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Wallpaper Details: Reflections In Paradise
Reflections in Paradise
By cgrphoto33
April 20th, 2011
I recently spent a week on Maui and our resort hotel had an awesome infinity pool. I was hoping not to have to do any HDR on this trip and stick to my grad ND filters but in order to get a good reflection for this picture I could not really use the filter set. I took this shot at the serenity pool of the Wailea Marriott on Maui, Hawaii. The first night that I arrived the skies were perfectly clear but thankfully the clouds rolled in the second day to make for much more interesting pictures.
Nikon D80, Tamron 17-50 at 17mm, 1/60 second exposure, f/8, HDR (-2, 0, +2), ISO 100.
Wallpaper Categories
This wallpaper has been tagged with the keywords:
clouds » hawaii » high dynamic range » maui » nikon » nikon d80 » photography » reflections » sky » sunset » tamron sp af17‑50mm f/2.8 xr di ii vc » trees » tropical » wailea hawaii » wailea marriott » water »
Click a tag above to view other images in the same category.
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Comments from the Community
Posted By: cgrphoto33
about 12 years, 11 months ago
I kept the horizon center in order to be able to capture the entire reflection of the trees Wider angle would have been helpful but I was already at 17mm.
Posted By: cgrphoto33
about 12 years, 11 months ago
In composing this image I thought the full reflection of the trees was more important than placement of the horizon. I was already at the wide end of the lens so I decided to center the scene.
Posted By: cgrphoto33
about 12 years, 11 months ago
Posted By: paul.charles.k
about 12 years, 11 months ago
I think your composition is justified. Some people are just "rule of thirds" monkeys but rules are meant to be broken when you know what you're doing.
Posted By: lucasjungmann
about 12 years, 11 months ago
Nice shot! lots of detail and well exposed. I like how you combined the infinity pool with the ocean. Mr. Infinity would be pleased :)
The only thing I would have is do a chromatic aberrations reduction on those palm trees. HDR usually brings out CA,and its noticeable in this image. And MAYBE Id flip the shot on the horizon. Most desktops look good with the bulk of the image on the right side due to (usually) icons on the left.
The only thing I would have is do a chromatic aberrations reduction on those palm trees. HDR usually brings out CA,and its noticeable in this image. And MAYBE Id flip the shot on the horizon. Most desktops look good with the bulk of the image on the right side due to (usually) icons on the left.
Posted By: MattGranz
about 12 years, 11 months ago
I can usually tell an HDR image from a mile away (even ones with good processing) and am amazed that this image is one. You really did it perfectly. The reflections are stunning and the framing is fantastic. I think you nailed this.
I wouldn't pay attention to the nitpickers. This image is fantastic.
I wouldn't pay attention to the nitpickers. This image is fantastic.
Posted By: cgrphoto33
about 12 years, 11 months ago
i didn't even think of flipping the image. im a mac guy so my icons are on the left. I will play around with CA - I am relatively new to the whole HDR thing. Thanks for the comments.
Posted By: Sean Hanlon
about 12 years, 11 months ago
color is great, good reflection and good composition however it just looks photoshopped
u can see the line of another image just under the horizon nothing lines up. Other than that its nice
u can see the line of another image just under the horizon nothing lines up. Other than that its nice
Posted By: Daddy_Gemini
about 12 years, 11 months ago
nice one i like the choice of a centered horizon for this one. Don't listen to these jealous people you know you have a beautiful shot here tanks! =)
Posted By: claytontullos
about 12 years, 11 months ago
Great colors. I enjoy reflection even though I'm surprised that you hanging out by the pool instead of the ocean. :p Kauai is my favorite Hawaiian island.
A slightly lower angle would have netted you a stellar image.
I edited your image here to illustrate the point:
http://claytontullos.com/images/cgrphoto33.jpg
A slightly lower angle would have netted you a stellar image.
I edited your image here to illustrate the point:
http://claytontullos.com/images/cgrphoto33.jpg
Posted By: j4th
about 12 years, 11 months ago
Love this one. And totally agree with you about "the full reflection of the trees was more important than placement of the horizon".
Posted By: cgrphoto33
about 12 years, 11 months ago
Sean....The top line you see is the true horizon over the ocean...the line right under that is the line of the infinity swimming pool.
Posted By: fjawodfc
about 12 years, 11 months ago
Nice scene, sharp image, and always nice to get a shot without people in it.
