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01/10/2004 01:01:31 PM · #1 |
Its been a while seen I've posted here but I was hoping for some feedback on this photo.
I recently changed from shooting with an Olymus D550 to a Canon Rebel. Its obvious to me that I still have a LOT to learn about it. However I went hiking last week and took this picture on the trail and really liked it after major PSing. Dodging and Burning,levels, contrast etc.
I'd like to know what other DPCers think.
//dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=54517
Thanks
Mark
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01/10/2004 01:39:04 PM · #2 |
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01/10/2004 02:23:59 PM · #3 |
I like it, but there seems to be something missing. You have the start of ambient light at the upper right, but it doesnt carry down very far. The shadow/highlights look good and the contrast is fine. I guess I'm not really getting much of a mood from it. Usually with water shots like that you see the almost too soft water drifting like mist over the rocks. This is a little too sharp/harsh maybe. Perhaps softening it a little could help with the mood/atmosphere. Of course that's just my personal take on shots like this as I see the potential for a great fantasy/dreamy scene.
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01/10/2004 03:13:47 PM · #4 |
Originally posted by MarkS224:
Its been a while seen I've posted here but I was hoping for some feedback on this photo.
I recently changed from shooting with an Olymus D550 to a Canon Rebel. Its obvious to me that I still have a LOT to learn about it. However I went hiking last week and took this picture on the trail and really liked it after major PSing. Dodging and Burning,levels, contrast etc.
I'd like to know what other DPCers think.
//dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=54517
Thanks
Mark |
I think if you up the contrast and the saturation a little it will make a significant difference, I'm no expert, just try it, nice shot.
Paul |
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01/10/2004 03:17:15 PM · #5 |
Thanks for your reply. I think a lot of people felt the same way because it has been viewed but not commented on.
I feel the same thing about the fantasy/dreamy mood.I personally like the sharp focus, the long shutter speed is IMO over used. The lighting was difficult due to the time of year and the fact that i had to shoot almost into the sun(what there was of it).The thing that I think is missing is color, I cant wait until spring to add some and I will try an early morning shot to add some light to the rocks.
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01/10/2004 03:34:56 PM · #6 |
Thanks PeeCee I did increase the saturation, and you where right. Here are the results
//dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=54531
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01/10/2004 03:48:59 PM · #7 |
Looks much better Mark, glad it worked,
Paul. |
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01/10/2004 03:58:21 PM · #8 |
This is from the "for what it is worth department"...
This image might be improved if you took it on a tripod at a much longer exposure time but still the same f/stop to give the water a soft flowing appearance but with the same depth of field (DOF).
Based on camera settings it appears you shot at ISO 1600 and f/11 in order to take a hand-help image with maximum DOF. Even for that this image seems to be a little too soft focused overall than you might have intended.
A little sharper focus combined with capturing the flow of water with a longer timed exposure might give this the "mood" that moodeville suggests.
Making this image B&W would not help because it has sharp tonal changes. Bringing out more color with a touch more contrast and cropping the weak light at the top right center of the frame would also help. The background trees you'd have to crop are great, but the light is too distracting.
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01/10/2004 04:43:07 PM · #9 |
Thanks Stdavidson,
I shot at 1600 purely by accident, Still getting used to all that control after a year with point and shoot.I believe that some of that softness in the focus may be due to that speed. Does digital iso reflect grain the same way film does?
My intent was to NOT create that flowing water effect with a timed exposure, as I stated earlier I feel this effect is overused in this type of shot, but to stop the water.
Thanks for your comment though, another viewpoint is always instructional.
Mark
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01/10/2004 09:59:44 PM · #10 |
Hi Mark!
I'm no expert either, but here's my take on the photo.
I'm with you in liking that it isn't one of the timed exposure type images, I find the sharp focus to be a major plus. That said I see a strange soft focus abberation in the second level of the image, noticeably blurred (to me at least) which contrasts too much with the previous and continued sharpness of the water above and below, and as such, distracts.
I too agree with Stdavidson in suggesting cropping the top portion with the sunlight. If the sunlight made more of an appearance in the photo, ie a soft shaft of light pouring in or something then by all means I'd say keep it, but as is, it comes across as a bright spot with 'potential' but because that potential isn't manifested it turns into a distraction. I also love the ambiance the trees up top give, but since you can't keep them and still lose the sunlight I think sacrificing them is in the best interest of the photo.
I also think having the beginning flow of the water seemingly pouring down the photo - the water starting at the top of the photo without the trees and then down out, gives a great pseudo line for the eye to follow, very natural and also centers more of the attention on the waterfall.
The saturation increase did help a good deal and maybe a little fiddling with the contrast *might* sharpen up the play between the shadows and light (I'm not 100% sure if that's the best/correct way to adjust those - I'm still learning too!).
Finally the thing I think is missing the most is the lush color & life I usually associate with many waterfall shots. The vivid green foliage and light playing off the water brilliance. Makes the scene look more alive whereas this one though I like it, has a smidge of dullness in that department. A different season reshoot would be great.
Everything critique-ish aside, I love the photo and I look forward to seeing a version taken in the spring when the colors are more vivid and alive!
I hope this is useful in some way and pardon my long-windedness. :)
- Sia
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01/10/2004 10:42:21 PM · #11 |
very nice. Not an expert on shots so I can only offer my opinion on how appealing it is. I like that the shutter speed wasn;t so long that you lost the roughness of the water as it cascades down. Great way to start off the year!
One other thing, the trees seem a bit tilted. Perhaps changing the crop angle might have helped this out a bit more.
Good stuff all around!
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01/10/2004 11:56:54 PM · #12 |
Thanks for the critiques. I noticed that haziness in the "pool" belw the first falls too, not at all sure where that came from.and also liked the s shape of the water drawing my eye from top center to mid left and out low right, part of why I liked it.
as far as changing the crop angle to straighten the trees, that would make the water on the falls fall at an angle and seem a bit off.
All in all I think I'll reshoot in the spring and take the lessons that I've learned here with me.
Thanks again
Mark
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01/10/2004 11:59:51 PM · #13 |
Nice, but I get lost between looking at the falls and looking at the hint of the sun in the upper right. My eyes keep leading up and off the picture because of the confusion of the light.
I would like to see the pic crop a little more tight on the water and loose the light all together. But, it is a great shot. |
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