OK I'm sticking my neck out !!

[bfjr]

Don't do much landscape, but would like to and be good at it !!
Here's a picture from Bolsa Chica.
Please let me know what I missed or anything else.
some info 1st
no wide angle lens yet, best I can get is about 35mm
did use Polarizer
Worked up in LAB, Levels layer (several), Hue/Sat layer and USM layer
Here's the shot:

http://bfjr.smugmug.com/photos/25632550-L.jpg

[jwear]

well for some reason i like it :D tell you what brave boy i will put mine up wed and we then will get some criticism ,as you know with this monitor i can not comment :1drink

[ginger_55]

Ben, I can't trash your photo, I think you were the one who posted a response to my last post, re great blue/nH, I wish I could post the whole darn post and find out what is wrong with it.

Now, as to not trashing your shot. The colors are great, however, why did you take the photo, what are you telling me, what do you like about the place, on and on and on.

So far I am not invested in that photo............ nice reflections. I think. The rd should not be running out of the photo on the right.

The colors are nice, but without snow capped mountains or something, ab fab fall colors, I think you need more towards sweet light, unless you have something strong to say.

Anything else you want to know. Rule of thirds rules on DGrin, I have already trashed that rule today. You can break them all, but only if you know the rules, same as grammar. What rules in birds, it rules in every artistic discipline, including landscapes.

That is my philosophy, now someone can come along and trash that.

ginger (tired, been working up photos, but am waiting to post, untill..........don't know what) No NHs either, am done with that unless I go back, but he pretty much sits in the same places, if he is there at all.)

[Shay Stephens]

I'm diggin' the exposure/blending. The reflections are nice, and the sky looks good. Good proportion.

The lines in the photo, however, are all over the place. I think the photo needs visual simplification. The road on the right leads the eye out of the photo, never to return. You have a strong horizontal line with the bright tree trunk middle right, and a strong vertical tree trunk and reflection.

Those three lines to my eye conflict with one another instead of reinforce each other. So by composing the scene to highlight one of the three you might have a bolder less confusing image.

[ian408]

I agree with Shay. Especially that snag on the left side. Maybe re-frame it
with a bit less of the brown foreground? By re-framing it, you'd sort of point
the snag in the right direction to make the shot flow a bit better.

Nice one. Love to see some more from you.

Ian

[bfjr]

I'm diggin' the exposure/blending. The reflections are nice, and the sky looks good. Good proportion.

The lines in the photo, however, are all over the place. I think the photo needs visual simplification. The road on the right leads the eye out of the photo, never to return. You have a strong horizontal line with the bright tree trunk middle right, and a strong vertical tree trunk and reflection.

Those three lines to my eye conflict with one another instead of reinforce each other. So by composing the scene to highlight one of the three you might have a bolder less confusing image.

First please accept my apologies to those that have replied before Shay, I think it is rude to reply out of order, but I am running late and felt Shay's critique needed a response ASAP!! I will reply in order when I return this afternoon.

Shay, what a great critique, on several levels
I'm glad you dig my PS, I do think it's coming along.
I to felt it needed simplification, so your words here verified that I'm seeing correctly.
But this line:
The road on the right leads the eye out of the photo, never to return.
Just floats my boat. I laughed my wife laughed and we both concur :thumb
I mean come on folks you get your image critique and walk away laughing and learning!!
Thank you Shay, for time and the sharing or your expertise.

[bfjr]

well for some reason i like it :D tell you what brave boy i will put mine up wed and we then will get some criticism ,as you know with this monitor i can not comment :1drink
Come on Buddy, Cowboy up a shot in here.
It not so bad only hurts for a little while :lol3

[bfjr]

Ben, I can't trash your photo, I think you were the one who posted a response to my last post, re great blue/nH, I wish I could post the whole darn post and find out what is wrong with it.

Now, as to not trashing your shot. The colors are great, however, why did you take the photo, what are you telling me, what do you like about the place, on and on and on.

So far I am not invested in that photo............ nice reflections. I think. The rd should not be running out of the photo on the right.

The colors are nice, but without snow capped mountains or something, ab fab fall colors, I think you need more towards sweet light, unless you have something strong to say.

Anything else you want to know. Rule of thirds rules on DGrin, I have already trashed that rule today. You can break them all, but only if you know the rules, same as grammar. What rules in birds, it rules in every artistic discipline, including landscapes.