The angle of the shot and/or reflection of the sunset somewhat defeat the purpose of an infinity pool. The whole point is not being able to tell where the pool ends and the ocean begins.
The angle of the shot and/or reflection of the sunset somewhat defeat the purpose of an infinity pool. The whole point is not being able to tell where the pool ends and the ocean begins.
Posted By: stubulman
about 12 years, 11 months ago
Nice colors, composition and mood. I don't mind the horizon bisecting the image. In this instance is well placed.
However, I agree with @fjawodfc. The discontinuity of the reflection is a bit jarring, especially the tall right palm. Maybe some Photoshop magic can tame it.
However, I agree with @fjawodfc. The discontinuity of the reflection is a bit jarring, especially the tall right palm. Maybe some Photoshop magic can tame it.
Posted By: quasio
about 12 years, 11 months ago
Hello!
I just decided to make my first comment here and I just wanted to say that this excellent picture made my day. It's the new background picture for my laptop. Keep up the good work!
I just decided to make my first comment here and I just wanted to say that this excellent picture made my day. It's the new background picture for my laptop. Keep up the good work!
Posted By: Joji
about 12 years, 11 months ago
Wow this is great. I wasn't too impressed at the thumbnail at first but I tried it on my family's 17 inch laptop. When I cleaned up all the icons and stuff I found the wall paper to be very relaxing and calming. I've never really found a keeper on my 17 inch laptop before, but this ones a keeper.
It doesn't look "perfect" but I think the imperfection is attractive to me.
It doesn't look "perfect" but I think the imperfection is attractive to me.
Posted By: WhiteDog
about 12 years, 11 months ago
Like I said, on the whole, a nice picture. Almost great, in fact.
I don't mind being called a nit picker - that's accurate enough. But a "monkey" and "jealous" are uncalled for. And it's true, rules are made to be broken - if you know what you're doing, which most people don't. In fact, most people don't even know the rules and break them out of ignorance rather than informed and creative choice.
There is plenty of room at the bottom of the image below the tops of the trees in the reflection. The horizon could have been moved down slightly (not so much as a third) without cropping the trees. So I stand by my remarks. I'm not the least bit daunted by the fact most people here couldn't care less. The image is pleasing enough, after all. All I'm saying is that it could have been better. It could have been great. I can't help seeing the missed potential.
I don't mind being called a nit picker - that's accurate enough. But a "monkey" and "jealous" are uncalled for. And it's true, rules are made to be broken - if you know what you're doing, which most people don't. In fact, most people don't even know the rules and break them out of ignorance rather than informed and creative choice.
There is plenty of room at the bottom of the image below the tops of the trees in the reflection. The horizon could have been moved down slightly (not so much as a third) without cropping the trees. So I stand by my remarks. I'm not the least bit daunted by the fact most people here couldn't care less. The image is pleasing enough, after all. All I'm saying is that it could have been better. It could have been great. I can't help seeing the missed potential.
Posted By: Daddy_Gemini
about 12 years, 10 months ago
@WhiteDog said, "In fact, most people don't even know the rules and break them out of ignorance rather than informed and creative choice." You also said people calling others monkeys or jealous is uncalled for. So why would you turn around and call others ignorant? Is that really called for? Also who wrote these so called "rules"? Art has been around for tens of thousands of years and I'm pretty sure every time an artist made something symmetrical or made a picture with the horizon near the center they weren't bashed for it like they are here sometimes. There are no such things as "rules" in art. Art is the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination not math. I went to college for 6 years, only taking art classes, and I never heard of this so called "rule of thirds" that I hear repeated again and again on this site, and yes, I took photography too.
Art is like music, everyone has their own opinion of a song/piece of art, and you either like it or don't. There are many good artists that almost entirely make symmetrical pictures and they are beautiful this whole "a-symmetrical stuff and rule of thirds" is only an opinion. But that's just my opinion. Take it how you want. =)
Art is like music, everyone has their own opinion of a song/piece of art, and you either like it or don't. There are many good artists that almost entirely make symmetrical pictures and they are beautiful this whole "a-symmetrical stuff and rule of thirds" is only an opinion. But that's just my opinion. Take it how you want. =)
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In my opinion, the reflection is too close in brightness to the sky, detracting slightly from the reality of the image. However, using Lightroom I should be able to darken the water slightly to suit my taste. Also, the sun is dead center vertically, diminishing the quality of the composition somewhat. The horizon should be a bit lower so that the image isn't split exactly in two, creating more pleasing proportions between the foreground and background.