* Wednesday C&C "No Theme" Thread #799 / Revived #019 on 2023 08 09 *

Walpole tidal pool long exposure (Margate, Kent, UK)

This is an extraordinarily beautiful image. The slow shutter has given a dreamlike smoothness to the water and skies that creates a water-color like effect but without losing all definition in the clouds which can sometimes happen with long exposures. IMHO you have hit the perfect sweet spot between smoothness and definition, and one that takes best advantage of the pastel color palette. The leading line of the sea wall (or whatever that structure is) is in perfect position, leading in from lower left, turning right to near the edge then turning left again to exit the frame at the water line. Even the placement of the poles and lights are well balanced. A great example of visual fluency, it has a Michael-Kenna-But-In-Color feel to it.

Welcome to the Wednesday thread, hope you'll return and share more lovely images, and share your thoughts on the images posted here, there's quite a variety to engage with. Word of warning: this exquisite image may not get the attention it deserves on a Tuesday, since the new thread will go up tomorrow and many participants have already "finished" with this thread. Feel free to post it again tomorrow in the new thread to get more views, or post another. The thread is most active the first couple of days after it starts.

Thanks for sharing a real gem.

I agree with Minnie on:
- the appreciation of your maiden image in these waters
- her motivation why she found it so strong
- welcoming you to our merry band and expressing a hope that you will continue to share images (and comments) with us.

I've not looked at other comments on this image (been a bit busy the past days).
But for me, there is an immediate recognition of a crocodile or alligator head shape in that prominent rock below the water surface.
I am sure others must have seen that too, in this deceptively tranquil scene.
There, now I must go a browse through the whole thread to see if I am the only one. Can't be, can it?

I love the many levels at play here between the parts of this image.
It is 2D but the levels make it 3D or even meta.
Harley Quinn is a character full of mischief, so she is the right person to ignore a "no graffiti" sign.
Good crisp representation of a good crisp piece of wall art.

This is a charming, relaxed and very inviting image and scene.
Does anybody get a vibe of looking at a string instrument (guitar or such) floating on the water?

I can only agree with these two comments.

I will just add that contrast is one of the biggest triggers in a photo, and here the contrast, apart from the obvious luminance, is between the the smoothed water and the gritty concrete sea wall.it draws our attention to it and makes it stand out.
I also like the reduced palette of pastel colours, which actually has the opposite effect, and gives it a calming effect, which in turn is a contrast to the harsh sea wall.

Pete

Again, ditto on everything!

Those columns of cloud echo the shapes of the trees in the foreground, which is a nice touch.

Pete

Wow! A Simplejoy Special Offer this week. A very inventive landscape of cypress trees in the lavendar fields of Provence, which almost looks like the prongs of a fork..With that comes a suitably matching poem. Then, having enjoyed that, we are presented with a free trip to the Dolomites to study the unusual mineral content of Tre Cime.
It seems the explorer of the Galaxy has returned to planet Earth for inspiration, but I enjoy it just as much, maybe even more, since presenting a fantasy version of a scene known to the audience is hard to do in a convincing way.

Pete

This is a good abstract shot, so I don't know, nor even care, what the object is.
The lighting is dramatic, with a central patch of brightness and very dark, mysterious shadows. The bright reds and greens and golds are very optimistic and in total contrast with the sinister and gloomy blacks. These mixed messages hold the viewer's interest, and they will probably feel the optimism or depression differently each time they view the image, depending on mood.

Pete

I like this image a lot, but, as I said on the DPR MF forum, I like two of yours from this series even better. The reasons? Ambiguity, and strong graphics.

David Millier, this is an image that certainly ends our posting week with a bang.
I has already been well and truly dissected by other comments here. I agree with all that and wont repeat them. The time exposure has enabled lots of depth of field and this has been used to advantage to give plenty of sharp texture in the breakwater to contrast with the soft textures on the water. I very much liked the difference between the clouds and the reflection of the clouds in the water. The same tones but softening of the detail from the water movement is a subtle touch rather than a straight reflection. I also like the lines from the breakwater that lead to the horizon ships. They pull those highlights into the image by linking them with the main elements to the foreground.
Jim K's comment stoked my curiosity so I went hunting for the rest of your series.
I hope you will share some more of them with us.

I don't think anyone else caught it. I had a look and after a few seconds there it is as plain as day. The nose is a touch rounded but the eye is watching, waiting for us to drop a toe in the water... Nicely spotted.