Some More From a Noob

PappyRoot

Here are some more for your C&C. Remember, I want to learn so please be helpful and let me know how you would do it.

For this first one, I was walking in Zions National Park and saw these rock on the fence post and thought that it would be a cool pic but did not stop and take it. As I continued deeper in the park I kept going back to that simple scene and knew if I walked past it again, I would have to take it. I have post edited it for b&w because I thought it a better image.



For this next one I wanted to do flowers. Also in Zions I found this wonderful scene. I got right up into it and snaped this.


I like this next one because the other moutains had a natural frame to the one in the middle. Also in Zions

kdog

These are fine shots, Darryl. There's not too much to be critical off because everything looks pretty good. Exposure is generally good, colors and depth of field all look great. I'm not the best judge of compositions, but I can try to find a few nits to throw out for the sake of the discussion. In the first one, maybe just a bit less negative space on top? Comp on the second one is perfect, although the yellow flowers are blown out. If you shoot RAW, you could most likely reprocess this and get more detail in the flowers. Third one is a really cool comp. I'm thinking either less foreground trees or more trees would be better, but that's getting really subjective. For example, some folks would say to clone out those few leaves peaking into the shot from above. Including more of them would be a feature, or eliminating them. But the few of them seems a bit unsatisfying. A similar thought occurs to me with the tree in the center of the shot. Maybe a lower angle would have made the tree more of a feature? Exposure looks good except for the sky which is blown out. Reducing the exposure on the sky would give you better blues. Whether you do that locally to the sky or globally to the entire photo is your choice. Again, these are just nits since you asked. This is overall good work.

PappyRoot

kdog wrote: »

These are fine shots, Darryl. There's not too much to be critical off because everything looks pretty good. Exposure is generally good, colors and depth of field all look great. I'm not the best judge of compositions, but I can try to find a few nits to throw out for the sake of the discussion. In the first one, maybe just a bit less negative space on top? Comp on the second one is perfect, although the yellow flowers are blown out. If you shoot RAW, you could most likely reprocess this and get more detail in the flowers. Third one is a really cool comp. I'm thinking either less foreground trees or more trees would be better, but that's getting really subjective. For example, some folks would say to clone out those few leaves peaking into the shot from above. Including more of them would be a feature, or eliminating them. But the few of them seems a bit unsatisfying. A similar thought occurs to me with the tree in the center of the shot. Maybe a lower angle would have made the tree more of a feature? Exposure looks good except for the sky which is blown out. Reducing the exposure on the sky would give you better blues. Whether you do that locally to the sky or globally to the entire photo is your choice. Again, these are just nits since you asked. This is overall good work.

Thank you so much Kdog! I have some more to look at titled Bridal Veil Falls.

I have to agree with you on your input. I will keep plugging away. Thank you again.

Darryl

PappyRoot

What about this change?

kdog

To my eye, you went too far. Somewhere in the middle maybe. But... I'm artistically challenged. What do you think? I also liked the warmth of the processing in the first one better.

Sam

I see you just joined. Welcome I think you have the first step down, getting nice clean images. I took a look at your website and from a general glance I see two areas to work on. First composition. This is an area I struggle with as well. It's way too easy to be at a fantastic location and stand in awe at the magnificent view, but that great view while standing there doesn't always translate into a good two dimensional photo.

Also as a general rule, (mine) i find it difficult to get a really good image looking / photographing looking up at the landscape. I believe we need to be more selective when looking up.

Second, dynamic range will always be an issue with landscapes. You might want to look into a graduated neutral density filter and or take a number of bracketed shots and merge in PS.

Sam

zSCOTTz

I think the bottom picture needs to be straightened a little bit. Other than that, it looks good, nice colors.