Landscape Monument w/ people

I know it's customary to zoom in closer to people most of the time, but I kind of liked the way they formed part of the landscape from this distance.



I lost my other computer during a computer outage, and now I'm using an older Apple Studio Display, which might show me my photos as too bright than what others are seeing. Do either of these look ok or are they both too dark? Which looks better? Thanks



Lens: Pentax-A 35mm f2.8

[skinja]

The first one is darker then the other, the second maybe just a little dark in the shadows, I have a feeling that is pretty true to the enviroment you were in, long casting shadows and all.

I like the second better.

John

[Ash]

Second one for me - I prefer bolder colours and stronger contrast (that's just me).
A nice clean landscape shot.

[Parallax]

The second one appears to be more like I would expect the scene to have looked.

[JMR]

I like the dark one as it accentuates the people and gives the scene a surreal quality. As to what is realistic, it took me a while to realize that most cameras have two looks: a natural look and a brighter toned look. Clearly the brighter toned look is not natural, although it does look good. I suggest you use what looks best, not for a punchier look, but which tone best says and conveys what you want the image to express.

JMR

[K-9]

Originally Posted by Ash

Second one for me - I prefer bolder colours and stronger contrast (that's just me).
A nice clean landscape shot.

Thanks

Originally Posted by JMR

I like the dark one as it accentuates the people and gives the scene a surreal quality. As to what is realistic, it took me a while to realize that most cameras have two looks: a natural look and a brighter toned look. Clearly the brighter toned look is not natural, although it does look good. I suggest you use what looks best, not for a punchier look, but which tone best says and conveys what you want the image to express.

JMR

I was ok with the first one, until I changed the setting on my monitor from the calibrated display to Adobe sRGB and the shot suddenly looked real dark. I didn't know if this was how others were going to see it, so I lightened and brightened the colors a tad in the 2nd shot. I checked them on my phone, and they both looked like I originally saw them, so I don't think either is as dark as I feared.

I think sometimes the white balance and exposure settings mess around with color brightness on my cameras, as I see lots of scenes in real life that don't come out as bright in the captured shot. This is when I will do some slight enhancing later, but never to the point that it wouldn't look like it was supposed to. Otherwise, I'm all for seeing it as it appears. Unfortunately, others give skies in their photos an ultra blue color that isn't realistic, and then the more real ones look dull in comparison.

I always just liked shooting slides and getting what you get, and not having to do post processing.