Suggestions please.

Richard Spencer · 10-19-2013, 04:15 AM

Having spent time messing around with this shot. I have shown it to 8 people here at home and likes to dislikes are 50/50. What do you think ?

Thanks, Richard.

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**jrpower10** · 10-19-2013, 05:03 AM

I think it would be better if you brought the shadows up a bit. It looks underexposed to me but bringing up the whole photo might start clipping highlights. Composition is OK. Subject is at a third point and the boats are sailing into the shot. An interest point on shore on the other side of the frame would help. You needed a lighthouse

Richard Spencer · 10-19-2013, 05:24 AM

Originally posted by jrpower10

I think it would be better if you brought the shadows up a bit. It looks underexposed to me but bringing up the whole photo might start clipping highlights. Composition is OK. Subject is at a third point and the boats are sailing into the shot. An interest point on shore on the other side of the frame would help. You needed a lighthouse

Thanks for the input,
I agree about the shadows - something for me to work on. Re. a lighthouse, I would have to import one, but a bit further up the coast is a half submerged church. That would have been ideal.

Richard.

**rbefly** · 10-19-2013, 06:15 AM

Hello Richard,
What I like; The colors of the boats, backlighting, the background colors.
What I think could be improved; First, I agree that overall, it's too dark. This can be remedied in PP. But overall, the composition is too busy for me. My eye keeps wandering from the main subject, to the smaller boats, people, building (church?) directly behind the two main subjects, background trees, etc.
Imagine a similar shot, with some separation between the two main boats, as if they were racing. Now, shoot it at f/5.6 or f/4.5, to diminish the detail of the trees, while retaining the color. That 'extra' f/stop could be used to lower the ISO to 100, more saturation and color. Same shutter speed, smaller boats more out-of-focus. Plain background, no buildings or people.
Sometimes it's not about what's included, but what's excluded. Keep it simple.
JMO,
Ron

IchabodCrane · 10-19-2013, 07:46 AM

Did the color of the sails throw off the white balance? The sky just doesn't look right to me.

Richard Spencer · 10-19-2013, 09:26 AM

Thanks guys, there is so much for me to improve. I will find the time to have another go, but it will be in a day or two. You would not believe how much I have lost my way with this particular image,

Richad.

Richard Spencer · 10-20-2013, 06:09 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Richard Spencer

Thanks guys, there is so much for me to improve. I will find the time to have another go, but it will be in a day or two. You would not believe how much I have lost my way with this particular image,

Richad.

Ok, I`ve had another go. Different crop, got rid of two boats in the distance and brought up the shadows a bit.

Richard.

Attached Images

abmj · 10-20-2013, 11:39 AM

White balance looks much better - the sky is actually blue.

I don't know what tools you have available to you. I might use a Polarizing filter or Graduated ND filter on a new layer to see if I could darken the sky.

**jrpower10** · 10-21-2013, 06:45 AM

I like this. good changes

**rbefly** · 10-21-2013, 07:36 AM

Hi Richard,
This version is much better, you've brightened the colors and eliminated visual distractions well.
From the slight 'haze' over the cloned/removed smaller boats, I think you can see how de-focusing the tree detail pops the subject out. Our eyes automatically go to areas of sharp focus, it's natural. A tiny bit of blur keeps this from happening, moving the subject 'forward'. It's hard to explain, but your 2nd version illustrates it fully.
Keep up the good work!
Ron

Richard Spencer · 10-21-2013, 07:46 AM

Originally posted by rbefly

Hi Richard,
This version is much better, you've brightened the colors and eliminated visual distractions well.
From the slight 'haze' over the cloned/removed smaller boats, I think you can see how de-focusing the tree detail pops the subject out. Our eyes automatically go to areas of sharp focus, it's natural. A tiny bit of blur keeps this from happening, moving the subject 'forward'. It's hard to explain, but your 2nd version illustrates it fully.
Keep up the good work!
Ron

abmj - thank you, I may look into using a extra layer to sort out the sky.

jrpower1 - many hanks.

rbefly - thank you for your detailed analysis. This type of thread is very good for me.

Richard.

