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Square riggers at Charlestown

© Peter W. Marks

Square riggers at Charlestown

Uploaded: April 27, 2013

Description

1/200sec; f9; ISO 125; 16mm fl

Exif: F Number: 9, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/200 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 125, White balance: Manual white balance, FocalLength: 14.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS 50D

Comments

Michael Kelly level-classic April 27, 2013

Interesting shot Peter - did you use a filter of some sort as the WB is way off. This may be intentional but if it is, it is a bit strong for my taste. #1525856

Dale Hardin April 27, 2013

There is so much to like about this image Peter. The composition is great and the leading line of the water way re-enforces that. The sky is very interesting and the balance of sky to subject works really well.

The filtering does add warmth to the shot, but agree with Mike that it is a bit strong. I'd suggest about 1/3 to 1/2 the effect and masking the sky so it has less, would work beautifully. #10669965

Stephen Shoff April 27, 2013

that is very nice picture, Peter. I agree with the white balance comments above.

For myself, I would have straightened the verticals. #10670002

Peter W. Marks April 28, 2013

Thank you gentlemen.
The white balance thing was intentional . I shot this in RAW with the temperature setting at around 5500, a fairly normal setting for mid-day daylight. Then in CR2 cranked up that custom setting with the slider way over to the right to a 40,000kelvin setting. What I was going for there was to create the effect of an old oil painting in keeping with the age of the old square-rigger sailing ships. Kind of like a very old oil-painting; badly in need of cleaning and restoring. Of course, that is a matter of pure taste and I was fortunate that I think I managed to capture this without any modern vehicles or television antenna in view. Just a slight bit of cropping to the left side removed a man with blue jeans and sports shirt but for the sharp eyed (and I just know someone will tell me this) if you look carefully at the tall building on the left, the "Pier House Hotel and Restaurant", you will see that there are a half-dozen folded umbrellas over the tables and certainly these are somewhat of an anachronism for an 18th century seaport. No filters were used.
Stephen, I think if you look at the main-mast on the Earl of Pembroke barque you will see that it is vertical but as I used the 16mm wide angle lens the buildings on either side do appear to lean towards the center. I used no Photoshop on this image but maybe, later to day I will play around with it and in my PSE9 and see if I can keep you guys happy. I will load the original image with the 5500K color temp too.
#10670199

Stephen Shoff April 28, 2013

Yes, Peter, the central mainmast is vertical. It was the peripheral verticals I was referring to and the typical tilts that result from using wide angle lenses. This wasn't a "level horizon" type of comment.

If you want to keep all your post-processing in ACR, just yesterday I found the tools for straightening images in ACR. They are under the Lens Corrections tool and the Manual tab. These ACR tools may only be available in the version of ACR that comes with the CSx Photoshop. I don't know if they are available in the Elements distribution.

If you want an "old masters" effect, then I would think you also need to add some kind of texture to simulate a painting. I haven't found what texture that is, though. #10670351

Beth Spencer April 28, 2013

This is a very interesting picture of the ship. I agree the white balance is a off for me. I can't imagine how they fit that ship in the small canal without wrecking it. #10671811

Kalena Randall April 28, 2013

Peter, I like the composition of your photo very much. I can see where you were trying to go with this and I like your idea. I do agree with Stephen that a bit of the texture would give you your painting look. I do know that there are some textures in PSE, but I'm not entirely sure if what you need is there. :-) #10671824

Jeff E Jensen April 29, 2013

Holy smokes, Peter's getting all fancy on us! It's nice to see you trying some things out, Pete. #10674183

Arthur Bohlmann April 29, 2013

I really like this capture but would like to see it lightened up a little. #10674346

Peter W. Marks April 29, 2013

Thank you kindly friends. I haven't enough time to try everything you suggested but here is one on which I have straightened using PSE 'Correct camera distortion'; cropped it to lose the wall on the right; used the Elements filter effects to give a 'canvas texture' and brightened it slightly with levels. Then I used the Elements: filters>texture>texturizer>; selected canvas and played with the sliders. Adjusted levels just a bit to lighten things up as requested. #10674475

