Ian Bramham's Photoblog
Storm Warning
Posted by Ian Bramham (Manchester, United Kingdom) on 3 May 2008 in Landscape & Rural and Portfolio.
This is a photo of cockle fishermen working in Morecambe Bay that I posted back in December but I've recently re-processed it for a competition entry as I realised that I'd originally added too much contrast which had blown some of the highlights.
There's a larger version here
For purchasing high quality archival prints of any of these photos you can send me an email by clicking here or by going to MY NEW WEBSITE where prices are listed in the gallery sections under each individual photo.
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Links to the websites of other photographers whose work I love and who have all helped me enormously over a long period of time. I find the work of all 3 to be inspirational.
@Sharon: Thanks Sharon...I sometimes forget just how important good, interesting light is in photography. I take photos all the time in all conditions, night and day but interesting light is really by far the most important element though for making a successful photo isn't it.
Margie from Auckland, New Zealand
Great light!
I have a vague memory of Morecambe Bay tides being very treacherous?
3 May 2008 5:59am
@Margie: Thanks Margie!
Yes, Morecambe Bay was the area where 23 immigrant cockle pickers died in 2004 when they were cut off by the inrushing tide. It was night time and the tide comes in across the flat bay faster than anyone can run acroos the soft sand and mud.
Rhys from Darlington, United Kingdom
its great, thats one serious sky, good look with the entry.
3 May 2008 6:03am
@Rhys: Thanks Rhys....we'll see with the competition entry. It's my first try at something like that but I'm planning on doing more.
Observing from Chester, United Kingdom
Wonderful color shot, the light coming from behind you is really showing those storm clouds. I like the gulls both left and right on the horizon.
3 May 2008 9:04am
@Observing: Thanks!
The flocks of birds were too good to crop out...I liked the way they caught the light as they lifted up and flew off.....a few minutes later and we had one of the heaviest rainstorms I can remember.
Ruben Latre from Terrassa, Spain
Once again, another breathtaking shot !! impressive lighting, great composition, wonderful mood !! I love the horizon line just in the middle of the frame, and the reflections on the mud are just great !! good luck with the contest !!
3 May 2008 9:07am
@Ruben Latre: Thanks very much Ruben!
If we listened to the so- called compositional rule books we are not supposed to have central horizons in landscape photos....but hey, rules are meant to be broken aren't they!
@Stefan: Thanks Stefan, I was really pleased with the light!
@El Jefe: Thanks El Jefe!
@Ana Lúcia: Thanks Ana...please call me just Ian (Bramham is too formal :-)
Michael Skorulski from Cigel, Slovakia
Just superb. Your colors and light are mesmerizing!
3 May 2008 11:31am
@Michael Skorulski: Thanks Michael...sometimes we all get lucky and this day was my occasion!
thib from Angers, France
tones are great and the ambiance are amazing, good shoot
3 May 2008 11:32am
@thib: Thanks very much thib!
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
Gosh that's fantastic, I love it even more the second time around ;) lol you'll win, hands down!
3 May 2008 11:39am
@Lorraine: Thanks Lorraine....since taking this photo about 5 months or so ago I've become much more careful about preserving highlights in my photos so it was a relief to find that on this one it had just been my clumsy beginner's processing which had been at fault.
This version is a lot better than the last one.
JoeB from Brampton, Canada
Much better in detail. The darkness in the background makes the light on the yellow coated men stand out. One of the best descriptions of photography is "painting with light"
3 May 2008 1:27pm
@JoeB: Thanks Joe!...the sun came out for just a few minutes and I happened to be in the right spot to take this photo!
Chris/Aperture Image from United Kingdom
Wonderful light Ian, good luck in the competition.
3 May 2008 1:49pm
@Chris/Aperture Image: Thanks very much Chris!
@Alun Lambert: Thanks very much Alun!
Blur69 from Kyoto, Japan
Man this is amazing. In an interesting way the picture has a black and white feel with color. Nice! I have been enjoying all of your work.
One,
Blur69
3 May 2008 3:16pm
@Blur69: Thanks Blur69!
I know what you mean about the B&W feel....it's the simplicity of the colour range isn't it.
Nataly from Santa Monica, United States
This is a very good shot, Ian. I prefer this processing better. There is more emotion and drama with these choice of the tones. And the gray undertones in the sky and the sand balance the whole image even more.
Good luck!
3 May 2008 3:37pm
@Nataly: Thanks Nataly!...It's surprising how much my taste in processing has changed over the last few months.
hugo poon from Hong Kong
Great work Ian!!! This was a superb capture in the first place - not only was the subject strong but your composition had also established a relationship of the elements so effective as to induce viewers into the image. You are wise to adopt a subtler (more natural) approach to enhance the atmosphere...
Thanks for the link of HCB's pics. Somehow, I find that HCB's words are impacting me as much as his pics:
"Our job consists of observing reality with help of our camera (which serves as a kind of sketchbook), of fixing reality in a moment, but not manipulating it, neither during the shoot nor in the darkroom later on. These types of manipulation are always noticed by anyone with a good eye."
Congrats in advance!:-)
Hugo
3 May 2008 3:39pm
@hugo poon: Thanks Hugo...I believe HC-B only ever cropped one photo in his life. This is the one I believe: http://www.kaush.com/archives/images/Cartier-Bresson2.jpg
I saw both the original and the uncropped version of this photo at that exhibition of his work that I went to a few months ago in Bradford.
@tom: Thanks very much Tom!
@ZmAjEvA: Thanks...I was very pleased with the way it turned out. As photographers I think we all deserve a bit of luck sometimes in recompense for those days when nothing seems to go right :-)
@Sandrine: Thanks very much Sandrine!
@akarui: Thanks you...that's very kind!
@Cheryl: Thanks Cheryl!
@Betty: Thanks Betty...I was very lucky that the sun came out for just a few minutes to illuminate the men with their yellow jackets and the two flocks of birds.
Japanalia from Yokohama, Japan
The light is superb and the simplicity of the content makes it even more dramatic! I had a look at your gallery at Photo.net and was enthralled! YOU have what it takes to be an artist!
4 May 2008 8:46am
@Japanalia: Thanks Gabriela!....I love photography and I'm pleased if you think some of this comes over in my photos.
@Gesa: Thanks very much Gesa!
GJC from Kyoto, Japan
Super light and wonderful colors. Really, really like this one.
4 May 2008 12:03pm
@GJC: Thanks GJC...I was very happy to be able to photograph this scene!
@Putter: Cheers Putter!
amy from Rocky Mountain House, Canada
I'm still trying to catch up... sheesh, dial-up.. ;-)
It's the depth and breadth of that sky that just boggles the mind!
7 May 2008 2:35am
@amy: Thanks Amy....this is certainly one of my favourite photos. I was so lucky with that sky :-)
@m a r t a: Thanks very much Marta!
Gildas Corouge from Le Mans, France
Thank you for your very kind comment on my blog, and congratulation for yours. Especially for this wonderful picture.
11 May 2008 10:56pm
Nikon D40
1/800 second
F/4.8
ISO 200
19 mm (35mm equiv.)