Please sir may i have another

[MarkS]

Here's one I really like
http://marks.smugmug.com/photos/32419794-M.jpg
Exif:1/1000 f13 ISO 200 130mm

[Andy]

lovely scene. nice curves and leading lines.

nit: the horizon isn't perfectly straight, which, for an image like this, i fell is important. easy to fix in ps.

suggestion: better light, later or earlier in the day, with more shadows to provide some depth.

[auraflora]

Hi there,


I agree with Andy's comments. Furthermore, I would consider shooting a bit closer and not from such a high point. I think it would transform this lovely scenic shot to an even artistic/abstract. Just a suggestion.

Looks like a wonderful place for photos and the options are endless.

Michal

[ian408]

I like the colors in the shot. Nice exposure and the beach/water look
inviting. I'd love to see this shot wider. I think what's bugging me is the
curves that don't lead me anywhere. Same with the fence. By shooting
wide, you'd capture more of that little cove and give a feel for the place
overall.

I like the suggestion of early or late morning light especially as it relates
to the added shadow. As Andy suggests, a little tilt to the horizon that's
easily fixed in post. BTW, you also have what looks like a hot pixel just
about center and just above the water.

Ian

[rutt]

I agree with Andy about how great it is to shoot in the early morning or late afternoon light. But you can learn to compensate for midday light and still get deep rich shadows and good saturation. I got this:

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/33462961-L.jpg

The recipe:

Convert o CMYK
Steepen the K (black) curve to establish deep shadows without losing detail.
http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/33463009-S.jpg
Convert to LAB
Steepen A+B curves to enhance saturation.
http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/33462998-S.jpghttp://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/33463004-S.jpg


After I was done I sharpened just out of habit, using separate lighten and darken layers as described here (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=10409). The fine detail in the fence and grass dictated a very small radius: .7, then I kept the darken opacity at 100% and made the lightn opacity 50%.

[ginger_55]

Rutt, why didn't you do this, or something, to your KPOTD surfing shot. That is the only thing that bothers me. The colors do not look "saturated", or something?

ginger

[ginger_55]

Mark, I saw that before. Did I comment, "no", sorry. I had mixed feelings at the time.

Then, at that time, my first impression was that there were two subjects going on, and there should only be one. (I have no idea what the second subj was that bothered me, maybe the person.)

Repeating lines, that is good, love them. I hate to say this mid day, light thing, but here I do think that Andy is right. And Rutt's fix is OK, but still does not do excellence in this case.

Are you still near this place? Can you work it? IMO, it has the makings of a really good photo, excellent, but it isn't quite there yet.

If I can say more, give me a shout, a PM will bring me back. I am not feeling well. That will keep me home, probably, but it could stop me from posting. So get my attention.

I am sorry I did not say something at the beginning. I don't know why. I am sure it had to do with time constraints. When conflicted, it takes longer than "great, wonderful, stupendous photo". And I have not had time to do that in the last couple of weeks.

ginger

[rutt]

Rutt, why didn't you do this, or something, to your KPOTD surfing shot. That is the only thing that bothers me. The colors do not look "saturated", or something?

ginger

I think I did, but maybe I could have been braver. Kodak doesn't seem to care. Maybe they will goose before they put on the Jumbotron?

[rutt]

BTW, I agree with Ginger. My edit doesn't really nail it for this shot. It is really meant as a starting point. I'd fool around with the curves a little more to warm it by increasing the magenta and yellow sides of the A and B curves (respectively) without anymore increase in the blue and green which are already there. That will give the sand a warmer tone. Maybe the black curve is too harsh. It is very extreme. You might want to pull it down in the midtones a bit. And you might try just sharpening the black channel (in CMYK) instead of the L channel. That might allow more sharpening without making the grass and fence look wrong.

If all this seems overwhelming, let me know. I'm happy to demonstrate. Let's do it out in the open here, though, instead of offline, so others can join in the fun.

[MarkS]

Ouch... ok i really appreciate the critiques, i see the horizon needs to be leveled a bit but I'm not sure that I like your "fix" I think that it is over saturated and that is something that I am really trying to avoid I also dont Sharpen images as a "habit". I hate saying this but I have no idea what your recipe means, I use PS Elements and dont think those things are on it. Got a lot of learning to do.

I never even saw the hot pixel until it was mentioned, good eyes! In the fix I see a dark spot near it too.

What I was shooting was the curves and lines, I really like the flow of the picture. If anything I was tempted to clone out some of the distractions, the signs, the person and the object in the upper right, but decided against it. It was a perfect day on my vacation and the picture takes me right back every time I look at it.

Thanks again for looking and critiqueing.