The lake

[steevdavis62]

I have been working with my new Canon, and especially experimenting with my polarising filter. This photo was taken on Borumba Dam.Feedback on this photo would be really appreciated

[Jamesc359]

For starters I think you need to pick a subject and focus on it. Is your subject the sky or the dam. The sky occupies way to much space if the dam is to be the primary subject, and the sky as a subject in this case isn't really all that intriguing. This is just a personal preference, but when the sky is included, I think it's best to either have it either occupy 1/3 of the photo when it isn't the subject, or 2/3s when it is the primary subject.

I think this is a case where a landscape format would make for a noticeable improvement.

[steevdavis62]

Thanks James. I really wanted the sky to be the focus. I liked the pattern in the clouds at the time, and i guess i used portrait because i wanted to capture the full pattern. I liked the way the sun was hitting the dam wall so i tried to use it to frame the sky.. But i appreciate the comments, i know i really need to work on picking more specific subjects for my photos..

[jay_soft]

Great sky and i think the damn is an interesting anchor at the bottom of the pic, but there are lots of items on and around the bank which draw my eyes to them and distract me from the rest of the picture.

I think it would have been interesting to keep it portrait, but zoom in a little to cut out the bank on the right, keeping the wooded hill and damn in the picture. zooming in a little might have made more of the textures of the concrete too, which could have created an intersting contrast with the texture of sky.

[texas_rose_101]

Originally Posted by jay_soft

Great sky and i think the damn is an interesting anchor at the bottom of the pic, but there are lots of items on and around the bank which draw my eyes to them and distract me from the rest of the picture.

I think it would have been interesting to keep it portrait, but zoom in a little to cut out the bank on the right, keeping the wooded hill and damn in the picture. zooming in a little might have made more of the textures of the concrete too, which could have created an intersting contrast with the texture of sky.

I agree with Jay. The sky is beautiful, but some things on the damn is a little distracting.

[jdwalz]

I got into this subject on another post about how a dramatic sky can enhance a photo and you found some truly fantastic sky.

I never look at a photo as having too much sky or too little dam or too much water. I trust the artist's vision and creative rendering of what you saw at the moment you released the shutter.
As for what appears before my eyes - it's majestic, tranquil and done with great depth and clarity.

Excellent shot.

[pooks]

I too love this pic. I think the clouds are amazing... if anything at all...... I would have cropped out the little grassy area on the right bottom corner. The mountains in the background along with the dam really do frame out the sky for me.

[loondiver]

Of the last two pics, I like the first (landscape mode). It has a steady, serene, almost majestic feel--all that sky, grounded by the perfectly horizontal foundation of land at the bottom. The tree on the lower right works for me, too--it enhances the contrast between the rooted ground and the overarching, unlimited sky.

The forested hills on the left are really dark (on my monitor, at least). I wonder what the effect would be of getting some texture or shadow detail in there. Maybe it's best just as it is....

Keep up the good work!

[steevdavis62]

Thanks, i like the idea of lightening the forrest at the left. Bringing out more detail in the tree's. Sort create a point of interest... thank you for the comment. unfortunatly i wont be able to get to my computer with photoshop for am week or 2. but when i do, ill get it all done up

[carneyc]

Nice depth, angles are good.