I have had the idea for this blog post for some time now, where I would go through the process of how I got to the final image. So back in August I went to Ashness Gate at sunset (well technically I missed most of it), to have a go at my take on the iconic location of the Ashness Gate Jetty.
I knew the image had been taken so many times before, but that didn’t stop me from wanting to have a go for myself. I came back very pleased that I had managed to capture the famous jetty with some nice light. Below is my image of the jetty, however that is not the image I want to talk about today.
Ashness Gate Jetty at Sunset - Nikon D750 | 16-35 mm f/4 | 20 sec at f/16 19mm ISO 100
The image of the jetty was fairly straight forward to capture, no distracting elements and a simple composition. I am not saying it is perfect by any means, but for a first attempt I am very pleased.
Now the image I want to talk about was a different matter altogether. It was not a straight forward process of take image, process in 5 minutes and print/share. Oh no, I spent days, if not weeks getting to the final image. This was not all post processing time, but more a case of me possibly overthinking things. I took several photos from the same location at slightly different angles and focal lengths to make sure I didn’t get home thinking if only I had taken it this way or that way.
So enough waffling, let me show you my first take on the image…
First Take
I was drawn in by the rocks in the foreground that lead your eye through the photo to the fells and sunset in the distance.
Even though I like the image and it includes a lot of the elements I was looking for, something about it just didn’t sit right with me.
After editing the photo to this point, I decided to leave it and come back to it later. I had been staring at it for too long and needed a break. When I came back my first thought was maybe it is the tone or colours, so I tried a black and white version.
Take two, black and white
Err, it’s ok and I like the tone but no more than the original and there is still something not right with it.
So now I have gone back to the colour version and looked at the image again, this time criticising the image more. First thought, maybe it is the right hand side of the image. Although the branches and the rock on the right provide a slight frame and leading line, I find it a little distracting too. What are my options? Lets crop it out and see how that looks…
Take three, cropped out the right hand side
Ok, that looks better, less distractions yet now it looks unbalanced and the image yet again does not work.
At this point I wanted to get a second opinion and reached out to Pro Photographer Michael Pilkington at Aspect2i. Michael and I met on a photography workshop for N-Photo Magazine when I was his Apprentice photographing seascapes. We have stayed in contact since and I have attended further workshops of his. It’s always good to learn off others and I would highly recommend attending a workshop with Aspect2i.
Michael was happy to help, and I sent him a copy of the original image. I was happy to hear that I was on the right track and Michael also thought that the right hand side did not help. To quote Michael “To be blunt, the right hand side of the image does not work. Rocks are creeping in from the side of the frame and there is not enough of the tree to make a difference.”
“To be blunt, the right hand side of the image does not work”
We agree the right hand side needs to go. But it was what he said next that made all the difference “The foreground rocks do not have enough space around them (to the left and the bottom). This image would totally have worked if you had moved the camera to the left”.
“This image would totally have worked if you had moved the camera to the left”
This one statement completely made sense to me and all of a sudden I could see exactly what had been bugging me about the image all along. Proof a second opinion is just what you need sometimes.
Luckily I was semi prepared for this as I had taken several more photos from slightly different angles and focal lengths. One of which where I had moved the camera to the left. I had also taken the photo in portrait orientation as well as landscape. Again giving me more options.
Michael suggested that the new version would look better with a square crop and would benefit from making the foreground rocks lighter slightly.
While working on the image I was also pleasantly surprised to have Michael’s business partner and Pro Photographer Paul Gallagher email me with his opinion. Awesome!
“The image and processing is beautiful”
A comment every photographer likes to hear. Along with Michael’s final comment
“That looks good. Spot on”
After comments like that how can you not be happy with the image. It has approval from two top pros. A big thank you to both Michael and Paul for taking the time out of their schedules to help me.
Here is the final image.
Full disclosure I did use Adobe Photoshop to remove some pebbles in the bottom right corner. I am sure we have all done it at some point, even if it was just to test the tools we have.
Stone Arrow - Nikon D750 | 16-35 mm f/4 | 30 sec at f/16 16mm ISO 100
Some key points to take away are;
Give your subject room
Pay attention to what is being included in your composition, look at the edges as well as the main subject
Remove distracting elements in the image
If you are struggling with something, get someone else’s opinion
I would love to know what you think? Do you like the final image? Have you been in a similar situation?
Let me know in the comments.
Please feel free to share, like or comment. Feedback is always welcome.