First Post (Cochem Castle), Need Help!

[delt127]

I am stationed in Germany and would like to print a couple of my photos as keepsakes from our time here, therefore this is the first of several shots I plan to ask for your help. I am semi-satisfied with the results (convert to B&W, took out distracting electrical tower, etc), but i know it can be better...with your help! Thanks!

Basic Data:
Canon 20D, Sigma 18-200 OS, ISO 200, 1/200, f7.1 @ 173mm, RAW

[clockdoc]

Hi Sean and welcome to the group. Nice moody scene. I can see three distinct levels of tone up to the castle and then the sky adds a fourth level. I think you would probably see even more in a glossy print although a matte finish may be better suited to this scene. My only objection is the darker mass on the right side that looks like another mountain range. IMHO it does not add value to the overall image. Nice work. I look forward to seeing more of your photos here on DPS.
Please tell us a little more about how RAW helped with this scene over a conventional jpg file.

[jiminyClickit]

delt127, Welcome

Cloning out the right-side 1/3-down object would help (as clockdoc observed), may keep viewer in frame, and prevent loss of important stuff in a crop. I just imagined this in a tinted green or other color of your choosing as a way to give a little spark, while still preserving the sense of b/w.

[shiki]

Originally Posted by delt127

I am stationed in Germany and would like to print a couple of my photos as keepsakes from our time here, therefore this is the first of several shots I plan to ask for your help. I am semi-satisfied with the results (convert to B&W, took out distracting electrical tower, etc), but i know it can be better...with your help! Thanks!

Basic Data:
Canon 20D, Sigma 18-200 OS, ISO 200, 1/200, f7.1 @ 173mm, RAW

hi,
l love the atmosphere in your photo. however - l would crop a bit from the right as well as a little from the top. it would give it a "closer" aproach and be more focused on the layered mountains. or - crop tl botom and it will have a more aerial look. l would love to show you what l mean, but l dont know if it is possible here. if you want to take the trouble and mail it to me, l will be glad to show you.
shiki

[delt127]

Thanks clockdoc and jiminyClickit. I agree that the mountain on the right is distracting. Would you take out the entire mountain, or just the little upshoot furthest to the right? I know how to take care of the little upshoot, but don't have a good idea of how to tackle the entire mountain effectively.

As for clockdoc's question of "Please tell us a little more about how RAW helped with this scene over a conventional jpg file.", here goes:

I shoot everything in RAW because I feel I can manipulate the photos (non-destructively) before ever pulling them into PE6. My photography skills are improving, but shooting in RAW gives me the ability to correct any mistakes I made (within reason) while on the shoot.

Thanks for the comments, any more suggestions?

[clockdoc]

I would tru to remove the entire mountain as its position does not help the overall compsition. If you leave any of the darker tone, the viewer's eye will continually wander over there. After removing the little upshoot, you could try using the smudge tool to soften the edges of the larger area . If that works then leave it as is. Otherwise it will take some cloning work to make it blend in.

I shoot with the D80 and just today uploaded their 30-day tral of Nikon's Capture NX software to process their version of a RAW file (.NEF). That file extension cannot be opened using Photoshop 7.0 and there is no plug-in available that supports the NEF's created by the D80. Wish me luck in this venture.