Autumn Creek

I can provide you with some of the advice you're seeking. Overall the idea and composition is sound: a rivulet of water passing between several rocks. The main subject is the water and the rocks form a perfect frame around it.

1) The appearance of water when slowed down is, within reason, a personal preference. Some people like a misty look and others less so. Generally I want it just slow enough to give a feel of water movement. The SS to use depends on how close you are to the subject vs how fast the water is moving. The goal is to show distinct whirls and swirls of water as it moves. In your case IMO the shutter speed is too slow. 

2) The main subject is the water and rocks. The green grass on the side is much too bright to contribute to the composition and is a distraction. The same applies to a lesser degree to the green in the urc. However, the bright leaf on the rock adds to the image. It improves it. Usually anything coming in from the side of the frame is not desirable, but especially if it's bright. Objects coming in from the side work well when they act as a frame in the composition.

I am attaching an image that I took this summer showing the SS I prefer for the water effect. This image has issues as well but of a different nature. Others may feel differently.

Hope this is the sort of advice you were looking for. 

 

Thanks for the reply, and the information, Igor.  I understand what you are saying, and I will apply your suggestions.  It'll be interesting to see how the image changes with different shutter speeds and a little different framing. Thanks for taking the time to comment and for the details you've included. I do like the look of the water in the image you attached.

I like the blurring of the water --it hits a nice balance between a little bit silky and too much, and the basic composition works well for me.  But I do find the green grass distracting.

Igor gave you some wonderful suggestions, Jerry. The only other comment I can offer would be to tone down the high lights in the water a little so that the viewer's eye would not be drawn to them. I have always found it helpful to view other photographers work and take note of what I liked about their images.

Ed

I am in agreement with the other comments. I think the comp. is good. The leaves are a bit distracting and taking down the high lights on the water stops the eye form stopping there. Other then those two things I like the image. 

Jerry, Considering you haven't done much landscape photography I would say you did a nice job here. Igor came up with some great suggestions for you that sound very helpful. The bright grass on the left edge and top right corner do distract but otherwise this works quite nice. Look forward to seeing more of your landscape work.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI. 

Thank you all for the comments and suggestions. They are a great help, and I do take them as constructive critiques that will help me improve. I appreciate the help very much.