Posted by Kelly Black on April 19, 2009 at 9:15 PM
Hi everyone,
I have been lurking here for quite a while, and decided today to finally jump in and join in. You can read more about me in the introductions thread.
I have been a bit apprehensive for a while, about joining after watching the incredible talent here. I'm just an amateur, but am serious about improving and becoming a better photographer. With that in mind, I am not afraid of honest critique. That's why I joined.
I love doing landscape photography, because I love the outdoors.
Here is my first image post. It's a panoramic view in Rocky Mountain National Park, one of my favorite places. I'm thinking that I should probably crop it so that the horizon isn't in the middle?
Thanks to everyone for looking, and I'm anxious to get to know everyone.
Blessings,
Kelly Black
Always great to have new people joining the group. Dont be afriad we dont bite (except for maybe Todd).
Good first image. I like the idea of having three levels to it with the foreground, valley and skies. The horizon isnt really in the middle (and honestly no rules are hard and fast). I like the contrast between the foreground and valley and would probably try to bring that out more. And for me at least , blue skies are my enemy and they are teh worst thing about living here in Colorado since they lack personality.
Welcome Kelly, I second Richie's comment about stark empty blue skies and see you have some in your pano. Two rules here, ok more like guidlines really. The aforementioned Todd is the master of all things cloud and Erik Stensland ... well he owns RMNP Seriously this is an awesome community and we have all learned a lot from each other. So have fun and we are looking forward to getting aquainted! I like your copyright by the way.
Hi Kelly, welcome to RMNPN. I was a lurker too, untill Febuary and I have to say the people on this site give great critiques and posting my pictures on NPN makes me want to make my photos better and seeing all the great images posted here helps me see what to do and what not to do. On your First image I like it I would have like a more contrasted sky, but hey we don't live in Arizona we live in Colorado where the skies are always blue. or is that white with snow? Any way have fun and one tip I have is joining a photography club it isn't just the advice it's the places and ideas the members will give you from their photography.
P.S. Thanks for the comment on my coyote.
Posted by Nick Moore on April 19, 2009 at 10:51 PM
Welcome to RMNPN Kelly, this forum is a great learning device and a great place to meet fellow photograpghers from the area.
I like this scene as a pano, it works well to give the viewer the feeling of the expansiveness of the park, I'm guessing this is from trail Ridge Road?.
As mentioned above Blue Skies and CO go hand in hand, but don't usually work great for spectacular images, but unfortunately weather is something we can't control. This scene would also be nice in different lighting, early or late to give it a little more dimension. Very nice first post though, look forward to seeing more!.
Posted by Kelly Black on April 19, 2009 at 11:02 PM
Wow, thanks for your replies/comments, guys! This is why I joined this site, I love how active it is, and finally....I'm a member of a site where people are honest! LOL.
I do admit that I took this toward mid-morning......I was with my sister and her fiance' during this trip, who don't like getting up early, nor think about shooting when the sun is setting.
I guess I should have mentioned that I did crop the original, because I thought that the sky took away from the rest of the image. There were some clouds at the top of the original image. I can post that one, too.....but do I need to wait a day to do that? (Still learning the ropes of the site).
Posted by Kalin Wilson on April 20, 2009 at 12:28 AM
Welcome, Kelly! You can post additional images as replies to your post to get around the posting limits. So if you'd like to share your original, go ahead. I can tell there were clouds out there because you can see shadows on the range. One thing that can make a non-golden hour shot work is dynamic light through scattered cloud cover. The shadows can make a shot.
Tell us what your main intent is for this shot? What is the subject? Is it the mountain range? The foreground? Everything? One thing you might think about is what you can do to the light and dynamic range of the shot to emphasize your main subject. The light may have been pretty uniform over the scene when you shot it, but you can alter it a little with dodging and burning (most of us use layers to control exposure than the dodge/burn tools) to emphasize the features you want. For instance if the the mountain range was what you were most interested in, you might deemphasize the foreground just a bit so it doesn't compete with the mountains.
This is a great venue and forum and we all benefit from each other's input and comraderie. Thanks for joining the conversation!
