This is an attempt at "High Dynamic Range Imaging". This photograph of Swanage Beach is a composite of four photographs taken at varying exposure levels with the camera on a tripod and composition fixed.

This is my second attempt at this; this version combines sky, town, sea, and beach from separate exposures. This version has better contrast on the sky and town, and the join between the sea and beach is better in my opinion. I won't rule out further attempts, though.

The beach is located north of the town, with the photograph looking south. Because the beach access is down several flights of steps, I chose to shoot in the twilight so that I would have some light to find my way back. I think this has worked better than shooting in pitch darkness as I've got nicer shades of blue rather than black.

This is my eighth Fotopic Front Page Feature (19th June 2009), and the second one to be taken in Swanage ( "Water off a Duck's Back" being the first). A full list of my previous features can be found in the left column of this site's homepage.

ISO 100, various exposure levels

Merged photograph produced in PSP.

[More photographs of Swanage and the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset can be found in my "Landscape and Architecture - Dorset" and "Corfe Castle" collections.]

Comments left about this photograph:
From Bill Haggan at 2009-06-19 18:56:17 : Well done Richard. Despite the small minority of has-beens on fotopic who berate you, I think your photographs are worthy. Best wishes, Bill
From Richard Kyte at 2009-06-22 20:26:44 : Thank you. I've seen your work on Fotopic, Bill, and I admire it very much. I must be doing something right.