The Windsurfer

Posted by Darren (Tokyo, Japan) on 23 January 2007 in Sport & Recreation and Portfolio.

I like this shot that I took of this windsurfer on a cold weekend walking back to his car after a cold windy day of windsurfing.

I was also actually fighting the elements sailing in the Japan Midwinter Championship the same day. It was soooo cold, when I arrived at the beach to rig my boat up it started to snow! I couldn't believe it.

Anyway I'm looking forward to hear what you think of this image.

Cheers Daz

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Comments (18)

H.O from Victoria, Canada

Very nice image Darren.
And you have been before Omaezaki ? There is very famous windsurfing spot but I recommend you summer time ;-)

23 Jan 2007 7:48am

@H.O: Thanks Hiro.
I've been to Omaezaki before mate but this one is in Shimizu　清水　a place called Miho　三保
I'd love to go in summer but had no choice this time because it was the Mid Winter Sailing championships.

Chris Sullivan from Melbourne, Australia

The desaturated colours are really working here, the sand (sand?) looks almost like ashphault - the toning is good too with the illumination around the subject, in fact the PP creates an almost urban-feeling to the scene.

The composition is great with the pier and placement of the vehicle; literally out of the water into the car. Great stuff this is one of my favourites.

Windsurfing in the snow? Not for the faint of heart.

23 Jan 2007 8:55am

@Chris Sullivan: Thanks Chris.
Sand, Volcanic sand mate. Mt Fuji is only a stone throw away and after it's huge eruption a long time ago it spread black sand rock and ash over most of the area. I was surprised at how clean the water was though.

Makoto from Sapporo, Japan

Very tranquil image. Nice take Darren-san!

23 Jan 2007 11:38am

@Makoto: Thanks Makoto.
ありがとうございます。

Pero from Kyoto, Japan

Great work. I wish I was here.

23 Jan 2007 11:43am

@Pero: Thanks mate.

Lai Dik from Hong Kong, Hong Kong

I like this "S" beach , the composition of this shot is really worked. Very Nice

23 Jan 2007 11:46am

@Lai Dik: Thanks mate.

Craig Persel from Montreal, Canada

Fantastic composition and processing.

23 Jan 2007 12:58pm

@Craig Persel: Thanks Craig.

Stu from Kyoto, Japan

As Craig said, this is beautifully composed mate. But I particularly like what you've done with the lighting - highlighting where the waves have broken on the beach, leaving the rest dark and moody. Really looks brutally cold. The dark sand is great too. Looks like NZ. Crackin' post, Daz!

23 Jan 2007 4:02pm

@Stu: Thanks Stu.
I made a point of highlighting the waves to bring peoples attention to the beach and the line to carry you through the image.
Mate and it was sooooo cold. They made us sit on a cold beach for 2 hours to wait till we started the final race too.

Shuva from Hyderabad, India

Guves a peaceful feeling.

23 Jan 2007 4:38pm

@Shuva: Thanks Shuva

Duncan Galbraith from kyoto, Japan

Brilliant. love the compostion and the PP. It really does look harsh. echo the asphalt reference from Chris.

23 Jan 2007 5:16pm

@Duncan Galbraith: Thanks mate. PP is always fun.

Angry Buddha from United States

I like how you drew attention to the wind surfer.

23 Jan 2007 5:25pm

@Angry Buddha: Thanks Sean.
There was actually 1 more guy on the beach but he destoyed the lonely feeling to the image some I banished him with photoshop

Carol from Turkey

Far from peaceful, this is harsh. I can feeeeel the cold.

23 Jan 2007 6:17pm

@Carol: It was cold. Thanks for the visit

adalove from Alcala de Guadaira, Spain

Hi! There´s a good told story there and beautiful shot, of course!

23 Jan 2007 7:03pm

@adalove: Hi mate.
Thanks mate. I'm keen to check out Spains windsurfing oneday. I hear Grand Canaria is supposed to be great.

Still from Valence, France

Fine place to take a break!

23 Jan 2007 9:11pm

@Still: Sure is mate

Ali-G from Ottawa, Canada

Nicely done in black and white - i agree with Stu's comments. well done

23 Jan 2007 9:35pm

@Ali-G: Thank Ali-G

Anne from White Rock, Canada

Great composition! The "S" curve up from the bottom left really takes ones eyes around this photo. The highlighting on the breakers really makes this great to look at - without them it would be drab!. Good work!

24 Jan 2007 12:05am

@Anne: Thanks Anne.
Glad you see what I wanted everyone to see.

Colour blind from Tokyo, Japan

You've got a winner here mate. The composition is excellent and every part of the picture is looked at from the lines that are in the picture. Nice pp to.

24 Jan 2007 12:48am

@Colour blind: Thanks mate.
I noticed you have it in your VFXY favorites. Thanks for the support.

Laurie from New Jersey, United States

OOoooh Brrrr! That looks cold. I saw a windsurfer back in December on a particularly cold day, one of very few we've had this winter. Very well composed shot.

24 Jan 2007 4:25am

@Laurie: Cold all right.
Thanks for the visit