What Did I miss?

[ImaRetiredTeacher]

Hello All,

I hope 2024 has been good to you so far!

I am stumped as to why the attached image was refused. They gave me a general Quality refusal so I rechecked for EVERYTHING like 4 or 5 times. I was so exited when I saw what I had captured, but now I'm bummed. I've never seen a wave photograph this way. Please tell me if you see anything. 

Thanks in advance!

[Jill_C · Accepted solution]

It's not sharply focused. Zoom in to about 100% and look at the people standing on the pier. At that size, they should be almost recognizable, but they're actually blurry. Perhaps you used a shutter speed that was slow in order to blur the wave action, but it blurred more than that!

[ImaRetiredTeacher]

Isn't the focus on the wave? It wa shot at 1/1000 on a tripod. I also think it's the spray that makes it look blurry. I applied quite a lot of Dehaze due to the mist.

.

[daniellei4510]

The wave and the building seem to me to be of equal importance, so both should be in focus. I ran the image through Topaz Photo and was able to sharpen the building, but the people were worse for the wear. So I removed them with the Remove tool. So I think the image is salvagable and worth a second shot if those issues can be fixed.

[ImaRetiredTeacher]

Thank you, I appreciate the effort. The people are perfectrly in focus on some other views where I was closer to the pier, meaning there was less mist. This one was taken with a zoom lens. @ 180 mm. I truly do think it's the mist from the stormy, windy, waves. I had to apply much more Dehaze in order to even see the pier. Maybe it won't get through because of the water spray, but I still love it and know it was focused. 

Here's one where I applied less Dehaze:

[daniellei4510]

If you love the image, that's great. But it won't get it accepted on Adobe Stock. If you believe it was in focus, that's great. But it won't convince the moderators. Mist and fog and water spray will give an image soft focus, but not make it out of focus. Your original image is out of focus. View it at 200%. The individuals pictured are...for lack of a better word...blobs, without any definition. A variety of issues could have cause this. A shakey camera despite being on a tripod. A $200 lens instead of a $2000 lens. Hard to say.

A few years ago, a website I maintained had an online meeting with a world-wide famous photographer. Participants were allowed to ask questions. One individual wanted to know what f-stop and shutter speed he used for a particular photograph. He was insensed. "Why does that matter? What does f-stop and shutter speed have to do with creating a photograph? Equipment and f-stops and shutter speeds mean nothing. Absolutely nothing. I don't keep track of such factors because they simply aren't important."

A photograph works, or it doesn't. And this image doesn't.

[ImaRetiredTeacher]

A stormy day photo with wind blowing the mist might appeal to someone, but I'm not in charge. In my opinion, it is a nice photo of nature at work. I studied photography for many years so I'm well educated on the intricacies of exposure, etc. As a matter of fact, I learned with film so I know very well how it all works. No automatic anything back then.I'm smart enough to use a cable release so no shaky camera syndrome. However, I don't have the money for a $2000 lens. I find your comments harsh and insulting.

[daniellei4510]

Sorry you mistook my post. Nothing harsh or insulting was intended. I also learned with film. My darkroom was in my basement and I printed in an extra room with windows blocked out with trash bags, though I could still only print at night due to light leaks during the day. And I too am well educated on the intricacies of exposure, etc. At any rate, I do apologize if you were offended by my comments. No offence was intended. I was only trying to be of assistance.

[Abambo]

The mist is not the problem. In the second image, the focus should have been on the birds. 

[RALPH_L]

What second photo?

[Jill_C]

it's embedded in the 5th post in this thread.

[George_F]

I had the same thoughts as @daniellei4510 honestly.  With the buildings and waves conveyed as equal parts, they both should be in sharp focus.  I also thought removing the people might be best because of the sharpness issues, and that perhaps this photo is salvageable with some reworking.  Cheers!

[Abambo]

I agree with @Jill_C , the building should be the focus. But I do not know why it is so unsharp, as you were at 1/1000s and focussing anywhere near the building shoul have brought the building also in focus.

To explain why the building should be in focus (and btw better framed): it's simply the fixpoint that the eye gets first in sight, when looking at the picture. The waves may be your important motive, but the building gives the context. Without the building the waves are simply waves, like any wave.

[ricky336]

Hello @ImaRetiredTeacher ,

Well, I have a different opinion.

In my point of view, although the image is a bit soft, I personally don't think that the image is blurry or out of focus. The focus is good!!

I also don't think the people need to be removed, as they are part of the composition.

Anyway, my suggestion would be to give the photo more warmth. When using film cameras, when shooting in such conditions, one could use a warm-up filter to give more warmth. These days, software does the trick.

It may have been rejected because of this!

You have a very nice shot and you have got a really good shot of the spray!👍

[Abambo]

@ImaRetiredTeacher,

I would take @ricky336's advice and try to correct the colour temperature a bit and resubmit. With a little chance, you will get a less stringent moderator who will accept your picture.

(This does not mean that I don't stay with my comments! For me, the picture is too soft and will be refused again.

)

[RALPH_L]

The photo is too soft which makes it appear out of focus. If you look at the histogram, you will see that there are no blacks. There are no pixels on the left side. That means there is not enough contrast. Additionaly, the exposure should have been a little faster catching some of the water drops. The blurred spray makes the wave appear out of focus. If the storm is your main subject, then a landscape view would have nbeen better. The pier being 1/3 of the photo and the rough waves being 2/3. 

[Nancy OShea]

Uneven lighting needs a layer mask to adjust levels/curves on the sky and pier building without over boosting the waves.

[jacquelingphoto2017]

Hi @ImaRetiredTeacher 

The photo is out of focus. If you want to capture the wave you need both depth of field and fast shutter speed. You also need to make sure you achieve focus before taking the shot.

Best wishes

Jacquelin

Hello All,

I hope 2024 has been good to you so far!

I am stumped as to why the attached image was refused. They gave me a general Quality refusal so I rechecked for EVERYTHING like 4 or 5 times. I was so exited when I saw what I had captured, but now I'm bummed. I've never seen a wave photograph this way. Please tell me if you see anything. 

Thanks in advance!

By @ImaRetiredTeacher

[ricky336]

The shutter speed is already at 1/1000 sec - so it is fast.