I did use some topaz on this. Being that topaz is new to me I wanted to try it with the trees. I took this around Moon Lake and the road very often floods. Very rustic area
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Place: 80 out of 115 Avg (all users): 5.2340 Avg (commenters): 0.0000 Avg (participants): 5.0682 Avg (non-participants): 5.3093 Views since voting: 452 Views during voting: 226 Votes: 141 Comments: 5 Favorites: 0
Hmm, most of the commenters have pretty much covered the bases here of what I would have said. It's in focus and not centred in terms of comp but does need a subject in the road to help break up the lines a bit and add a focal point, as my eye is also expecting to see the road leading to something. I can see the effect you're going for, a nice winding path/road through the woods dappled with tree shadows, but in order to pull that kind of shot off, especially with only the road/woods as subject...it better be a helluva road! The hard sunlight isn't doing any favours; early morning or late afternoon when the light's low may have added more atmosphere. And if the area is as rural as it looks, you'd be more likely to have a subject in the form of a deer or similiar critter come wandering along...better than simply just getting heavy-handed with the pp to rescue the shot. And again, a lower POV, or higher, anything other than a shot-at-standing-eye-level. Try it. Get on your belly and shoot up at things, and do the opposite too. Use the 18mm end of your camera to get some idea as to a wide-angle effect as much as you can with a kit lens.
So not a bad shot in itself but does need a little more work, in terms of setup and execution imho.
Regarding the lighting mentioned in doremi's comment. I think my own entry is very similar to yours in many aspects, so perhaps it may make a good comparison. The lighting in mine was mid to late afternoon. It was a partly cloudy day with hazy sun, so there was a bit of a softbox effect, but still some mottled shadows. I have other shots of this same scene taken on a different day, with bright overhead sun, and they didn't have nearly as much potential to them as the one I entered. The differences are subtle, but the outtake has much harsher and less flattering shadows and highlights to deal with. I also did much more in the way of PP to the entry, of course, but I hope this helps with the "seeing the light" idea. I'll often get a pic of a scene I like, but the light stinks and I know I can't get what I want out of it.
Would love to have a crack at yours, if you would like to see what someone elses edit might look like. That's often a good learning experience for both.
Saw your post-re. looking for comments. I'll try my best :)
I gave you a 5 for this image. For me, a 5 is a good quality image ie., focus, exposure, fits the challenge... but lacks any 'punch'. I like the setting that you chose, very pretty road. I think this would have been more interesting with a subject on the road, something/someone that would tell a bit of a story / convey some emotion. Adding an emotional level to the image would have made me pause & have more of a look. Check out the 10th 9th place image by vawendy - she has a similar perspective to yours, but there's the emotion that I'm referring to.
Another way to evoke more emotion is through lighting. If you took this road at sunset, or on a foggy morning... you might have set more of a mood.
Hope this helps!
I've been looking at this for several minutes trying to find something to say about it that would be helpful, so I hope you won't be offended by any of this.
While it is a nice peaceful scene, the shot is quite uninspiring, perhaps stronger PP might have made it pop a bit more? It looks a bit dull even though the sun is shining which leaves the colours looking a bit drab for me. Additionally the title doesn't immediately seem to support the challenge topic (which for some voters is important, too much to think about ;) ). I do like that you have used the road to lead my eye into the picture, (compositionally that is good), but it is lead to nothing which unfortunately leaves me feeling at a bit of a loss. Had I voted in this challenge it would have got a 5 from me (possibly a 6 if I was feeling generous), which is firmly middle of the road territory.
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