Luminous Landscape Forum
Equipment & Techniques => Landscape & Nature Photography => Topic started by: Chairman Bill on February 28, 2015, 04:26:38 pm
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Four from North Wales
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Are they really that bad?
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I find the light in #s 1 and 2 dull, the photos are "lifeless".
I like #3 a lot, it takes me there.
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I also like #3 best. The first two photos aren't bad at all but the light isn't the best. That being said, they offer a very relaxing and quiet view on the landscape.
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They do make me want to be there. Great drama in the skies and lots of forms to work with.
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I like rugged, wild places like that, especially with wild and threatening weather.
Nice shots.
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Nice crisp details throughout all four. The first one gives a nice 3d sense of depth. I like the composition and I've seen many different comps of Pen yr Ole Wen (I really hope to visit someday).
I like the B&W stream too, though it is not easy to shoot backlit waterfalls, it would be perfect (for my tastes) if the sky had less blowout.
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With apologies to Chairman Bill, I recently came across "Why You Should Never Visit Wales"
http://www.buzzfeed.com/jamiejones/reasons-you-should-never-visit-wales#.hdV899G37
Nice pics
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Are they really that bad?
"Pen yr ole wen" - the light over the horizon might be special, but the light on the rock face doesn't seem to be: and for this kind-of general-scene better light would surely help. Probably I've just seen too many photos like that.
"Glaslyn" - the snow patches on the distant hillside add interest; the closer snow patches distract. I wonder if those clouds along the top-left quarter could be pulled-closer above-us by making very targeted changes to the contrast. Maybe the shadows across the left and bottom could be less harsh.
"Stream, Cwm Idwal" - probably I've just seen too many photos like that.
"Yr Wyddfa" - to me the shadows seem very harsh; with cloud touching the ridge maybe there's an opportunity for something more moody and less black or white.
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Are they really that bad?
Bill, the b&w ones strike me as quite valid, especially #3. In terms of color, they do come across as rather bland. However, #1 could be turned into a quite stunning one, with a bit more courageous processing.
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OK. Pretty crap then :)
I'll see if I can rework some & improve on them. Watch this space. Or not.
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I'm watching.
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Not.
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OK, a bit of work to address the 'blandness' of the first one. I've also changed the format (i.e. cropped) to exclude the rather intrusive rock from the lower left - it added nothing of interest. What attracted me to the scene was the stream leading the eye, and I've obviously retained that. Is this over cooked?
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I've also changed the format (i.e. cropped) to exclude the rather intrusive rock from the lower left - it added nothing of interest.
Far better like this!
I think the 2nd can also be improved with light "dodge and burn" + vibrance, but pay attention to keep the atmosphere.
Thierry
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Bill, I like what you did with the sky in #1, ver. 2.0. You got the subtle pastels in the sky out, and even in the hill.
I think you cropped the image unnecessarily and lost a sense of depth along the way. There is nothing objectionable in that lower left corner. The dark stone there serves as the stepping stone (pardon the pun) and balances the similarly colored hill.
I also think you over did the orange grass. Keep it slightly duller and darker (than in v.2.0) and it will not compete for attention from "the stream leading the eye," as you rightly noticed.
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Bill,
I agree with Slobodan, that the grass is now too orangy and the cropping was not necessary.
with your permission:
1. I steepened the curves gently in LAB
2. Applied slight boost in contrast and color through Topaz Clarity
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Thanks for the comments. I will have to attempt a version 3
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OK, a bit of work to address the 'blandness' of the first one.
It's different enough from the first to wonder what you want the picture to be about?
What attracted me to the scene was the stream leading the eye…
To me, visually the stream leads leftwards curving out-of-frame as-much-as it leads into the center.
How much we notice, and how we fill the discontinuity across to Pen yr Ole Wen probably depends on local knowledge.
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I like your edit much better than the first.
#4 is my favorite, but frankly none of them have huge pull for me. I'll post something for you to rip in the next couple days because I'm not sure about it.