Good Morning

Hi, Rex - I like #2 the best, but I appreciate how you took the time to try the pier from both sides, showing again the value of experimenting with different perspectives of the same object. The sand/seabed in #2 provides a strong, textured foreground interest.

Another fan of #2. Many look familiar, but i'm glad you show us these in a new form. The composition of #5 is the best for me by far, #6 has the trees i really like. Hope to see some of these too, someday. TFS Roger

Very fine set, and for me #2 is the stand-out, but it's a hard thing to single out from the others.

@#5: If you look at the horizon, the darker band, it is brightened visibly between the first and the second utility pole (from the right, closer to the second one). If I follow that brightening I see that it has a circular form - maybe doubled (concentric), maybe not. The circular form makes up a quarter circle (the upper left quarter). At the top edge of the image it is more difficult to identify.

Failing to cover the viewfinder may well explain it.

I have seen similar effects when I struggled to keep the ND filter tightly mounted.

Hi Roger,

Lovely to see some of your 'old friends' again and meet some new ones! I think a break away from locations such as these which have been visited a number of times can give you a different perspective and creative 'look' when returning and these, I suspect, prove that point.

I will be honest straight from the go and say my favourite of the series is #2; the lighting is great - not too bright but detail in the sky, whilst the pillars going into the sea are well placed and the silhouette nature of them give them a strength which is, obviously, physically still there. What makes it for me, however, is that foreground. It's like looking at the patterns in a Fresnel lens with the light reflecting off the water in those ripples and it has a lot of parallels with a shot you shared some time ago from Monument Valley where the sand shows a similar, beguiling set of patterns. Signs of a strong tide on the way out and a great image.

I was very tempted to put #1 at the top - your oh-so-careful placement of the horizon running through the tops of the pier supports is something I really like and shows the care and attention you've paid to the scene; the sky is a great support act to the scene as well but I think you could easily trim a little from there sky at the top - to just above the streak of cloud - without it impacting the image and it might tighten the shot up further?

Of the others, #4 is a strong image but, for me, creates some confusion as my brain expects the two bridges to go in the same direction; except the road one diverges to the right which gives an odd sort of effect. I can see it returns in the distance but the weight of the structure means the eye wanders off to the right a little too much for me here. Great light though and a perfect exposure to reveal all the details - really well handled.

As for #5 - the composition is great but, once I'd read the comments above I do find myself drawn to the darker corner more. I'd be interested to see the original colour version of this to see what the 'reality' of that scene actually is?

I love the set though and I'm pleased you shared these with us.

Take care and best regards, Neil.

This jpg shows you did exactly the right thing to the original photo. For me the reason is the sky. It makes the image look as if it was made in another world. Also, the sand/beach disturbs in the original. I think #5 is a masterpiece; thanks for showing how you made it, that makes remembering even easier