Compare, Modify, Play with please...

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

07/22/2005 11:14:34 AM · #1

On the way to work yesterday morning I saw this, jumped out of the car, and snapped away. Total time out of the vehicle - 5 minutes (didn't want to be late!). I tried to bracket with several exposure compensations, etc...not sure if I like any of the results.

Camera settings are posted in orig image, Camera settings plus post-processing steps are listed in modified image.

Are any of these worth keeping? Feel free to enhance any of them if you have time to play with them a bit. Thanks!

#4 Orig

- Modified

#5 Orig

- Modified

#10 Orig

- Modified

#14 Orig

- Modified

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

07/22/2005 11:25:42 AM · #2

Of all of those:

For composition I pick #10 Original. The tree in the foreground on the right makes this image though the placement could be closer to the vertical and horizontal third lines. The tree on the left doesn't add anything but could probably have been elimanated by a slightly different shooting angle.

For colour, sense of mood, impact I pick #4 Modified. You've brought up the luminance just enough without blowing out the mist.

07/22/2005 12:28:38 PM · #3

Colette - Thanks for taking the time to comment/critique. Much appreciated!

fellajr

Nikon Coolpix 8700

07/22/2005 12:52:25 PM · #4

Any picture is worth keeping if "you" like it. Pictures with a "skyline" make you compromise the exposure of either the foreground or the background for the improvement of the other. Using a tripod, you can bracket the exposure and layer the best background with the best foreground. The simple "skyline" in this picture would make this a fairly easy task. Then apply post editing to the whole picture.

07/22/2005 02:27:39 PM · #5

Thanks Lester for the feedback. I like your idea if I could go back and shoot again with some more time and a tripod. ;^)

I kinda like these, just not sure if there is a better way to post-process them. In other words, did I do ok, or can somebody blow me away with some entirely different approach to processing these images?

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.0G IF-ED

07/22/2005 09:11:03 PM · #6

Ok...

1) I'm so good with post-processing that the images can't be improved.
2) I'm terrible with post-processing and the images are so bad that nobody wants to be mean.
3) The title for this thread is dull and boring...nobody's taking a look.

Hmmm...1,2,or 3??? ;^)

jbsmithana

Nikon D300

07/22/2005 09:25:09 PM · #7

Hmmm - they are sunsets. Unless they are outstanding they don't generate a lot of excitement. I have a thousand of them on my harddrive because I cna't qutie bring myself to throuw them away.

With that said I like #4 modified. Nice tonal range and the mist gives it character. I'd keep it.

Brad

Olympus OM-D E-M1

Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO M.Zuiko

07/22/2005 10:39:29 PM · #8

#4 obviously the clear choice for me.
Any shot into the sun is gonna be tough - blown out areas in the image, lens flare, etc.

That being said, I went and played:

------ Your original -------- My "Extreme" Edit ---

07/23/2005 08:17:48 AM · #9

Thank JB - You're right in that there are many sunrise/sunset pics out there. This scene stopped me in my tracks - it was gorgeous. This is one of those cases where I just couldn't quite portray via the camera what I actually saw. #4 is the best of the bunch for me also.