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Peter Dyndiuk's picture

James Island Sunrise

During a stay at La Push, Washington I scouted out this composition on "First Beach". This is not one of the more photographed locations along the coast which added a great deal of appeal to me. I really struggled with the clears skies, but I think the illumination of the island at sunrise with just a touch of color still in the sky works.

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4 Comments

I'm not sure about composition on this one... Maybe you could have set up the camera lower and closer to the rotten tree so we could have seen some texture on it and maybe a reflection of that island on the water...

Thanks for the input Michele!

Composition was a bit of a challenge here, and given the conditions, I think this capture was the best of them. The seas were actually quite rough that day, so there was not an opportunity for any type of a reflection shot, thus I opted for a longer exposure to "calm" down the scene a bit. As far as getting closer to the fallen tree; I did play around with that composition, but thought the tree became obtrusive in the frame and made the island too inconsequential. I think that having the two competing subjects was the best option here, but that is of course subjective.

I really appreciate the comments, always wonderful to see an image through someone else's eyes :)

If there’s enough resolution, a landscape crop just above the log also works. The water provides a natural S curve into the horizon. Beautifully managed sky.

Thanks Robert!

Unfortunately this was taken with older equipment, and there is not enough resolution to crop much, except for social media purposes. Looking at a crop above the tree it really does not produce that natural "S" curve that I would like to see; more of a "C" that leads into the ocean and horizon at the left side of the frame rather to the island. If I could have framed it with better leading lines to the island, that crop would have been very nice indeed!

Thanks for the input! I really do like the landscape crop idea, but its not too my liking in this image as shot. If I ever get back there I think I would concentrate on a composition like you suggested, I think there is a lot of potential there!