Posted by Brad Mangas on March 2, 2008 at 12:45 PM
Just had to get out yesterday and enjoy some of the warmth here in NE Kansas. Lots of wet and mud around. Done some hiking around Lake Perry got a few shots deep in the woods and a few like this of the sunset. Thought I would share. I really want to start building up my portfolio so your critiques are very welcomed.
Hey Brad. I'm just a hobbyist but I'll throw my two cents worth in...There's some magic going on with the setting sun and the trees, but that seems diminished by the rest of the photo. Cropping so that the trees and golden sky in the distance have more weight might improve this. Still, the longer I look at this the more I can imagine being there enjoying that scene (and wishing I were!). Thanks for sharing.
I'm going to agree with John that more of a pano crop without most of the lower rocks would help this. Everything is thawed here in central Kansas, though with the rain/snow we're getting/will get today we might have more ice for a day or two.
Nice work, Brad. I like the composition, but wish there were a bit more interest in the sky, ie clouds. The photo also appears to be tilted slightly CW, but that could be an illusion. Certainly worth going back when you've got a few clouds.
I think all of you are right. Thanks John, Rob, William. Here's the same slightly straightened and cropped in a bit. I haven't spent a lot of time in photoshop on this, for example the dots what one might think are dust spots above the tree like are birds flying, and to me there seems to be something strange going on with the over all color of the sunset. Whether this is a savable shot or not I'm not sure. But, I love using shots like this as a learning tool and getting others opinion. Feel free to let me know what any of you think. Thanks
Hi Brad. I like your reworked version, now more of the focus is on the sunset. You could also clone out the birds (buzzards), on the other hand they do lend an interesting eliminate to the scene. Nice job with the rework.
Posted by Wayne Rhodus on March 3, 2008 at 9:21 AM
Brad, I like the reworked image because it has much clearer focus and it improves the detail of some foreground elements. I haven't been to Perry but one time with a camera in hand ... I think I need to get back there again this spring. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by Tim Ferrell on March 3, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Ok, here comes Tim04 out of left field again- I like the first version better. I think the rocks on the bottom balance out the Island. In the crop you have cut off the lines in the ice that take you around the corner to the sun.
Posted by Randy Wilson on March 3, 2008 at 2:37 PM
Tim, I think we're the odd ducks on this one, because I prefer the one with the rocks, too, which may have something to do with that old expression -- how does it go? Something about rocks and a head?
I like the depth and perspective the foreground brings, and I think the curving bank brings just enough diagonal into the composition to keep it from being completely horizontal, and it seems to help imply more diagonal in the rest of the image as well, if that makes any sense.
That's not to say that those who argue for the crop are wrong. It just means that you as the photographer will need to choose between focus and perspective. Life is hard.
Discussion
8 repliesBrad
Brad
I like the depth and perspective the foreground brings, and I think the curving bank brings just enough diagonal into the composition to keep it from being completely horizontal, and it seems to help imply more diagonal in the rest of the image as well, if that makes any sense.
That's not to say that those who argue for the crop are wrong. It just means that you as the photographer will need to choose between focus and perspective. Life is hard.