Luminous Landscape Forum

The Art of Photography => User Critiques => Topic started by: pegelli on January 31, 2009, 04:07:51 pm

Title: Near Newport / Wales
Post by: pegelli on January 31, 2009, 04:07:51 pm

Hello, I'm a new poster here and looking for some help and critique

I took this shot last November while on a business trip in Newport (South Wales).
Sometimes when I see it I like it and sometimes I don't, but can't put my finger why.
Maybe some of your critiques can clear it up for me.
Thanks

(http://pegelli.smugmug.com/photos/417433464_TBcJa-XL.jpg)

Title: Near Newport / Wales
Post by: Dave Hall on January 31, 2009, 04:13:41 pm

Quote from: pegelli

Hello, I'm a new poster here and looking for some help and critique

I took this shot last November while on a business trip in Newport (South Wales).
Sometimes when I see it I like it and sometimes I don't, but can't put my finger why.
Maybe some of your critiques can clear it up for me.
Thanks

(http://pegelli.smugmug.com/photos/417433464_TBcJa-XL.jpg)

I like it. I am not sure of the log across the bottom though, but I still like it.

Title: Near Newport / Wales
Post by: bill t. on January 31, 2009, 10:00:53 pm

Very pretty, but as said the fallen log gives it a somewhat challenging, off the main line composition.

Many of us here would not have been able to constrain themselves from throwing in a hue & saturation adjustment layer with the "YELLOW" slider pushed pretty far to the right.  Maybe a bit more contrast.  But then if we did all that, it would just be ordinary.

Title: Near Newport / Wales
Post by: jjj on February 01, 2009, 12:03:51 am

I think I'd be tempted to crop a little off the right.

Title: Near Newport / Wales
Post by: kal on February 01, 2009, 04:27:14 pm

I like it.

Only two minor things:

- I feel the top-left corner is a bit dark

- what's the grayish strip in the bottom right part of the image? maybe a path? I would either clone it out completely, or make it more "part of the image", suggesting the idea of you just entering the woods through it.

Title: Near Newport / Wales
Post by: wolfnowl on February 02, 2009, 03:57:10 am

After a couple of minutes in Lightroom I'd suggest something like this:

Mike.
[attachment=11329:Tree.jpg]

Title: Near Newport / Wales
Post by: pegelli on February 08, 2009, 03:25:44 pm

Thanks very much to take the time to make comments on my shot:

Dave/bill : agree, it's probably the log that gives me the yes/no feeling about the shot. If I clone it out something is missing, if I leave it in it's kind of counter to all the other lines.

kal : I'll try some of your suggestions. Funny, I didn't notice the grey strip until you mentioned it.

wolfnowl : Agree some more cropping might make the pic better but your version is a bit tight for my taste. Also I don't like to crop too much off shots, I'm trying to get the crop as near perfect as possible in the field. Just old fashioned I guess, must be from my color slide days when that was the only possibility.

Again thanks for all your comments  

Title: Near Newport / Wales
Post by: wolfnowl on February 09, 2009, 01:53:28 am

Quote from: pegelli

I'm trying to get the crop as near perfect as possible in the field. Just old fashioned I guess, must be from my color slide days when that was the only possibility.

That I understand.  I'm much more used to 'zooming with my feet' than doing a lot of post-processing work later.  Still, the tools are available now and I have no reservations with using them.

Mike.