Follow The Light 2012 is only two weeks away from awarding $5,000 to the most promising photographer within a final batch of dreamers. Amongst this creative lot are Sarah Lee, Ryan Craig, Mike Smolowe, Shawn Parkin and Matt Kurvin. These finalists embody fresh perspective, angular adventure and individual spirit in well composed photography. To make things more personal, we requested 5 photos that did not make their submitted portfolio, alongside insightful captions. Below, the answers:
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2012 Follow the Light Finalist: Sarah Lee
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2012 Follow the Light Finalist: Mike Smolowe
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2012 Follow the Light Finalist: Shawn Parkin
posted by SURFING Magazine / Photos / July 27, 2012
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this articles should be named follow the photoshop!
ridiculous!
According to these photos, it appears that global warming is happening as we speak. The apocalypse is upon us.
Have to agree with Owen on this one. No way in hell you could get a shot like that at Rincon. Blurred skies with waves in focus! This is not real surf photography and Flame would be FUMING at this selection! Looks like HDR gone wrong! That or he has no idea how to use graduated ND filters!
too much makeup on these photos imho
not to be a hater, but i have to agree with others. unrealistic saturation of colors. way, way too much contrast. and ungodly, unnatural dynamic range. definitely not ND filters. either shitty HDR or Lightroom’s graduated filter tool. ’tis a shame, cause these photos could be much better without such heavy post-processing. (the rainbow photo, especially, is a little over-tweaked but still nice-looking).
Bakin’ pictures, not takin’ pictures.
Still, pretty cool to look at his interpretations and the rainbow is a sickie and probably the least photoshoped / HDR baked of the lot.
I can dig on it for what it is, iPhone instagram stylings basically but Larry would tear him new one though.
And the kid would be better off for it…
I love the imagery. The Santa Cruz boardwalk photo looks like an old time poster. Or a painting. Or a page of a chilldren’s book with imagery that takes you to another place. Magical for such a historic venue. The clouds at Rincon look magical, too. Stirs up emotion as does a powerful ocean many of us don’t see everyday.. What a nice take on surf photography and not just *another* wave shot. Do you paint, also? You have a real eye. You’re a real artist, that’s clear. Monet was blind and his work was what he saw, contrast or lack o.f Picasso, well, duh that speaks for itself . Isn’t art wonderful? Don’t sweat the haters here, it’s their opinion of your art, everyone can have theirs. Not everyone will like exaggeration (happens to authors, musicians, painters, et al). Looks like you’ve kicked up your work another level, especially to evoke such controversy. Congratulations, the judges obviously see something here. Good luck, Tuesday!
I love it. The Santa Cruz boardwalk photo looks like an old time poster. What a magical photo, especially for such a historic venue! The clouds at Rincon are powerful, too, sends me into my own dreamy daydream. It brings out the power in the ocean, so much more interesting and not just *another* surf or wave shot. Monet painted blurry lilies because he was blind, it’s what he saw and he made such a wonderful contribution to the art world in his time and for those still enjoying it much, much later. Your imagery is magical, the way I remember illustrations in the childhood books we read as kids. Do you paint as well? It’s clear you’re an artist with a real eye and that you have a passion for what you do. Don’t sweat the haters, it’s just their opinions. It’s obvious you have kicked your work up to the next level. Look at the controversy you have stirred! Isn’t art wonderful? Clearly, the judges see something here, too – congratulations and good luck on Tuesday!