Have a look please.

Have a look please. · 09:05 PM

Help Critique please. One is simply cropped tighter than the other.

FA 12-24 and gentle HDR.

Wombat · 01-08-2009, 09:24 PM

Technically a beautiful photo but I find myself asking "What is the subject?" You have three equally strong elements - the detail in the massive tree, the imposing bulk of the mountain and the mystery of the track and who has left the footprints in the snow. Any one of these has enough interest to make a subject in itself, but I feel all three have received equal emphasis here. Hence my eye doesn't have anywhere to rest and contemplate.

Nevertheless, a feast for the soul.

Rockdoctor · 01-08-2009, 10:31 PM

lol. I suppose the subject could be a winter path through the mountains past a very large spruce tree.

**Mallee Boy** · 01-08-2009, 11:08 PM

The second one tends to 'invite' you to step into it....would probably look very good in a very large enlargement, perhaps in a hiking equipment store..?

Cheers.

Igilligan · 01-08-2009, 11:09 PM

Originally posted by Rockdoctor

lol. I suppose the subject could be a winter path through the mountains past a very large spruce tree.

Thats what I was thinkin'

I like the crop better... I do get what Wombat was getting at.

-EDIT-

I was wrong... they are both cropped a tad I guess.... it is the second one I like the best... just want to be clear haha

Jewelltrail · 01-09-2009, 12:53 AM

I like the second one--well done.

Class A · 01-09-2009, 01:03 AM

I also prefer the first version (the crop). It is more to the point and addresses Wombat's criticism to some extent. Good (tasteful) use of HDR, BTW.

Chwisch87 · 01-09-2009, 02:47 AM

The photo could be cropped more really to show the path/subject in this case.

pop4 · 01-09-2009, 06:24 AM

The HDR looks a bit too overdone to me; you can see the haloing in both of the shots. Both photos also look a bit too artificial to me, I get the feeling that they're not taken out in nature, but could be a scene from a museum, or some other display, with the mountain in the background painted in.

just my 2c

vievetrick · 01-09-2009, 06:24 AM

I prefer the crop version as well. It has a better inviting feel for me anyway.

Rockdoctor · 01-09-2009, 07:00 AM

Originally posted by pop4

The HDR looks a bit too overdone to me; you can see the haloing in both of the shots. Both photos also look a bit too artificial to me, I get the feeling that they're not taken out in nature, but could be a scene from a museum, or some other display, with the mountain in the background painted in.

just my 2c

Well, this is the effect HDR offers. We are not use to viewing photos with the foreground and background exposed in this manner. You should see the source pictures that went into creating it. Over exposed background with proper exposure on the tree and a blacked out tree with a correct exposure on the background. I iwill post later.

**Rense** · 01-09-2009, 07:28 AM

#2, the uncropped one, does it for me! Reading the other responses, it won't be much of a help to you, is it? For me it is just the feeling of #2: it's more majestic, it even ads a fourth element to the 3 already mentioned by Wombat: a forest. This completes the picture for me, I guess....

Or something like that...

scott-devon · 01-09-2009, 08:16 AM

I prefer the 2nd one, the log to the left seems to add balance and the extra amount of trail gives it depth. I see in both versions you have some purple colours showing up in the trees.

The rock face in the distance looks a bit like the East entrance to Jasper Park, I'd like to get out to the park one of these days for some shots.

Rockdoctor · 01-09-2009, 11:18 AM

Originally posted by scott-devon

I prefer the 2nd one, the log to the left seems to add balance and the extra amount of trail gives it depth. I see in both versions you have some purple colours showing up in the trees.

The rock face in the distance looks a bit like the East entrance to Jasper Park, I'd like to get out to the park one of these days for some shots.

Good eye for the local Geology. It was taken on the hike out to 7 glaciers along Lake Louise looking back toward the Chateau.

Ya, this image has issues with fringing and halos for sure. Part of why I wanted to crop the photo to tell you the truth.

séamuis · 01-09-2009, 11:30 AM

Originally posted by Rockdoctor

Good eye for the local Geology. It was taken on the hike out to 7 glaciers along Lake Louise looking back toward the Chateau.

Ya, this image has issues with fringing and halos for sure. Part of why I wanted to crop the photo to tell you the truth.

what aperture were you at? that is some serious PF if you were stopped down and HDR only emphasizes it to be honest. take my next comments with a grain of salt as I am biased against HDR.

it looks overdone even for HDR (which by the way proper HDR isn't supposed to be so noticeable. the stuff people show as HDR is usually the very extreme and not really true HDR.)

I am also not a fan of the composition. I think its more the angle than the cropping. you want to convey the path ending and opening up to the mountains but that's just not what I am getting. maybe if you were lower shooting up at a higher angle? im not really sure. but for the record I think the scene is beautiful and am very envious. I also prefer #2 because I Think cropping out the treeline on the first unbalances the picture and the tree on the right almost instantly draws the eye instead of the path to the mountains.

despite all that, they are still lovely photos.