Posted by Momo Vuyisich on April 20, 2009 at 12:37 AM
I would not crop or change anything here. It's a great panorama. Better light would have been nicer, but nothing you can do about that right now. Welcome to the forum.
Posted by Chris Rice on April 20, 2009 at 12:57 AM
Kelly;
Lovely photo, of course panoramic photos are popular now, so great job on that crop. Welcome and on behalf of everyone here, look forward to seeing your images and reading your posts!
Hi Kelly and welcome to the Motley Crue of photography! It's always great to see new faces and interpretations of the natural world around us through new eyes. Your first post is great and I'm sure the following posts will only grow and astound over time.
None of us ever got it 100% right in our firrst post or for that matter the many posts that follow. We all have something to learn and teach here and you are a welcome addition! Keep posting!
Posted by Joshua Hardin on April 20, 2009 at 1:16 PM
Welcome to the forum Kelly. This is a nice first post. I also like the crop as is. To me it looks like you have several "horizons" crossing through this photo and I like the visual interest your choice of cropping already provides. Yea, it's not early morning or late afternoon light, but that's not always required to get a good landscape; the light here isn't harsh at all and I think it works. I like the subtle clouds in the sky.
Posted by Jesse Speer on April 21, 2009 at 4:10 PM
Welcome Kelly! Your crop is actually great. Nice balance. Next time, steal the car and race up there for sunrise ... and you'll be back by the time in time for breakfast when your family wakes up. :)
Discussion
11 repliesI have been lurking here for quite a while, and decided today to finally jump in and join in. You can read more about me in the introductions thread.
I have been a bit apprehensive for a while, about joining after watching the incredible talent here. I'm just an amateur, but am serious about improving and becoming a better photographer. With that in mind, I am not afraid of honest critique. That's why I joined.
I love doing landscape photography, because I love the outdoors.
Here is my first image post. It's a panoramic view in Rocky Mountain National Park, one of my favorite places. I'm thinking that I should probably crop it so that the horizon isn't in the middle?
Thanks to everyone for looking, and I'm anxious to get to know everyone.
Blessings,
Kelly Black
Always great to have new people joining the group. Dont be afriad we dont bite (except for maybe Todd).
Good first image. I like the idea of having three levels to it with the foreground, valley and skies. The horizon isnt really in the middle (and honestly no rules are hard and fast). I like the contrast between the foreground and valley and would probably try to bring that out more. And for me at least , blue skies are my enemy and they are teh worst thing about living here in Colorado since they lack personality.
Thanks for posting.
RichieV
P.S. Thanks for the comment on my coyote.
I like this scene as a pano, it works well to give the viewer the feeling of the expansiveness of the park, I'm guessing this is from trail Ridge Road?.
As mentioned above Blue Skies and CO go hand in hand, but don't usually work great for spectacular images, but unfortunately weather is something we can't control. This scene would also be nice in different lighting, early or late to give it a little more dimension. Very nice first post though, look forward to seeing more!.
I do admit that I took this toward mid-morning......I was with my sister and her fiance' during this trip, who don't like getting up early, nor think about shooting when the sun is setting.
I guess I should have mentioned that I did crop the original, because I thought that the sky took away from the rest of the image. There were some clouds at the top of the original image. I can post that one, too.....but do I need to wait a day to do that? (Still learning the ropes of the site).
Tell us what your main intent is for this shot? What is the subject? Is it the mountain range? The foreground? Everything? One thing you might think about is what you can do to the light and dynamic range of the shot to emphasize your main subject. The light may have been pretty uniform over the scene when you shot it, but you can alter it a little with dodging and burning (most of us use layers to control exposure than the dodge/burn tools) to emphasize the features you want. For instance if the the mountain range was what you were most interested in, you might deemphasize the foreground just a bit so it doesn't compete with the mountains.
This is a great venue and forum and we all benefit from each other's input and comraderie. Thanks for joining the conversation!
Lovely photo, of course panoramic photos are popular now, so great job on that crop. Welcome and on behalf of everyone here, look forward to seeing your images and reading your posts!
CR
None of us ever got it 100% right in our firrst post or for that matter the many posts that follow. We all have something to learn and teach here and you are a welcome addition! Keep posting!