10-19-2013, 06:15 AM	#4
rbefly Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Denver, Colorado Photos: Albums Posts: 2,030	My View Hello Richard, What I like; The colors of the boats, backlighting, the background colors. What I think could be improved; First, I agree that overall, it's too dark. This can be remedied in PP. But overall, the composition is too busy for me. My eye keeps wandering from the main subject, to the smaller boats, people, building (church?) directly behind the two main subjects, background trees, etc. Imagine a similar shot, with some separation between the two main boats, as if they were racing. Now, shoot it at f/5.6 or f/4.5, to diminish the detail of the trees, while retaining the color. That 'extra' f/stop could be used to lower the ISO to 100, more saturation and color. Same shutter speed, smaller boats more out-of-focus. Plain background, no buildings or people. Sometimes it's not about what's included, but what's excluded. Keep it simple. JMO, Ron

10-21-2013, 07:36 AM	#10
rbefly Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Denver, Colorado Photos: Albums Posts: 2,030	Much Better! Hi Richard, This version is much better, you've brightened the colors and eliminated visual distractions well. From the slight 'haze' over the cloned/removed smaller boats, I think you can see how de-focusing the tree detail pops the subject out. Our eyes automatically go to areas of sharp focus, it's natural. A tiny bit of blur keeps this from happening, moving the subject 'forward'. It's hard to explain, but your 2nd version illustrates it fully. Keep up the good work! Ron

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10-19-2013, 05:03 AM	#2
jrpower10 Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Richland, Washington, USA Posts: 935	I think it would be better if you brought the shadows up a bit. It looks underexposed to me but bringing up the whole photo might start clipping highlights. Composition is OK. Subject is at a third point and the boats are sailing into the shot. An interest point on shore on the other side of the frame would help. You needed a lighthouse

10-19-2013, 05:24 AM	#3
Richard Spencer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Lincolnshire, England Posts: 129 Original Poster	Originally posted by jrpower10 I think it would be better if you brought the shadows up a bit. It looks underexposed to me but bringing up the whole photo might start clipping highlights. Composition is OK. Subject is at a third point and the boats are sailing into the shot. An interest point on shore on the other side of the frame would help. You needed a lighthouse Thanks for the input, I agree about the shadows - something for me to work on. Re. a lighthouse, I would have to import one, but a bit further up the coast is a half submerged church. That would have been ideal. Richard.

10-19-2013, 07:46 AM	#5
IchabodCrane Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,728	Did the color of the sails throw off the white balance? The sky just doesn't look right to me.

10-19-2013, 09:26 AM	#6
Richard Spencer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Lincolnshire, England Posts: 129 Original Poster	Thanks guys, there is so much for me to improve. I will find the time to have another go, but it will be in a day or two. You would not believe how much I have lost my way with this particular image, Richad.

10-20-2013, 06:09 AM - 1 Like	#7
Richard Spencer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Lincolnshire, England Posts: 129 Original Poster	Originally posted by Richard Spencer Thanks guys, there is so much for me to improve. I will find the time to have another go, but it will be in a day or two. You would not believe how much I have lost my way with this particular image, Richad. Ok, I`ve had another go. Different crop, got rid of two boats in the distance and brought up the shadows a bit. Richard. Attached Images

10-20-2013, 11:39 AM	#8
abmj Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Central California Posts: 600	White balance looks much better - the sky is actually blue. I don't know what tools you have available to you. I might use a Polarizing filter or Graduated ND filter on a new layer to see if I could darken the sky.

10-21-2013, 06:45 AM	#9
jrpower10 Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Richland, Washington, USA Posts: 935	I like this. good changes

10-21-2013, 07:46 AM	#11
Richard Spencer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Lincolnshire, England Posts: 129 Original Poster	Originally posted by rbefly Hi Richard, This version is much better, you've brightened the colors and eliminated visual distractions well. From the slight 'haze' over the cloned/removed smaller boats, I think you can see how de-focusing the tree detail pops the subject out. Our eyes automatically go to areas of sharp focus, it's natural. A tiny bit of blur keeps this from happening, moving the subject 'forward'. It's hard to explain, but your 2nd version illustrates it fully. Keep up the good work! Ron abmj - thank you, I may look into using a extra layer to sort out the sky. jrpower1 - many hanks. rbefly - thank you for your detailed analysis. This type of thread is very good for me. Richard.

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