Raymond Tice
October 2026 - Trinidad Head
About the Image(s)
For her 80th Birthday, my wife and I are currently visiting the northern California and southern Oregon coasts; spending time at lots of spectacular state beaches, taking photos of crashing waves, sea stacks, and nearby redwood forests while learning about the history of the various towns. This photo was taken of the Trinidad Head while visiting Trinidad State Beach. I used a Nikon Z8, with a 24-120mm lens at 24mm, iso 64, f/20, 1/60 sec handheld. It was post-processed in LR Classic, with the horizon straightened, followed by establishing landscape masks and treating the sky and everything else separately using various effects and tone sliders.
8 comments posted
Ray-this might be my favorite photograph of yours. It has immediate impact, a ton of visual interest, and a good story-and stories aren't always easy to convey in landscapes. The rugged rocks, incoming surf, and cloud sweeping over Trinidad Head convey the character of this coastline. That cloud is especially effective, giving the headland a distinctive presence and drawing my eye into the distance.
What impresses me most is your composition. You've placed a large, eye-catching rock near the center without allowing it to monopolize the viewer's attention. Instead, the surrounding rocks and channels of reflective water lead the eye toward the surf and headland, creating excellent depth. I've tried similar compositions without achieving this kind of success-really well done.
My suggestions are relatively minor. I would experiment with a modest crop from the bottom to see whether slightly less foreground strengthens the headland's presence while preserving that successful visual flow- but frankly I like it as is, but you might try it just for the heck of it. There also appears to be a blue-purple cast in the sky and wet sand; maybe it's my screen, but it's worth a look. Finally, in my VF I opened the shadows on all the rock surfaces except the big boulders as you enter the frame - they're near perfect so I left them alone. I think the added detail especially along the left side of hte image add to an already outstanding composition
Overall, this is a very thoughtfully composed coastal image whose textures, movement, and atmosphere give the viewer plenty of reasons to hang around and examine it - I really enjoyed this image.
Posted: 10/04/2026 14:28:50
What impresses me most is your composition. You've placed a large, eye-catching rock near the center without allowing it to monopolize the viewer's attention. Instead, the surrounding rocks and channels of reflective water lead the eye toward the surf and headland, creating excellent depth. I've tried similar compositions without achieving this kind of success-really well done.
My suggestions are relatively minor. I would experiment with a modest crop from the bottom to see whether slightly less foreground strengthens the headland's presence while preserving that successful visual flow- but frankly I like it as is, but you might try it just for the heck of it. There also appears to be a blue-purple cast in the sky and wet sand; maybe it's my screen, but it's worth a look. Finally, in my VF I opened the shadows on all the rock surfaces except the big boulders as you enter the frame - they're near perfect so I left them alone. I think the added detail especially along the left side of hte image add to an already outstanding composition
Overall, this is a very thoughtfully composed coastal image whose textures, movement, and atmosphere give the viewer plenty of reasons to hang around and examine it - I really enjoyed this image.
Posted: 10/04/2026 14:28:50
Thanks Butch - my original does not show any purple but its easy enough to eliminate just in case and I like your suggestion that I open up the shadows on the left. It was one of those time when I felt like I was in the right place at the right time. Ray Posted: 10/22/2026 01:22:37
A great image Ray, well seen, captured, processed and presented. As Butch says, great use of foreground and background elements provide a good amount of depth in this one. To be perfectly honest and no offence intended at all Butch, if anyone is going to crop such a small percentage of an image off, when there is no distracting items visible, why bother with the crop at all? Again Butch, no offence intended at all. However, I do have an issue with that "thing" sitting on top of the headland, just to the left of its centre. What is it? Trees or structure? Is it necessary for this image? Would the image be weakened in any way if you cloned it out? Too many questions about that for me. Yes, it's only a small percentage of the image, but it's in that cloud, which commands the viewer's attention, so in my eyes is a big distraction, as it draws me away from the scene and brings all those questions to me. But still, congratulations on a great image Ray. Posted: 10/22/2026 10:01:40
Thanks Ian and yes its a group of trees and easily taken care of- It has always been of interest how we each focus on different aspects of an image as until you broughtt his to my attention, I never noticed it but now that I do, I agree with you that it is distracting. Much appreciated, Ray
Posted: 10/23/2026 01:57:54
Posted: 10/23/2026 01:57:54
Ian, you really got me thinking with your comment about why bother with such a small crop when there are no distractions to remove. First, please know there was no offense taken-none. I'm here to learn and share, and you raised an excellent point for discussion.
Whether my suggested crop improves Ray's image is certainly open to discussion. The broader question, though, is whether a crop needs to remove a distraction to be worthwhile. I don't believe it does. Even a small adjustment can improve balance, change the relationship between elements, or give the main subject greater emphasis.
Sometimes there's nothing objectionable at the edge of the frame; trimming it simply makes the composition stronger and keeps the viewer's attention where the photographer wants it. Posted: 10/23/2026 15:54:28
Whether my suggested crop improves Ray's image is certainly open to discussion. The broader question, though, is whether a crop needs to remove a distraction to be worthwhile. I don't believe it does. Even a small adjustment can improve balance, change the relationship between elements, or give the main subject greater emphasis.
Sometimes there's nothing objectionable at the edge of the frame; trimming it simply makes the composition stronger and keeps the viewer's attention where the photographer wants it. Posted: 10/23/2026 15:54:28
I fully agree with you Butch, about balancing an image, but I must ask, "Is such a small amount really going to make much of a difference?" Also, in the back of my mind is the thought "We are all experienced and competent photographers, so we present our images as we feel best". Of course, the whole idea of these groups is to discuss our image making, but at the end of the day, your images are yours, mine are mine and Ray's are Ray's. Our craft of photography is very subjective, open to interpretation and discussion, but the final say rests with the photographer. Posted: 10/24/2026 08:14:50
Ian and Butch - I have enjoyed the discussion and its why I like participating in this group - we all have different experiences and different views with no single only best approach to taking and displaying images. I feel I have become a better photographer because of the discussions so please keep them going. Ray Posted: 10/25/2026 01:12:26
I also like these discussions Ray and Butch, just as long as we don't take them or ourselves too seriously. Yes, our photography is to be treated seriously, but I like to think the main person to be happy with an image is the photographer who created it and owns it. As long as that is the case, I'm very happy. Unlike all those camera club members who are just chasing points in competitions, ( or am I the only scoundrel to see many photographers like that?) Constructive and courteous critiquing is always a good thing, but the final word belongs to the photographer. Posted: 10/26/2026 10:31:02