Local Lake

RichW · 22-01-2007, 09:27

Here's a shot from a stroll round a local lake yesterday.

Trying to teach yourself to compose photos better is quite tricky and I'm not too sure about this.

TIM · 22-01-2007, 09:33

I think the composition has potential, the whole photo needs some more exposure and a touch more contrast. Also take that red thing away, and it'll start looking like a great picture. I really like the reflection. I might also clone the whisps of cloud in the top left away.

fionaB · 22-01-2007, 09:56

agree with Tim but i cant see the red thing? i also think there is perhaps a tad too much sky. it makes it look slightly out of balance cos the sky doominates the image. Great looking shot with as Tim says a lot of potential!

Fi

RichW · 22-01-2007, 10:01

The red thing is a life ring, on the left hand side of the image, very small but once you see you can't stop looking at it.

fionaB · 22-01-2007, 10:04

nope still cant see it. well i can see something but its not that red on my monitor.

Fi

RichW · 22-01-2007, 10:33

Tried some suggested improvements.

Better for sure

Rob Barron · 22-01-2007, 11:16

I think the image as is works fine. I do though think a landscape mode would have worked better as there seems to be a lot of empty sky that doesn't hold the interest. The lovely cloud and reflection work nicely so a horizontal composition would work better IMO.

nice shot though.

rob

TIM · 22-01-2007, 11:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by fionaB

nope still cant see it. well i can see something but its not that red on my monitor.

Fi

Hehe, in that case please never comment on colours in my pictures...

Suspect your monitor needs a weeee adjustment...

TIM · 22-01-2007, 11:30

Although the second attempt is a lot better, I was thinking something more along the lines of this...

Played with curves, levels, shadows and highlights, and clonned out the red thing.

fionaB · 22-01-2007, 14:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by TIM

Hehe, in that case please never comment on colours in my pictures...

Suspect your monitor needs a weeee adjustment...

nope! lol not touching my monitor as anything printed is as seen on my monitor...... it may be its just not big enough! lol

could finish with saying something but om not gonna .........honest!

Fi

danpen · 23-01-2007, 07:05

I like the changes Rich made for the second attempt, not sure about Tim's pimp though, it looks like a million other shots of a lake on a nice day and for me loses some of the subtle character and atmosphere of the original.

Rich, I prefer your ducks shot that's posted in the sharing forum, I think the composition works better (apart from my reservations about the placement of the ducks).

P-E · 23-01-2007, 08:16

I also like your second edit on this one.

daveyuk · 23-01-2007, 08:22

Removed my so called colour atempt on second thoughts it's not good enough.

I've had a rethink and gone for the mono look

RichW · 23-01-2007, 09:22

Thanks for the comments guys.

I like the mono look, something I was thinking about trying. I will also try a crop of the original to make a more landscape shot.

When I shot it there was a rather unpleasant pile of rubbish just to the right of me, hence the portrait attempt

Rob Barron · 23-01-2007, 22:19

I like the pimp you did Rich, the darkened sky has effectively vignetted the scene and maintained the tranquil feel. I think you have probably done it using curves but this has left the reflection much darker than the sky itself so might be worth selectively lifting that area without letting the sky go brighter. The reflection should be a touch darker due to the absorption of light but not usually to this extent.

Sorry but I don't like the bright pimp at all, it is too bright and over-saturated with way too much contrast. It loses the peaceful sense that the original had. I am not over keen on the mono though it is ok. I don't think it has enough range of tones and contrasts to work here, though maybe the original done for printing would be ok, not sure. I must say I definitely prefer the colour version in this case.

If you go back to this place and get a decent sky like that again, try out a landscape composition and see what it is like, even if a bit of rubbish has to be cloned out

Cheers,
Rob

skipper954 · 24-01-2007, 03:57

As Rob said, this screams for a landscape orientation.

I rather like the original but it is just a tad flat. A bit more contrast and you have a wall hanger (on landscape!)

skip

22-01-2007, 09:27	#1 (permalink)
RichW Getting Comfy Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Stoke on Trent Posts: 170	Local Lake Here's a shot from a stroll round a local lake yesterday. Trying to teach yourself to compose photos better is quite tricky and I'm not too sure about this.

