Rays of sunlight on a pier

[BB18]

Rays of sunlight shine into Lake Michigan behind Manistee MI's north pier.
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q287/BB_Michigan/Beach/IMG_9235a.jpg

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q287/BB_Michigan/Beach/IMG_9237b.jpg

[jdizzle]

I think they're both good but, my fave here is #2.

[hidden forms]

Pic number 2 is stunning, its got impack

[kaypony]

I actually like number one best. If you were to crop some of the foreground out, it would be even more amazing.

[Michael Bottoms]

I like 2 best, but agree that the foreground of number 1 could be cropped a little. Nice work

[alexwise]

Terrific shots! That sky is incredible

[BB18]

Thanks everyone, the comments are greatly appreciated.

Here's some of the foreground cropped out in the first one.
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q287/BB_Michigan/Beach/IMG_9235ab.jpg

[Welby]

Great shots.

[chestercopperpot]

the re-crop is definitely better, imho. wonderful catch.

[burntpixel]

imho,
i like the first shot no crop. i like the water in the foreground rolling back down into the sea. if i were to do anything to either image (other than blow them up and frame them) it would be to remove the person from the end of the pier.

both great shots and again just mho

[Emjay]

Both of these are ooh-aahs! (that's what i said when i first saw them!)

First one is balanced out so beautifully by the wave in the lower left coming in at that angle. The cropped version takes out all the interest for me, it looks generic (like elevator music) ... i love a photo that leads the eye from the background all the way down to my toes in the foreground (almost). I hope you didn't kill it!

And the blue hole in the sky in the second shot ...... just love big sky shots.

Nice work!

[firu3000]

I'm going to say number 1, I love how the rays of light are peeking through the clouds. Also the water and the lighthouse gives it a great feel. Awesome work!

[jcw122]

Wow, awesome captures!

Really stunning subjects.

[john_s]

Stunning!

Especially the re-crop of number 1.

[TaCo]

Love them all in there own way... Recrop is my fav. Great shot!

Ron

[playback]

I agree on the recrop. I think the waves coming in start to tell a story of where they are going, but there is no final destination shown. I think the recrop really helps just focus on whats happening, since there isnt enough happening in the original to keep the forground as exciting as the backround.

[dazzlebea]

Absolutely stunning pics. If I had to pick a favorite, which I'm glad I don't, I'd have to choose between #2 and the crop of #1. Beauties!!!

[deletedpenguin]

Wow, that recrop is amazing. Especially with the figure at the end of the pier. Amazing. I'd hang that on my wall anyday!

[Mediation]

number two is epic... And tastey :p

[Grentz]

Number 2 would be awesome blown up, I love the 3rd one as well though!

[flumpki]

I prefer the cropped version of number 1. I really like number 2 as well, but I feel like it would be better if the lighthouse were better exposed.

[tonylong]

Heh! This is a neat exercise!

I'd say that each pic "says" something different. I see #1 as being "about the ocean at sunset with the pier as a silhouetted background". #2 portrays the "beautiful warmth of the sunset spilling over the silhouette of a pier in the foreground." #3 is, clearly and obvious to the most casual observer, about the pier, and the lone individual on the pier, as backlighted by the fading light of the sunset."

And my purely subjective perceptions are in fact objectively correct:)!

Tony

[IraRunyan]

Beautiful shots here.

[BB18]

Thanks everyone for the wonderful comments!!

Here's another version I edited with Photoshop CS2 while I had the chance at the college I go to.
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q287/BB_Michigan/Great%20Lakes/IMG_9235bc.jpg

[Normcar21]

The way the second shot shows warm (left) and cool (right top) sky clusters with that dark and ominous horizon is extremely effective. That sparkling little band of light reflection on the waves in the very bottom of this shot doesn't hurt, either. There's a whole lotta great going on in that photo, imo.

[Avi]

very very nice...I lilke both of them...

Avi

[HeatherSik]

Very nice pictures. :) at first I thought it was South Haven.. You did a nice job on these. Thanks for sharing.. :)

[BB18]

Thanks Normcar21, Avin, and Heather.

The way the second shot shows warm (left) and cool (right top) sky clusters with that dark and ominous horizon is extremely effective. That sparkling little band of light reflection on the waves in the very bottom of this shot doesn't hurt, either. There's a whole lotta great going on in that photo, imo.

There’s nothing like interesting weather.