Gallery Pick of the Week
Instead of just showing pretty pictures only, here we have space for contributors to discuss their images every week.
This is a great opportunity to get some insight from the original photographer and the content is entirely open. It could be anything from the personal feeling of the photographer about the image to any photographic techniques or location knowledge he/she would like to share with our visitors.
Gallery Pick of the Week > March 2011
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It is an Angel but Also a Demon, 15/3/11, Pele Leung As per what we had watched lately on TV, the cruel and unforgiven tsunami water swept away anything on its path when it hit the shore. In this disaster scenario, the Japanese victims had no choice but as a photographer we do have choice. |
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Pele Leung - It is an Angel but Also a Demon, 15/3/11
As per what we had watched lately on TV, the cruel and unforgiven tsunami water swept away anything on its path when it hit the shore. In this disaster scenario, the Japanese victims had no choice but as a photographer we do have choice.
Obviously shooting open water near the coast is a fascinating experience and the chance of getting good atmospheric shots is usually higher than that of the shooting situations on land with static visual elements. The motto of "high risk, high return" is the perfect description for this kind of risky photographic exercise.
I have heard of more than enough incidents of coastal tragedy in the past and also experienced some horrible demonstrations of the powerful and ugly coastal water myself. I guess it is time to remind you and myself of the potential consequences of this fatal accident.
My suggestion is simple - do not stand too close to the coastal shore. However, how close is too close? If you are right next to the edge, it is too close! You may say "No pain, no gain". If you decide to take your own risk, I suggest you take the following advices:
- Prepare your retreat path. If you have planned your escape path, you would have a better chance to run away from the waves coming against you. However, running is not often easy on rocky and uneven terrain. As I said, you only have a better chance with no guarantee.
- Watch the unexpected. Never back facing the ocean. You should always watch out the situation of the open water. If you think the coming wave would have a chance to sweep away anything where you are standing, walk away if you can't run faster than you could due to the difficult terrain.
- Wear sturdy shoes. Most shorelines are rocky and slippery and a pair of sturdy shoes will give you a faster, more reliable and safer movement.
- Do not carry too much camera gear for coastal photography as it will only be a burden for general operation and escape.
- Find out the tide timetable in advance so as to avoid the extra risk due to high tide. It is also important to ensure a full retreating path is available when the tide is coming.
- If it rains, do not go.
- Leave before it is too dark. Regardless of how powerful your headlamp or torch is, the visibility would decrease dramatically when twilight arrives. In less than ten minutes or so, you might not be able to find your way out to a safer point.
- Tell someone where you go. This is obvious otherwise you will be on your own. I suggest you watch the movie, 127 hours, to further appreciate how important this advice is.
- There is one final advice: pray!