Image: Maersk Oil
I just noticed that Maersk Oil updated their Facebook “cover photo” with this fantastic image this morning.
Do you notice anything odd about it though? Hint: Look at where the light is coming from…
The sun is setting behind the platform, yet the front of the platform is fully lit up.
From a photography standpoint, a single exposure would not have been able to capture this image without either overexposing the sky and exposing the platform properly, or exposing the sky properly and making the platform a dark outline.
Here’s what I think the photographer did:
4 or 5 images at a fairly high ISO in quick sequence all at different shutter speeds while maintaining a focal length of F/8 or F/11 or so. The reason for the high ISO is to keep shutter speeds quick to ensure that the images weren’t blurry from the movement of whatever the platform he or she was shooting from, and keeping a constant focal length would keep the image in proper focus throughout the range of different exposed images.
Using Adobe CS5, or perhaps some other program, the photographer then merged the images together using High Dynamic Range or HDR which spliced all the properly exposed areas of the sequence together.
Not exclusively HDR : the shadows hint at a composite photo; also, a.o., the sea has been “augmented” on the left – but it remains eye-catching, which is the point I guess :-)
color fringes around platform and jagged line along horizon = shit
also some bad ‘heal’ marks far right
and reflection under the platform is the wrong color
having said that its a dynamic composite that the client would be happy with so who cares?
:)
ohh… and personally I would have saturated that yellow paint, as this looks like pus
Hi Rob, I know you are an expert in Naval / Maritime matters…… but now you proved that you are in photography as well!
Does it matter? Did you ask if it was real? Is it any of your business if it is real or fake?
so they Photoshopped their facebook banner like thousands of fat girls (and guys?) there is no law against it (yet!)
It's totally obvious now that you point it out but I would never have noticed. I think that is because I'm not a photographer and maybe more, because I am so accustomed to images that have been retouched.
It's totally obvious now that you point it out but I would never have noticed. I think that is because I'm not a photographer and maybe more, because I am so accustomed to images that have been retouched.
Just a thought, I prefer maritime articles, I can get all the photography lessons I want, if I want, but I want and come here for Maritime articles…. Just a thought.