Peter W. Marks April 29, 2013

Oops! Forgot the important bit. here is the altered version.
#10674533

Arthur Bohlmann April 29, 2013

You get a thumbs up from me Peter. #10674702

Beth Spencer April 29, 2013

Looks great!! #10674788

Dale Hardin April 29, 2013

Nicely done old friend. #10674943

Peter W. Marks April 30, 2013

The original image converted from RAW but not altered in PSE
#10676159

Dale Hardin April 30, 2013

Like the original too. Would love to see that place in person. #10676366

Jeff E Jensen April 30, 2013

Pete, I like the original, but I like your re-work even more. Nice work, my friend! #10677288

Peter W. Marks May 01, 2013

And a further thank you to Beth, Art. Dale and Jeff.
Dale, So, I would suggest (tongue in cheek) that Phellos meets up in England next year. We have just booked our tickets and suffered the usual sticker-shock. Prices are up again with lots of nasty little 'extras' to pay for like additional luggage charges; extra to pick a preferred seat; travel insurance and this year, no way to travel direct from our nearest international airport (St Louis) to London Gatwick. After TWA went belly up just after we moved here we could no longer fly direct and for many years had to change planes at Dallas, Atlanta, Philly, Newark, Chicago etc. But this year we have to change twice so we get to see Orlando going and Tampa coming back. So what was originally an 8hr flight is now 14hrs. Ain't progress wonderful!
And this is why I don't start my own blog; I would have something to complain about every day! And would probably start with "let's get rid of flaky presidents and bring back the Queen"! #10677536

lisa anderson May 01, 2013

Peter, I love the original post and think it totally deserves the EP. I also love the way the blue line on the boat pops in the original photo. (Are you sure you want the queen back, though? Move to Canada and get the best of both worlds) #10677628

Michael Kelly level-classic May 01, 2013

I like the edit and think you did a great job. The original unedited version is one of the best photos I can remember you posting. I think it might be worth doing some standard edits to tune it up and enter it too. The one thing I would strongly recommend is to clone out the rubber boat as for me it ruins the old time feel of the shot. #10677987

Peter W. Marks May 01, 2013

Thank you Lisa. Of course who I really wanted was Maggie Thatcher our old prime minister but she has just popped her clogs.
Mike, thank you very much and I laughed as after I had uploaded the first edited version I realized that I had rambled on about there being no tv antenna or vehicles to spoil the illusion and had forgotten the inflatable boat with its Johnson outboard and further in the background is yet another inflatable! Probably the eagle eyed among you will find radar antennas amongst all that rigging as I know that they were all fitted with those.Ah well!
#10678175

Rita K. Connell level-classic May 02, 2013

this is really a very cool shot Pete, and I really like the affect that you gave it, you made me take a step back in time. great job...but I wish I hadn't read the tread. because you spoiled it...with bringing my attention to the inflatable boat and Johnson outboard motor. ...now I am back in real time....LOL #10678946

Peter W. Marks May 02, 2013

Ah Rita, we have to blame Mike for pointing out the inflatable boat. I think it was my grannie that used to say 'Peter William, you never learn to leave well alone! But I really did think I could fix that old clock that used to lose a few minutes a day!
Thanks for your very kind comments. #10679158

Elaine Hessler May 03, 2013

Sorry for the late post, but I think your textured picture would look great printed on some type of textured canvas. They may have canvas with paint brush strokes in it, so you may be able to remove the texture so you don't overdo it. It does look old and when I first looked at it, I thought it was a picture of a picture! Very nice job Peter.

#10680728

Stephen Shoff May 03, 2013

I'm up for it, Peter. Fares are cheaper before May 1 and after Sept. 1. Seems like you should be able to fly direct from Chicago.

I don't agree with Mike. I think a few of your Cornwall harbor pictures would be hard to beat. And you did do minimalist picture of a speaking platform a couple of years ago. This one is great but does suffer from just a couple of distractions. #10681091

Beth Spencer May 04, 2013

Congratulations on your EP!!! They are few and far between lately so way to go!! #10682046

Debbie E. Payne May 07, 2013

I such love your first post, Peter. It has such richness and drama to it in addition to a great composition. Are you going to get all artsy on us now? Both are deserving images but I think the tones win out for me. Which one does Elizabeth like best? #10685518

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