Two from Valentia (the island that is)

Valentia

Taken last year on Valentia Island.

Exar Khun

I really like the clouds in the second one.

Fajitas!

I quite like the first one, shame the rocks lead out to a boat though. Clouds are great in both. Stupid question, where is Valentia Island?

Valentia

Off the coast of Kerry. I thought the pier leading to the boat worked well. Leading the eye and all that. Here's one of a puffin on the Skelligs, about 9 miles out from Valentia.

Valentia

The last on this thread I promise. On the way to the Skelligs

Dimy

Impressive shots... The bird shot is very nicely timed! Love the landscapes. Thanks for sharing.

rymus

very good stuff indeed... Always meant to get down to Valentia (the island that is) and take a few. Maybe this will inspire me to finally get off my arse.

ionapaul

Is that a little island called (funnily enough!) Beginis in the middle ground of photo 2? My father's from Valentia and one summer while down there on holiday we almost got stranded on Beginis, as the boat we had brought out there started to drift off with the tide, as we had spent longer than we planned on the island.

My father has the greatest stories of the characters to be found on the island in the 50s and 60s, it is a magical place to me.

joolsveer

Great shots of Valentia. Did you go to the old slate quarry. I used know someone near Portmagee a long time ago and used go to the island regularly. It must be nearly 30 years ago now. I was using Kodachrome 25 at the time.

Zillah

Fajitas! wrote:

I quite like the first one, shame the rocks lead out to a boat though.

I thought that was the best part of it.

eas

Zillah wrote:

I thought that was the best part of it.

I agree - How is it a shame Fajitas!?

very nice stuff Valentia.

Progen

Very nice!

Whats lens, settings and focal legnth was the puffin one done at?

Nicely timed !

ChityWest

The one 'On the way to the Skelligs' is pretty outstanding - do you mind me asking was much post-processing/photoshop work done on it ? And if so what did that involve ? Excellent photo!

Fenster

ChityWest wrote:

The one 'On the way to the Skelligs' is pretty outstanding - do you mind me asking was much post-processing/photoshop work done on it ? And if so what did that involve ? Excellent photo!

My question exactly

dalk

Number 1 & 4 are great.. Some of the best pics i've seen posted here. Love the saturated colours. They are really to my taste.

The only criticism i have is the frame with drop shadow effect...:eek:

Enygma

Lovely shots Valentia. I love it down there, such a beautiful place!

Valentia

Thanks for the comments gang. Just back from Beaumount with the Da so only saw them now. He's grand thanks

Ok here goes:

Is that a little island called (funnily enough!) Beginis

It is indeed. Lovely spot. We have gone to Valentis for 3 weeks every July for the last 4 years (boring old sods). It really is a special place.

Did you go to the old slate quarry.

Yep. It's still up and running with the statue of Herself looking down. Opera Ireland did a performance in it last year. It would have been worth seeing.

Whats lens, settings and focal legnth was the puffin one done at?

It was at f5.6 at 1000/sec. Taken with a Sigma 2.8 75-200 at 175mm. The EXIF info is with all the pics as I don't save for web. Here is one I took the year before and I was raging that I just clipped the wings. I was determined to get a proper one. Though I like the "power" in the legs in this one.

The one 'On the way to the Skelligs' is pretty outstanding - do you mind me asking was much post-processing/photoshop work done on it ?

I have a Velvia action which gives photos the Fuji Velvia look. If I remember correctly I manipulated the action slightly and did a burn in the middle of it which increased the saturation and contrast. I'm fairly sure that was it. If anyone wants the action let me know. It is a freeware action I picked up a good while ago but use it a lot for landscapes.

I know the frame might not be to everyones taste but I like it. It's simple and helps the pic standout in any background. AND I'm too bloody lazy!

I'd recommend a trip to the Skennigs it's an incredible place. But go from late May to end of July otherwise the thousands of puffins will have gone.

Fenster

Aye, I would like it!

Valentia

PM me with your email and I'll send it this evening when I get home,

Fajitas!

eas wrote:

I agree - How is it a shame Fajitas!?

I feel the boat takes away from what is otherwise a pretty natural scene. It stands out in the water, which, if the boat was the sole focus of the photograph, would work, but I just think it stands out a bit much in comparison to the epic clouds and backdrop, undisturbed waters, and the concrete pier. By I guess that's my opinion.

Fionn

Beautiful photographs

ender ender

^^^ I concur

peepingtom

Excellent shots mate .. love the puffin!

ShayHT

Yeah, I'd agree with Fajitas on the boat, think it would be better if it wasn't there.

But the second two you posted are among the best i've seen posted up here.

Valentia

Thanks again folks. The only thing I'll say is that I take an awful lot of Sh1te too. I'm only showing what I think are my best. Most of the thousand others mean something to me and friends but probably wouldn't to such a critical audience as we have here. ;)

Valentia

You have a point, but I think they both work.

Fajitas!

Haha! Thanks

I think it makes a difference. Emphises the backdrop rather than the boat!

And about taking sh*te, we all do. My dad always told me when I was growing up, to use a roll of film, and get 3 good shots from it was good going.

I guess you won't know they're sh*te or not until you take them! (Even with digital)

eas

ya, i see where your coming from Fajitas! I think both shots (edits) work well for different reasons.

But I still like the payoff the boat gives to the pier luring focus into the shot. Without it I don't think there is anywhere for the eye to rest.

CoolBoardr

The last two shots are awesome. I think a slight desaturation of the background on the puffin shot would make it even better (to bring more focus to the bird).

Valentia

Good idea CoolBoardr. I've always felt that the backgroung was a bit too busy. Compared to the clipped wings one where the bird really stands out. Thanks for your comment on the pics.

440Hz

I actually like the DoF on the first puffin shot, very well captured and timed.... good reflexes eh!

shepthedog

I think they are absolutely fantastic photos.. The first one is amazing.. You should work for the Valentia tourist boards, everyone from here is gonna wanna go there now... Excellent stuff..