Rare Sight, a photo from New South Wales, East

Photographer's Note

Sadly this isn稚 a sight we see too often on Sydney Harbour anymore. Although our State Government continues to spruik Sydney Harbour as a working harbour, pretty well all of the commercial shipping has disappeared. The wonderful merchant ships went forty years ago compliments of the shipping container, then the container ships themselves moved to Port Botany leaving the harbour to cater for Cruise Liners only. Even though this is only an oil tanker, not romantic at all compared to the beautiful merchantmen of the past, it made a colourful sight as it headed slowly down the harbour getting ready to first, make the turn around McMahon痴 Point, then lining up to pass under the Harbour Bridge. The ever-vigilant Tug was hanging off the stern ready to help pull the bulk of the ship around if necessary.
I shot this quite late in the afternoon from Balls Head, which is on the northern side of the harbour, in the background is the southern approach to the Harbour Bridge and the buildings over Circular Quay.

ribeiroantonio, snunney, vmf-214, Clementi, dareco, jhm, Charo, burraburra, bracasha75, bakes888, gunbud, Kielia, argycon, hispic, ifege, jusninasirun has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

snunney (130967) 2009-06-20 1:26

Hello Peter,
Always something romantic about big ships. I was brought up in Liverpool and used to love watching the ships coming up the Mersey to the city docks. All gone now with the move to the contained port downstream. Enough of my reminiscences; a fine composition with the big red tanker looking splendid against the modern high rise buildings. The light is very good with excellent colours and sharpness. Thanks for sharing.

ribeiroantonio (22730) 2009-06-20 1:31

I did not know that the merchant ships were not anymore in Sydney harbour. Being very empty I believe it was heading out of the harbour.
It is a nice unusual picture of Sydney Harbour. Well done.
Antonio

rodgerg (55767) 2009-06-20 1:32

Hello Peter,

Congratulations for this interesting and suoerb view. An image rich in various details very well selecetd. Good composition too very well ballanced. The good managment of light give beautiful colors and contrasts.
Have a nice WE,
Roger

aadilj (18102) 2009-06-20 3:25

Hey Peter my freind. I am running into your post after a long time! This is so well lit up. I like the way you habe handled the ambient lights, tones and hues

foozi (7101) 2009-06-20 6:42

Hi Peter,
youre very fast. When Im about to reply you have already gone into my 2 posts. thanks and really appreciate it.
As for this shot, its lovely with contrasting colours. Your note is very informative and useful. whatever the captured vessel is still attractive and the harbour is pleasant to look at.
Nice composition with the dramatic clouds and deep blue sky.
i like that lean building with graphic white line.

regards,
Foozi

vmf-214 (1648) 2009-06-20 8:04

Hi Peter,

Great shot of the tanker with the Sydney skyline in the background, The sharpness and details are excellent in this image. Beautiful contrast with the soft lighting you took this shot at the right time of day. Great job Peter.

Best regards
Jason.

hay_kes (31439) 2009-06-20 11:26

Hi dera Peter,
What a great shot vith superb POV, colours and perspective.Nice contrast.TFS.
Cheers,
Have a nice WE.

hAyAti

Clementi (52514) 2009-06-20 13:11

Ciao Peter,
surely it was more romantic to see an old merchantman instead of this giant oil-tanker. however it is an impact photo for the colors and for the contrast with the BG.
have a nice week end
Giorgio

jimkil (1706) 2009-06-20 15:43

Hello Peter
Same as Auckland, rarely do we see these big container ships coming through unless there are big shipments of furniture coming over from ex pats like myself :-) I like how the two buildings drop down nicely for our eye to see the big red ship. Colours are superb as is the note.
Regards Peter
Jim

cfreire (11741) 2009-06-20 16:43

I liked a lot of your picture with this big red ship in the foreground that its adds a good contrast against the others pictures's components. The colors are beautiful with an excellent definition. Well done. Regards, Consuelo

dareco (17136) 2009-06-20 19:36

Very nice composition and good colors and detail. A very interesting note as well. TFS

jhm (211736) 2009-06-21 4:26

Hello Peter,

The combination between the ship and modern skyscrapers care for a excellent picture.
Quality and sharpness are very well for this subject, lovely architecture.
The horizontal composition, what you here have built, a meticulously perfect picture.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice sunday,
John.

delpeoples (60342) 2009-06-21 6:23

I thought you were referring to the Rare Sight being how rarely we see one of your postings these days ;) I really like how you've juxtaposed (nice word eh?) the big ship with the little ferry and also managed to keep the BG of Sydney so beautifully clean and crisp. Great DOF and composition, the red contrasts well with the blue tones. Do I detect a TILT or is that the couple of schooners I drank at the The Arms today??? Enjoy your week and TFS, Lisa.

npecanhuk (79329) 2009-06-21 6:36

Hello Peter!
A quite well composed picture gathering those ships (three different sizes) with the partial view of the bridge on the left and the skyscrapers on the right!
Sharpness, exposure and colors are excellent!
TFS - congratulations!
My warmest regards,
Neyvan

jlbrthnn (76043) 2009-06-21 6:44

Hello Peter,
This boat with colors if sharp, you could only see it. The image is full with details, and I am delayed to examine them. The effectively managed light is sober and preserves the colors. Cheer.
Have a nice sunday
Cordially
Jo�l

