Nature Tell me what is wrong with this shot

Tell me what is wrong with this shot · 10:40 AM

Scratching my head over this one. Exposure is decent, light is decent, subject is moderately exciting, sharpness is good.. but it just doesn't do it for me. I can't put my finger on it but something's off -- any ideas??

pingflood · 07-31-2010, 10:46 AM

Same shot with a little detailed pulled back in PP, but still lacking.

Jimbo · 07-31-2010, 11:21 AM

Looks over exposured to me. Wrong time of day? JIM

Eruditass · 07-31-2010, 11:24 AM

To me, the neck and above being darker is distracting (and perhaps pp'able). I would prefer a less close picture, perhaps to get more of the reflection in or space around it the subject (and put the head closer to the 3rds line) Also, I would prefer a slightly less noticible vignette.

Lastly, the color do not particularly add to the image. In such a scenario, I would experiment with B&W or reduce saturation (leaving the beak's color in).

Last edited by Eruditass; 07-31-2010 at 11:29 AM.

pingflood · 07-31-2010, 11:35 AM

Well, one more attempt, but now it just looks PP'd like hell. Maybe I should toss it and get a better one another day.

borno · 07-31-2010, 11:46 AM

Hey PF,
I think the swan is very nice,but maybe the water is kind of drab looking. Not much can be done about it I guess. I think if the water had the nice dark color in the BG like the foreground it would really make him stand out. I'm not very skilled at PP though.

**Rense** · 07-31-2010, 11:53 AM

I think it has to do with the composition... The swans' head has not enough space above....
I think it would have been much better if the eye of the swan was on one of the 45 degrees
diagonals.... diagonal method

pingflood · 07-31-2010, 02:01 PM

OK, let's try adding some space (I cropped it some and maybe too tight). Better or worse?

**Rense** · 07-31-2010, 02:20 PM

Better! Not optimal, but definately better imo!

Take-5-JB · 07-31-2010, 02:33 PM

Just a thought...try cropping about 1/3 off the right side of your last revision. The first photo posted was blown out on the swan's back and needed room above the head. Seems the head and neck with the slight reflection is the viable part here. Go vertical to portrait after cropping the right side, maybe?

JB

pingflood · 07-31-2010, 02:36 PM

Let us try...

Take-5-JB · 07-31-2010, 10:42 PM

That is what I thought it would look like. To me, it salvages the good portion of the photo. Others may disagree, but I like it.

JB

**dadipentak** · 08-01-2010, 04:31 AM

Originally posted by Take-5-JB

That is what I thought it would look like. To me, it salvages the good portion of the photo. Others may disagree, but I like it.

JB

I think it was a good suggestion. All in all I think it's as good a result as your going to get. It's competently captured and processed but, in the final analysis, intrinsically limited by shooting conditions.

pingflood · 08-01-2010, 12:01 PM

Ah well, today I got this so all is ok with the world again.

**dadipentak** · 08-01-2010, 03:04 PM

Originally posted by pingflood

Ah well, today I got this so all is ok with the world again.

Yep--that shot proves it ;~). I think it's the color/tone of the water in the swan shot that's the problem and that's probly a function of the orientation of the light and sky conditions.

pingflood
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07-31-2010, 02:33 PM	#10
Take-5-JB Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: South Carolina Posts: 236	Just a thought...try cropping about 1/3 off the right side of your last revision. The first photo posted was blown out on the swan's back and needed room above the head. Seems the head and neck with the slight reflection is the viable part here. Go vertical to portrait after cropping the right side, maybe? JB Last edited by Take-5-JB; 07-31-2010 at 02:35 PM. Reason: spelling

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07-31-2010, 10:46 AM	#2
pingflood Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Borås, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,169 Original Poster	Same shot with a little detailed pulled back in PP, but still lacking.

07-31-2010, 11:21 AM	#3
Jimbo Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maple Ridge BC Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,368	Looks over exposured to me. Wrong time of day? JIM

07-31-2010, 11:24 AM	#4
Eruditass Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,207	To me, the neck and above being darker is distracting (and perhaps pp'able). I would prefer a less close picture, perhaps to get more of the reflection in or space around it the subject (and put the head closer to the 3rds line) Also, I would prefer a slightly less noticible vignette. Lastly, the color do not particularly add to the image. In such a scenario, I would experiment with B&W or reduce saturation (leaving the beak's color in). Last edited by Eruditass; 07-31-2010 at 11:29 AM.

07-31-2010, 11:35 AM	#5
pingflood Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Borås, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,169 Original Poster	Well, one more attempt, but now it just looks PP'd like hell. Maybe I should toss it and get a better one another day.

07-31-2010, 11:46 AM	#6
borno Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: md-usa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,580	Hey PF, I think the swan is very nice,but maybe the water is kind of drab looking. Not much can be done about it I guess. I think if the water had the nice dark color in the BG like the foreground it would really make him stand out. I'm not very skilled at PP though.

07-31-2010, 11:53 AM	#7
Rense Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zetten - The Netherlands Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,050	I think it has to do with the composition... The swans' head has not enough space above.... I think it would have been much better if the eye of the swan was on one of the 45 degrees diagonals.... diagonal method

07-31-2010, 02:01 PM	#8
pingflood Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Borås, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,169 Original Poster	OK, let's try adding some space (I cropped it some and maybe too tight). Better or worse?

07-31-2010, 02:20 PM	#9
Rense Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zetten - The Netherlands Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,050	Better! Not optimal, but definately better imo!

07-31-2010, 02:36 PM	#11
pingflood Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Borås, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,169 Original Poster	Let us try...

07-31-2010, 10:42 PM	#12
Take-5-JB Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: South Carolina Posts: 236	That is what I thought it would look like. To me, it salvages the good portion of the photo. Others may disagree, but I like it. JB

08-01-2010, 04:31 AM	#13
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	Originally posted by Take-5-JB That is what I thought it would look like. To me, it salvages the good portion of the photo. Others may disagree, but I like it. JB I think it was a good suggestion. All in all I think it's as good a result as your going to get. It's competently captured and processed but, in the final analysis, intrinsically limited by shooting conditions.

08-01-2010, 12:01 PM	#14
pingflood Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Borås, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,169 Original Poster	Ah well, today I got this so all is ok with the world again.

08-01-2010, 03:04 PM	#15
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	Originally posted by pingflood Ah well, today I got this so all is ok with the world again. Yep--that shot proves it ;~). I think it's the color/tone of the water in the swan shot that's the problem and that's probly a function of the orientation of the light and sky conditions.