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1gydAwHEBVzWqsUVfeR9GyiiLil1_thumb.jpg" border="0" />
                                      • 16. Re: Lighthouses
                                        LRK 2 MeganK
                                        Thank you Hopper. Cool on how you stitched the St. Augustine Lighthouse. Looks good. I have to try that some time.
                                        • 17. Re: Lighthouses
                                          Community Member
                                          Thats a nice pattern shot
                                          • 18. Re: Lighthouses
                                            LRK 2 MeganK
                                            Ann, Great perspective on the same lighthouse that Hopper shot. Nice to see Hopper's outside and your inside shots.
                                            • 19. Re: Lighthouses
                                              LRK 2 MeganK
                                              Those are beautiful Donald. I've often thought I'd love to go to Maine and see this lighthouse for myself. It would be hard to beat your photos though.
                                              • 20. Re: Lighthouses
                                                Community Member
                                                Thanks. one thing i love about maine is, no matter how crazy you are, they figure if you get washed out to sea going somewhere you maybe should not,its your problem. hence the opportunity to get decent angles without people. the one with surf was taken just before a huge wave rolled in and scared the living crap out of me. i was probably 20-30 ft up on a huge boulder that was way in from the tide, and then this rogue wave covers the entire thing and up to my ankles. it was an eye opener.
                                                • 21. Re: Lighthouses
                                                  Allen Wicks Community Member
                                                  >then this rogue wave covers the entire thing...

                                                  We call them "sleeper" waves, part of the normal wave cycle. Divers respect them, surfers hope for them and they kill the unwary every year. Worst is the parents with small children.
                                                  • 22. Re: Lighthouses
                                                    LRK 2 MeganK
                                                    I wasn't familiar with sleeper waves. Good to know... and glad you survived it Donald. Scary.
                                                    • 23. Re: Lighthouses
                                                      Fred Nirque Community Member
                                                      Linda, I think you have hit on a subject that everyone seems to have photographed at some time! Thanks for the thread suggestion.
                                                      Nice shots, all, and I really like Ann's take on the subject.
                                                      • 24. Re: Lighthouses
                                                        greenjumpyone Community Member
                                                        Those are nice shots Donald. I've not been to Maine either, but would like to get there someday.

                                                        Ann, nice, unique perspective of the stairs! I didn't get into the lighthouse, as it had closed for the day. :( Now I have an idea what I missed! ;)
                                                        • 25. Re: Lighthouses
                                                          LRK 2 MeganK
                                                          > Linda, I think you have hit on a subject that everyone seems to have photographed at some time! Thanks for the thread suggestion.

                                                          And thank you for starting this thread, Fred. I'm enjoying it.
                                                          • 26. Re: Lighthouses
                                                            Community Member
                                                            I think a few of the latest threads are not only more useful to a wider range of readers, they also are more harmonious and supportive than has been the norm not just here but in the other Adobe forums, not that I don't like a good arguement, but there's just something very friendly about what's going on here lately and it's a very nice feeling. It almost reminds me of the monthly slide show get togethers we used to have in Pacific Grove, just to get together, see what everyone was doing and eat some pizza.
                                                            • 27. Re: Lighthouses
                                                              LRK 2 MeganK
                                                              Well said Peter.
                                                              • 28. Re: Lighthouses
                                                                Ann Shelbourne Community Member
                                                                Re: the St. Augustine stairs:

                                                                There is probably another shot just waiting to be taken there, Hopper: from the top looking down.

                                                                But I am afraid that I had too little time (and even less energy and inclination) to climb all the way up to find out!
                                                                • 29. Re: Lighthouses
                                                                  Community Member
                                                                  Here is an interior shot i had done.not great,but fun to try. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1AN4zFLcihGW7HeuhpjRoo4QiI1G" /></a> <img alt="Picture hosted by Pixentral" src="http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1AN4zFLcihGW7HeuhpjRoo4QiI1G_thumb.jpg" border="0" />
                                                                  • 30. Re: Lighthouses
                                                                    Ann Shelbourne Community Member
                                                                    Fun!

                                                                    But also taken from the bottom looking up, I notice!

                                                                    :)
                                                                    • 31. Re: Lighthouses
                                                                      greenjumpyone Community Member
                                                                      I should have tried to make it to St. Augustine in May, when the babies were being born, but I missed it. I'll get there again and just might well try that top down shot! :)
                                                                      • 32. Re: Lighthouses
                                                                        Hudechrome-sd9sPI Community Member
                                                                        You were extraordinarily lucky, Donald. Up to your ankles is really dodging the bullet!

                                                                        Lighthouses have a great romance attached. Some good stories, even true ones (especially true ones?) come from those structures.
                                                                        • 33. Re: Lighthouses
                                                                          Community Member
                                                                          I can remember there was a space between my boulder and the one next to the ocean that was about a foot or two wide by about 20 feet deep,and that wave filled the entire space and then my feet were covered,all in an instant.if that huge gap were not there,i might have gotten swept in.
                                                                          • 34. Re: Lighthouses
                                                                            Ann Shelbourne Community Member
                                                                            Donald:

                                                                            Did it occur to you that the Lighthouse had been built in that particular location because the sea was especially dangerous in that area?!!

                                                                            Thankfully, you survived to tell the tale.
                                                                            • 35. Re: Lighthouses
                                                                              Community Member
                                                                              No it did not. i have seen pictures from there, when the area gets hit by noreasters,and the waves coming into the little cove there are stunning. i hope to see it in person someday.
                                                                              • 36. Re: Lighthouses
                                                                                Fred Nirque Community Member
                                                                                That's one of the major causes of sea-side drowning in Australia - people (in particular fishermen and foreign tourists) being swept off rocks by rogue waves. Ankle deep is plenty to take your feet from under you. Very lucky indeed, Donald.
                                                                                • 37. Re: Lighthouses
                                                                                  Hudechrome-sd9sPI Community Member
                                                                                  Sometimes, it isn't even the incoming that gets you!
                                                                                  • 38. Re: Lighthouses
                                                                                    shoot me now-d3u3se Community Member
                                                                                    I hesitate to contribute this in light of what's been presented, but it's all I have.

                                                                                    From Daytona
                                                                                    Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us !
                                                                                    • 39. Re: Lighthouses
                                                                                      Wade S Zimmerman Community Member
                                                                                      Well Ann has some very poetic photos of a couple of light house shots form New Jersey Coast,

                                                                                      I of course directed the photography effort, the poor girl would have be lost if I wasn't there, to tell you the truth!

                                                                                      There goes the nose thing again!

                                                                                      She posted them but should repost it.
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