Charo (51290) 2009-06-21 15:51

Hello Peter,
Interesting where this shot was mixed with the major port city buildings in their living standard.
Excellent composition with great light and details.
Best wishes,
Charo

burraburra (1219) 2009-06-21 18:19

Hi Peter,
I like at lot of things about this shot but the colour red makes this photograph stand out.
If it's not sunsets then I suppose you have got to go for 2nd best :)
Nice framing - nice colours - nice note :)
Cheers,
Graham.

bracasha75 (24591) 2009-06-21 23:05

Helo Piter
Well it is not always like we will but it,s nice for you to see this from time to time .
Today is everithing only money and succesful working ,no matter for people what they think or do!!!!!!!!!!
I hope that you are ok and your family and i send you huge hug.
Bratislav

bakes888 (18499) 2009-06-22 1:07

Hi Peter. I grew up on the coast by a little port, (very small) and seeing ships is one of the things I miss now that we live inland. Nice catch, plenty of fine detail and good colours. Thanks for sharing.
Have a good week, Paul.
PS I like your way of keeping tabs.

judesta (1006) 2009-06-22 1:44

Hi Peter
Although your big red tanker takes centre stage here, it is actually the tug that got my attention. My uncle worked the tugs in Sydney Harbour for all of his working life and I remember when I was very young going to work with him one day, brings back an old memory. TFS
Cheers
Jude

gunbud (34066) 2009-06-22 16:23

Hi Peter,
This big orange tanker looks very impressive against the blue sky and Sydney skyline.
The green and yellow ferry adds very efftive scale to this giant all seen in clear ture color and sharp details.
A couple weeks ago I was in Portland, Maine and the same tanker (color and STX) was in the harbor but it was a fog bound day and the white portion was barely visible.
Regards, Tom

COSTANTINO (116698) 2009-06-23 12:12

Hello
A very interesting photo from you concerning Sydney
Harbour..I like the red ship which makes a dynamic contrast with the blue sky and sea and the high buildings in a modern architectural style
Nice postcard
regards and compliments
Costantino

westozman (0) 2009-06-23 17:38

G'day maaaaaaate!
Are we there yet? (with the sharpness issues, I mean!)
This one certainly doesn't look too shabby in that regard - good colours, too. Looking forward to some postings now from the 11-16 Tokina, please!
Best wishes
Jeff

Nicou (193806) 2009-06-24 1:07

Hello,

Merveilleuse image, ce tanker est immense, avec les building, les belles couelurs, un tr鑚 belle iamge.

bravo et maiti�

Nicou

Kielia (24077) 2009-06-24 11:29

Hi Peter,
this sight is also very much to my liking! I agree to you, it is a pity that old ports are not working any longer. And I am afraid that in times of financial crisis it will become even worse. This impression is excellently composed with brilliant colors and a fantastic atmosphere of a busy harbour (but this is not the case � unfortunately). TFS!
Warm regards
Harriet

Disabled_A (0) 2009-06-25 1:17

Hello Peter,
first of all, I am impressed by the composition: these gradually ascending objects (the ship and the skyscrapers) form a staircase-like diagonal line which adds dynamism to the scene. VERY interesting shot! and the bright red colour of the ship is a true eye-catcher and makes even the thumbnail of the photo very attractive!
I've read your discission about the sharpness of the image, but, in my opinion, it's sharp enough. How often oversharpened images produce a strange effect: it's like a knife cutting the eyes.
Very best wishes,
Elena

argycon (2769) 2009-06-25 4:09

Hi Peter,
Very good composition to present the harbor!
Excellent framing, fine sharpness and detail!
Very nice colors and contrast!
tfs
Friendly
Kostas

Waylim (25436) 2009-06-25 9:17

Hi peter,
Excellent light for this scene, Just enoug but not overly bright. the ornage red constrast and complement the light blue sky very well. I like your sense of nostalgic for the ship. It is really great to see such a comparison in they sizes of this tanker and the other ships. and you manage to get a good portion of the bridge in here.
Way

hispic (9658) 2009-06-28 20:09

Hello Peter,
Nice capture of the attractive colour, this cinnabar colour might be for a sony guy.
A Sydney ferry boat seen also in your previous post is put in the nice place.
Best wishes, Hisashi

ifege (48291) 2009-06-29 3:06

Amazing Peter managing to get this shot. I do like your current theme of the disappearing commercial side of Sydney harbour - expensive yachts and cruise boats is no substitute for real shipping.
good composition, colour and clouds.
cheers
Ian

skippy007 (12510) 2009-07-02 17:18

Hello Peter, I have been a little quite lately, when I looked at the photos you posted I realised it's been longer than I thought. I think this image of yours is a sign of the times, fairly recently dredging of Port Phillip Bay began under some controversy & pressure from the conservationists, the government saying that it the deepening was necessary in order for the bigger ships that are in use now to enter the bay, I think it's part of what is knows as progress ;-). Nice & a little unusual view of this Harbour.
Thanks
Cheers
Santo

jusninasirun (17529) 2009-10-16 21:24

Kodiang 2009

Hi Peter. The vessel balances well with the tall buildings. Very nice contrast with fine details and the smaller boat is so well dwarfed by the BIG one. Well done and thanks for sharing.
Jusni