22-01-2007, 09:33	#2 (permalink)
TIM Getting Comfy Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 160	Re: Local Lake I think the composition has potential, the whole photo needs some more exposure and a touch more contrast. Also take that red thing away, and it'll start looking like a great picture. I really like the reflection. I might also clone the whisps of cloud in the top left away.

22-01-2007, 09:56	#3 (permalink)
fionaB Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 5,453	Re: Local Lake agree with Tim but i cant see the red thing? i also think there is perhaps a tad too much sky. it makes it look slightly out of balance cos the sky doominates the image. Great looking shot with as Tim says a lot of potential! Fi

22-01-2007, 10:01	#4 (permalink)
RichW Getting Comfy Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Stoke on Trent Posts: 170	Re: Local Lake The red thing is a life ring, on the left hand side of the image, very small but once you see you can't stop looking at it.

22-01-2007, 10:04	#5 (permalink)
fionaB Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 5,453	Re: Local Lake nope still cant see it. well i can see something but its not that red on my monitor. Fi

22-01-2007, 10:33	#6 (permalink)
RichW Getting Comfy Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Stoke on Trent Posts: 170	Re: Local Lake Tried some suggested improvements. Better for sure

22-01-2007, 11:16	#7 (permalink)
Rob Barron Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Poole, Dorset Posts: 5,200	Re: Local Lake I think the image as is works fine. I do though think a landscape mode would have worked better as there seems to be a lot of empty sky that doesn't hold the interest. The lovely cloud and reflection work nicely so a horizontal composition would work better IMO. nice shot though. rob

22-01-2007, 11:30	#9 (permalink)
TIM Getting Comfy Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 160	Re: Local Lake Although the second attempt is a lot better, I was thinking something more along the lines of this... Played with curves, levels, shadows and highlights, and clonned out the red thing.

23-01-2007, 07:05	#11 (permalink)
danpen Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 875	Re: Local Lake I like the changes Rich made for the second attempt, not sure about Tim's pimp though, it looks like a million other shots of a lake on a nice day and for me loses some of the subtle character and atmosphere of the original. Rich, I prefer your ducks shot that's posted in the sharing forum, I think the composition works better (apart from my reservations about the placement of the ducks).

23-01-2007, 08:16	#12 (permalink)
P-E Loves the place Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sheffield, S.Yorkshire UK Posts: 7,503	Re: Local Lake I also like your second edit on this one.

23-01-2007, 08:22	#13 (permalink)
daveyuk Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Berkshire Posts: 1,150	Re: Local Lake Removed my so called colour atempt on second thoughts it's not good enough. I've had a rethink and gone for the mono look Last edited by daveyuk : 23-01-2007 at 08:34.

23-01-2007, 09:22	#14 (permalink)
RichW Getting Comfy Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Stoke on Trent Posts: 170	Re: Local Lake Thanks for the comments guys. I like the mono look, something I was thinking about trying. I will also try a crop of the original to make a more landscape shot. When I shot it there was a rather unpleasant pile of rubbish just to the right of me, hence the portrait attempt

23-01-2007, 22:19	#15 (permalink)
Rob Barron Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Poole, Dorset Posts: 5,200	Re: Local Lake I like the pimp you did Rich, the darkened sky has effectively vignetted the scene and maintained the tranquil feel. I think you have probably done it using curves but this has left the reflection much darker than the sky itself so might be worth selectively lifting that area without letting the sky go brighter. The reflection should be a touch darker due to the absorption of light but not usually to this extent. Sorry but I don't like the bright pimp at all, it is too bright and over-saturated with way too much contrast. It loses the peaceful sense that the original had. I am not over keen on the mono though it is ok. I don't think it has enough range of tones and contrasts to work here, though maybe the original done for printing would be ok, not sure. I must say I definitely prefer the colour version in this case. If you go back to this place and get a decent sky like that again, try out a landscape composition and see what it is like, even if a bit of rubbish has to be cloned out Cheers, Rob __________________ Rob Barron robbarron@aol.com If you look down on other people, don't expect them to look up to you!

24-01-2007, 03:57	#16 (permalink)
skipper954 Feet under the table Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Southeast Florida USA Posts: 1,721	Re: Local Lake As Rob said, this screams for a landscape orientation. I rather like the original but it is just a tad flat. A bit more contrast and you have a wall hanger (on landscape!) skip