Maskwa lake (begging for critiques)

gorilagorila Registered Users Posts: 51 Big grins
edited June 5, 2012 in Landscapes
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1335768839.111350.jpg
Composition? Timing? Story-telling effect? Anything I can improve or new angle/ technique I can use? Thx so much!

Comments

  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited April 30, 2012
    You've got some good stuff going on in this photo, gorila. Composition looks good. Pretty classic lake reflection shot. The biggest issue for me is that the trees and foreground are too dark. I would open up those shadow areas some so that we can see the details. If you shot camera raw, you'd have a far better chance of bringing up the shadows then if you'd shot JPG.

    Oh, and welcome to the landscape forum, Gorila! clap.gif
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  • gorilagorila Registered Users Posts: 51 Big grins
    edited April 30, 2012
    Thx. "open up those shadow area" means squatting down w the same angle so that there will be a gap between the closest tree on the right and the forest? I will do that the next time I get there :)
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited April 30, 2012
    gorila wrote: »
    Thx. "open up those shadow area" means squatting down w the same angle so that there will be a gap between the closest tree on the right and the forest? I will do that the next time I get there :)

    Nope. Keep the composition the same, but change the lighting. I have no idea what you're shooting with, but here's what I do. I shoot in camera raw, not JPG. That gives me a wider range tones in the shot. Then in the camera raw converter of Photoshop or Lightroom, I would use the shadows tool which will lighten the shadow areas. If you tried this on JPG, it would also add unattractive noise or grain to the shot. Raw is much better for these scenarios. This is not a simple shot to get right due to the wide range of light levels. An HDR is another approach that might have worked here. (Google HDR if you don't know what that is.) I'm also wondering what this scene would have looked like when the sun went down. I'll bet those wispy clouds really lit up with color. That when you want to shoot something like this.
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  • SlipadaroSlipadaro Registered Users Posts: 22 Big grins
    edited April 30, 2012
    I like the composition and the colours. This has potential but as pointed out you need to open the shadows so there is some detail. I don't know how much you could gain using Lightroom or Photoshop on the existing image. You might be able to pull something out processing this as a single exposure HDR with Nik HDR Efex Pro but I agree with kdog, JPG is going to hinder the process. In the future shoot in RAW, or if you have the option to shoot RAW and JPG use that option. At least you will have the opportunity to do something more with the RAW file.
  • gorilagorila Registered Users Posts: 51 Big grins
    edited April 30, 2012
    Thx, Slipadaro n Joel, I will be using raw in the future. I posted another one in "other cool stuff", and got the same problem.
    HDR... Still reading :p
  • DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited April 30, 2012
    gorila wrote: »
    Thx, Slipadaro n Joel, I will be using raw in the future. I posted another one in "other cool stuff", and got the same problem.
    HDR... Still reading :p

    Do not worry about HDR yet. Learn how to compose and expose before you delve into HDR. And really, HDR is way over emphasized. You can do so much with two exposures and some layer curves and masks. It ends up looking more natural than most people's HDR treatments do. And you're in control.

    But all that is putting the cart before the horse. Just concentrate on getting good shots first. deal.gif
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  • novicesnappernovicesnapper Registered Users Posts: 445 Major grins
    edited May 2, 2012
    I agree with David. I saved you're image last night and tinkered with it in LR as an experiment. The histogram shows all the detail is still there in the darker areas, the left side, the dark zone isn't touching the left edge. I went ahead and brought up fill light and exposure, which naturally blew the sky. I threw a polarizing gradient on that, to tone it back down, which worked nicely. But I did notice artifacts hovering over the trees, indicating maybe an over use of sharpening or unsharp mask? If I had the original without any pre treatments, with just the crop you want, I may be able to bring it up, if you really want to save it. It's good experience for me also. Just let me know if so.
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  • jmphotocraftjmphotocraft Registered Users Posts: 2,987 Major grins
    edited May 2, 2012
    The composition is good. The trees are going to be silhouettes no matter what. No point in boosting them, IMO. The sky is overexposed. If you shot RAW you may be able to save it, otherwise, you should try again and expose for the sky and its reflecton.

    989426000_jMnEM-X3.jpg
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    An "accurate" reproduction of a scene and a good photograph are often two different things.
  • gorilagorila Registered Users Posts: 51 Big grins
    edited June 4, 2012
    jmphotocraft wrote: »
    The composition is good. The trees are going to be silhouettes no matter what. No point in boosting them, IMO. The sky is overexposed. If you shot RAW you may be able to save it, otherwise, you should try again and expose for the sky and its reflecton.

    989426000_jMnEM-X3.jpg

    Wow! Urs is definitely more dramatic! I love the temperature in ur photo too. Did u post processed it? If so, wt did u do?
    Thx!
  • gorilagorila Registered Users Posts: 51 Big grins
    edited June 5, 2012
    novicesnapper wrote: »
    I agree with David. I saved you're image last night and tinkered with it in LR as an experiment. The histogram shows all the detail is still there in the darker areas, the left side, the dark zone isn't touching the left edge. I went ahead and brought up fill light and exposure, which naturally blew the sky. I threw a polarizing gradient on that, to tone it back down, which worked nicely. But I did notice artifacts hovering over the trees, indicating maybe an over use of sharpening or unsharp mask? If I had the original without any pre treatments, with just the crop you want, I may be able to bring it up, if you really want to save it. It's good experience for me also. Just let me know if so.

    Oh, many thx and absolutely yes please! How should I send u the original? Can I post it here with the full quality? Really thank you for your seriousness. I would love to learn how you do it exactly too, if u don't mind :) thank you!
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