That is my philosophy, now someone can come along and trash that.

ginger (tired, been working up photos, but am waiting to post, untill..........don't know what) No NHs either, am done with that unless I go back, but he pretty much sits in the same places, if he is there at all.)
What you can't trash my image :scratch
Well Ginger I think you did :lol4 :rofl :D
and thank you for doing so :thumb

[bfjr]

I agree with Shay. Especially that snag on the left side. Maybe re-frame it
with a bit less of the brown foreground? By re-framing it, you'd sort of point
the snag in the right direction to make the shot flow a bit better.

Nice one. Love to see some more from you.

Ian
Hi Ian
Yes I agree and will put into play what you and Shay have suggested :thumb
and Thank you for you're support, very much needed and appreciated.

[adrian_k]

I seem to have the same opinion as other people.
The colours are good and the scene is nice.

My first thought was that it's too busy probably because it's been oversharpened. This maybe a web thing, by resizing the picture I've seen this before.

Then I though about what I could criticise. I would summarise as "unbalanced". You've got clouds and a big lump of earth on the right and open water on the left.

I would have walked 20-30ft further down the path. of course I can say that in hindsight, I wasn't there.

Don't do much landscape, but would like to and be good at it !!
Here's a picture from Bolsa Chica.
Please let me know what I missed or anything else.
some info 1st
no wide angle lens yet, best I can get is about 35mm
did use Polarizer
Worked up in LAB, Levels layer (several), Hue/Sat layer and USM layer
Here's the shot:

http://bfjr.smugmug.com/photos/25632550-L.jpg (http://bfjr.smugmug.com/photos/25632550-L.jpg)

[gus]

You are a very talented photog...thats all i have to say :thumb

Gus

[bfjr]

I seem to have the same opinion as other people.
The colours are good and the scene is nice.

My first thought was that it's too busy probably because it's been oversharpened. This maybe a web thing, by resizing the picture I've seen this before.

Then I though about what I could criticise. I would summarise as "unbalanced". You've got clouds and a big lump of earth on the right and open water on the left.

I would have walked 20-30ft further down the path. of course I can say that in hindsight, I wasn't there.
Thanks Adrian
Yes I can go back in fact I have a few from different angles/perspective etc. If I'm feeling brave I may post another.
Thank you for your input, and trust it is not wasted on me :thumb

[bfjr]

You are a very talented photog...thats all i have to say :thumb

Gus Oh come on Gus you can say more :lol4 :rofl :D
I am truly humbled by your praise, thank you Sir :thumb

[ginger_55]

Ben, I have another thing I have wanted to add, what are those white things, kind of like giant BBQ tongs that are out in the water?

Are they trees, dead? Should they be darker? No one has mentioned them.

I just read your responses. I did mention that rd, BEFORE steve did.

It is a rule of Landscapes NEVER, and that is a long time. I find it more helpful than the rule of thirds, myself, never to lead the eye out of the photo on the rt. I take the shots, but they are usually the rejects.

And it is written up not to do that. Lead the eye into the landscape, that is what the books say.

I know that, but I am bummed over the super sharp photos showing up, first Dixie did it, now another post, over on landscapes, am thinking of posting a landscape to find out how to get that effect.

I hate the idea of blowing my "one post a week" on a shot I don't care about. Never know what I could run into tomorrow.

ginger

[bfjr]

Ben, I have another thing I have wanted to add, what are those white things, kind of like giant BBQ tongs that are out in the water?

Are they trees, dead? Should they be darker? No one has mentioned them.

I just read your responses. I did mention that rd, BEFORE steve did.

It is a rule of Landscapes NEVER, and that is a long time. I find it more helpful than the rule of thirds, myself, never to lead the eye out of the photo on the rt. I take the shots, but they are usually the rejects.

And it is written up not to do that. Lead the eye into the landscape, that is what the books say.

I know that, but I am bummed over the super sharp photos showing up, first Dixie did it, now another post, over on landscapes, am thinking of posting a landscape to find out how to get that effect.

I hate the idea of blowing my "one post a week" on a shot I don't care about. Never know what I could run into tomorrow.

ginger

Yes the the one dead tree lying across the water, is what I actually tried to make the focal point, so I left it bright purposely. You are right about rules and the road. I may post up another from a different angle without the road or the rules again :D