Rockdoctor
	View full profile
	Contact via private message
	Find other posts by Rockdoctor
	Find threads started by Rockdoctor
	Find threads in which Rockdoctor has posted

01-08-2009, 11:09 PM	#5
Igilligan Guest	Originally posted by Rockdoctor lol. I suppose the subject could be a winter path through the mountains past a very large spruce tree. Thats what I was thinkin' I like the crop better... I do get what Wombat was getting at. -EDIT- I was wrong... they are both cropped a tad I guess.... it is the second one I like the best... just want to be clear haha Last edited by Igilligan; 01-09-2009 at 11:04 AM.

01-08-2009, 09:24 PM	#2
Wombat Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 901	Technically a beautiful photo but I find myself asking "What is the subject?" You have three equally strong elements - the detail in the massive tree, the imposing bulk of the mountain and the mystery of the track and who has left the footprints in the snow. Any one of these has enough interest to make a subject in itself, but I feel all three have received equal emphasis here. Hence my eye doesn't have anywhere to rest and contemplate. Nevertheless, a feast for the soul.

01-08-2009, 10:31 PM	#3
Rockdoctor Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Western Canada Posts: 199 Original Poster	lol. I suppose the subject could be a winter path through the mountains past a very large spruce tree.

01-08-2009, 11:08 PM	#4
Mallee Boy Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,904	The second one tends to 'invite' you to step into it....would probably look very good in a very large enlargement, perhaps in a hiking equipment store..? Cheers.

01-09-2009, 12:53 AM	#6
Jewelltrail Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Rhode Island Photos: Albums Posts: 4,180	I like the second one--well done.

01-09-2009, 01:03 AM	#7
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251	I also prefer the first version (the crop). It is more to the point and addresses Wombat's criticism to some extent. Good (tasteful) use of HDR, BTW.

01-09-2009, 02:47 AM	#8
Chwisch87 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA Photos: Gallery Posts: 317	The photo could be cropped more really to show the path/subject in this case.

01-09-2009, 06:24 AM	#9
pop4 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: YMML Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,879	The HDR looks a bit too overdone to me; you can see the haloing in both of the shots. Both photos also look a bit too artificial to me, I get the feeling that they're not taken out in nature, but could be a scene from a museum, or some other display, with the mountain in the background painted in. just my 2c

01-09-2009, 06:24 AM	#10
vievetrick Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Easthampton - Massachusetts - USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,183	I prefer the crop version as well. It has a better inviting feel for me anyway.

01-09-2009, 07:00 AM	#11
Rockdoctor Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Western Canada Posts: 199 Original Poster	Originally posted by pop4 The HDR looks a bit too overdone to me; you can see the haloing in both of the shots. Both photos also look a bit too artificial to me, I get the feeling that they're not taken out in nature, but could be a scene from a museum, or some other display, with the mountain in the background painted in. just my 2c Well, this is the effect HDR offers. We are not use to viewing photos with the foreground and background exposed in this manner. You should see the source pictures that went into creating it. Over exposed background with proper exposure on the tree and a blacked out tree with a correct exposure on the background. I iwill post later.

01-09-2009, 07:28 AM	#12
Rense Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zetten - The Netherlands Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,050	#2, the uncropped one, does it for me! Reading the other responses, it won't be much of a help to you, is it? For me it is just the feeling of #2: it's more majestic, it even ads a fourth element to the 3 already mentioned by Wombat: a forest. This completes the picture for me, I guess.... Or something like that...

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

01-09-2009, 08:16 AM	#13
scott-devon Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Alberta Posts: 2,140	I prefer the 2nd one, the log to the left seems to add balance and the extra amount of trail gives it depth. I see in both versions you have some purple colours showing up in the trees. The rock face in the distance looks a bit like the East entrance to Jasper Park, I'd like to get out to the park one of these days for some shots.

01-09-2009, 11:18 AM	#14
Rockdoctor Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Western Canada Posts: 199 Original Poster	Originally posted by scott-devon I prefer the 2nd one, the log to the left seems to add balance and the extra amount of trail gives it depth. I see in both versions you have some purple colours showing up in the trees. The rock face in the distance looks a bit like the East entrance to Jasper Park, I'd like to get out to the park one of these days for some shots. Good eye for the local Geology. It was taken on the hike out to 7 glaciers along Lake Louise looking back toward the Chateau. Ya, this image has issues with fringing and halos for sure. Part of why I wanted to crop the photo to tell you the truth.

01-09-2009, 11:30 AM	#15
séamuis Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Savannah, U.S./Baguio City, P.H. Posts: 5,979	Originally posted by Rockdoctor Good eye for the local Geology. It was taken on the hike out to 7 glaciers along Lake Louise looking back toward the Chateau. Ya, this image has issues with fringing and halos for sure. Part of why I wanted to crop the photo to tell you the truth. what aperture were you at? that is some serious PF if you were stopped down and HDR only emphasizes it to be honest. take my next comments with a grain of salt as I am biased against HDR. it looks overdone even for HDR (which by the way proper HDR isn't supposed to be so noticeable. the stuff people show as HDR is usually the very extreme and not really true HDR.) I am also not a fan of the composition. I think its more the angle than the cropping. you want to convey the path ending and opening up to the mountains but that's just not what I am getting. maybe if you were lower shooting up at a higher angle? im not really sure. but for the record I think the scene is beautiful and am very envious. I also prefer #2 because I Think cropping out the treeline on the first unbalances the picture and the tree on the right almost instantly draws the eye instead of the path to the mountains. despite all that, they are still lovely photos.