I've read everywhere that as a general rule, you're not supposed to cut a frame in half with a horizon -- they say you should put the horizon one third of the way from the top, or a third from the bottom. It's a tough call on these, though -- make them water-heavy, or sky-heavy. I don't know about that rule....

Hey -- another thing, Hardwick: What's with these 'circular' polorizers? I've read that they're the only kind that will work with certain auto-focus systems (or was that exposure metering systems?), but what I'm wondering is this; does being 'circular' mean that you don't have to adjust the angle of polarization for each shot, like the one I have?

The second one is amazing, I'm sure I can hear the sea with all that movement & space! This one is so much more than just a sunset, the first is nice I like the drama in it but it not so original as the second one (IMHO) : )

Ya i know about that rule but sometimes its nice to have the pic split in half with water and sky....... Cir-pol filtres i think only works whit auto focus The angle you have to adjust for every shoot if you just move the camera a litle bit. hmmmm think thats the best i can explain it.

Attached Link: http://www.patrickroach.com

Well you brought it up, so here goes....Always use a tripod for this kind of work. (especially windy beaches) Now with that said, nice work. About the composition thing. I would have preferred a non-symmetrical split. Probably with more emphasis on the sky...unless you had something of interest in the foreground to lead you through the frame. Your polarizer, in the first shot was useless (if my theory serves me right) as a polarizer will only make a differnce at an angle of 90 deg. from the sun (northern and southern skies) Someone correct me if I am mistaken....Alpha? Although polarizers can also be used as neutral density filters. If you like to shoot this kind of image, I would look into purchasing some graduated neutral density filters. (darken the sky and keep the foreground lighter) Or you can(with a tripod) take 2 shots of the same image. One perfect exposure from the sky and another perfect exposure from the ground.... then photoshop comes into play. I think I've gone on long enough. I hope you find my rambling helpful. Keep em coming.

thats correct the best results you will get in a 90 deg angle from the sun. does anybody know if cokin makes ND filtres? will add more pics in the spring when i gets back from my photo vaction in Au. see you all in the spring

Yes Cokin makes ND filters...they are ND2 #152, ND4 #153, and ND8 #154.

Hardwick: Whadd'ya mean, "When I get Back"! Don't they have INTERNET there?

beautiful photos!

sure they have inet but i will not be online that much, probably online checking the mail.

Great images, the second one is really nice. As a rule, I hate rules, I like what Alpha said about guidlines....be aware of them, but don't let them dictate! Show em who's boss. ;-)>

Both are actually very beautiful.....the second is amazing I think because visually we are drawn right to the center immediately....(well at least that is where my eyes went anyway), and the color is something else in both of them. The thirds rule is a rule, and a good one, often times you find that it just happens.....

I've gone back to these a LOT of times today. And I've read some of the responses, - about the composition, - escpecially of the picture #2. Frankly... your first picture shows a beautiful!!!! sunset. But the nature has the composition of it. Not you. Does that make any sense??? Your second picture is excellent! In my mind. No, - you're not cutting the picture in "two" with the horizon. Maybe if you use a ruler, - it would show that it's very close to the "center". But the pink tones makes the whole difference, - also composition and layout-wise. The pink visually draws the sea "up-wards" so that it apeears larger than the sky. And Oh, - my that wave was just "smack" where it needed to be! Very nice! Very, very nice! :) Britt

Britt: Ya'know, the more I look at it... That second one is something, huh? The pink from that little stripe across the horizon is perfectly, boldly picked up in the spray from that wave. And the wave is in the perfect position.. uh, condition. Hey Hardwick: you took about a dozen shots to get that wave right, right? With, like, eleven duds?

Attached Link: http://www.gotlands.nu/dag

Nice pics - especially that wave. Having been out there myself a couple of months ago in the rain like 10 feet away from the ragin sods I really appreciate the skill in that one. And imo it totally screws up the thirds rule coz it's a great exception. (",) Mike

I think that Rork should write an article for "News and Views", taking us through some of his PS techniques. Don't miss the beautiful transformation that he did in the thread: Uhmm ...why this happens ? ... by scenterotic on 12/29/01 12:11 I want in on some of that stuff. How'bout you guys? Finder

Hey -- this is, like, the hottest thread I've seen yet in this forum, and Hardwick (the originator) is out on safari in Austrailia!

Hi all here comes some regards from Australia. There will come alot of new pics here later on from australia, here it most be one of the best places in the world do photography :) i must say nice work on my pictures :)

Hi Hardwick, glad to hear from you! This is a great conversation you started here.