Posted by Chris Hodney on September 4, 2007 at 5:25 PM
I'd really appreciate some comments and suggestions on this photo. Any area to improve on really. This is my first post and am eager to improve upon what I've learned so far.
Took this on a camping trip this weekend. Unfortunately the sky was rather boring all day, so not as much color in the light.
Canon 20d
EF 24-105L IS lens
f/16, ISO 100, 1.3 sec
Circ Polarizer
2- stop Grad ND soft edge
SLIK 330 DX
I exposed to the right, then corrected color and levels in Lightroom to bring back to what I remembered. Adjusted 'VIbrance', 'Clarity' a little and spread the info out over the histogram using Contrast and Curves.
Finished it off with low Raw sharpening, then went to Photoshop and sharpened for web using Marc Adamus' suggestions.
Please don't hold back! I have some other shots from the trip that might be better compositionally, etc.
Thanks
Posted by michael medina on September 4, 2007 at 5:46 PM
i don't mind the 'boring' sky
the shot is really simple, graceful and well done, it has good depth and was shot at least at the right time of day. your eye is led through the photo. it's very competent, not the most spectacular light, but you did well with what you were given.
the only nit i have is that muskrat in the middle of the smooth water
Posted by Zack Schnepf on September 4, 2007 at 5:54 PM
Hey Chris, that was me out there on friday night. It's too bad you didn't have some time to talk, but I know how busy you were getting everything set up for all your friends that night.
For the conditions you had, I think you did very well with this scene. Only thing I can suggest is maybe bring down the sky a bit. I don't know how proficient you are in photoshop, but you could double process the raw file dark, and with layers and masking paint it into the sky areas.
Posted by Chris Hodney on September 4, 2007 at 6:09 PM
Thanks Zack,
I'd thought about that and will have to try that. I was thinking maybe bringing out the golds at the tips of the grass as well. The entire left of the image seems a little flat still and needs some pop.
Posted by Mike Stovall on September 4, 2007 at 6:27 PM
This looks really clean and polished, Chris. There is really nice detail in the grasses. Zack's idea to bring down the sky a bit sounds like a good one. The whole scene feels balanced and cohesive. Great shot!
Posted by Mark Windom on September 4, 2007 at 7:09 PM
A good first post. Good suggestions so far. The one thing I would add is that the mtn's reflection is too light as compared to the density of the mtn itself.
Posted by Chris Hodney on September 4, 2007 at 7:15 PM
Thanks Mark W. :
How would correct this issue with the mountain reflection? Burning/doging, or is it simply the roughness of the water?
Posted by Tomas Kaspar on September 4, 2007 at 9:33 PM
I like this. I would darken the sky and bring more detail into the trees on the left. It is a fine shot.
Posted by Tom Kloster on September 4, 2007 at 10:08 PM
Very nice - and not everything needs to "pop"! I like the calm serenity of this one. I'd agree with darkening the sky/water in the upper and lower right portions.
Tom
Posted by Rick Lundh on September 4, 2007 at 10:17 PM
I'm thinking the sky is a bit too bland for my tastes, and for as light as it is out, those trees should have full detail. I like your placement of everything though...you have the comp down.
Posted by Mark Windom on September 4, 2007 at 11:30 PM
Chris, I'm no PS expert by any means and there are others who can help you more than I but burning is a way to darken. If you haven't done any PS work to get this effect then I would say that your grad was too strong.
Posted by Chris Hodney on September 5, 2007 at 12:22 AM
Thanks everyone. This is great. Here's an update.....although some of the more recent posts may not like some of my PS work.
I did have trouble with the sky. Perhaps the grad ND was too strong. And I need to practice my masking techniques for sure. I blended a darker sky, cropped to focus more on the water, and brought out the golds. Too much?
Posted by Tom Kloster on September 5, 2007 at 10:27 PM
The detail on the peak is nice on this one, Chris, but I like the overall color of the original best - maybe somewhere halfway between these would be nice. This one looks a bit overworked on the peak and grass on the far side of the foreground pond.
I love the serenity in this scene and for the given conditions it's a good shot IMO.
- pradeep
Posted by Mark Hudon on September 6, 2007 at 11:40 PM
I'll go for the second one but it's still in the "it's nice but..." catagory. The second one has good comp, good color, good flow but, dang, it's still a featureless sky reflected in the water. Now put "The Broken Top Blend by Hood River Coffee Co." in the lake below the peak reflection and the photo couldn't be any better.
Discussion
14 repliesTook this on a camping trip this weekend. Unfortunately the sky was rather boring all day, so not as much color in the light.
Canon 20d
EF 24-105L IS lens
f/16, ISO 100, 1.3 sec
Circ Polarizer
2- stop Grad ND soft edge
SLIK 330 DX
I exposed to the right, then corrected color and levels in Lightroom to bring back to what I remembered. Adjusted 'VIbrance', 'Clarity' a little and spread the info out over the histogram using Contrast and Curves.
Finished it off with low Raw sharpening, then went to Photoshop and sharpened for web using Marc Adamus' suggestions.
Please don't hold back! I have some other shots from the trip that might be better compositionally, etc.
Thanks
the shot is really simple, graceful and well done, it has good depth and was shot at least at the right time of day. your eye is led through the photo. it's very competent, not the most spectacular light, but you did well with what you were given.
the only nit i have is that muskrat in the middle of the smooth water
For the conditions you had, I think you did very well with this scene. Only thing I can suggest is maybe bring down the sky a bit. I don't know how proficient you are in photoshop, but you could double process the raw file dark, and with layers and masking paint it into the sky areas.
I'd thought about that and will have to try that. I was thinking maybe bringing out the golds at the tips of the grass as well. The entire left of the image seems a little flat still and needs some pop.
How would correct this issue with the mountain reflection? Burning/doging, or is it simply the roughness of the water?
Tom
I did have trouble with the sky. Perhaps the grad ND was too strong. And I need to practice my masking techniques for sure. I blended a darker sky, cropped to focus more on the water, and brought out the golds. Too much?
- pradeep