boy, lake and mountain

[ilike2spike]

My challenges as a beginner are many, and I think that this shot is representative of a lot of them.

For example: I am in a location that is visually amazing, with my kids playing in water and on the rocks. I almost go into overload, and just try to capture something to capture what I am enjoying with my eye. How do I translate that into a still image that can be seen by others, and that they can see some of it too? In this case, there is a wide open lake to the right, and a whole range of mountain peaks, and I snapped the picture with part of a tree on the left and a couple of people there to distract.

What are some keys that all of you use when trying to see the picture before it is taken? I find it challenging with people and dramatic background sort of pictures.

What can be done to rescue a picture such as this, when I dont do a good job of framing the shot in the first place.

[peeperita]

he's a cutie.....and he looks as happy as he can be posing for a shot during a delightful day.....

fixes?....if you have skills in post, you might consider toying with the exposure for different areas of you image.....a layer to bring up the shadow details in the mountains only.....a layer to brighten his handsome face.....and possibly a color adjustment layer to pull some of the blues from your model and the beach he's standing on....


i am the worst at landscape shots because i tend to look at the scene without the camera to my face.....and often i will try looking through the viewfinder and panning about til something pleasing compositionwise strikes me.....i look for high contrast areas as well because they can throw a good scene into blowouts and darkness.....

thanks for sharing....

peeper

[windrider86]

One thing you may consider is not having a person dead set in the middle of your photo. This will solve a couple of problems. Not having a person dead center will take the viewers eyes to other places of the picture and at the same time bring them back around to see the person. Composition

[jiminyClickit]

ilike2spike,

Put down the camera, back away slowly. Get an old picture mat in your most often-used size/aspect (4x6 = 2:3, 9x12 = 3:4, etc.). Divide opening of mat into thirds thus # using string taped to mat sides. Walk around for as long as it takes to begin SEEING through the string, without the slightest concern for settings, images that please you. This is called composing, and will give the eye training for the part that goes into your camera (a well-framed subject filled with interest). When you get that, then grab your camera (after an hour, a day, week, whatever it takes) and begin the process that determines what comes out of your camera (a correctly exposed, sharp image) by learning all you can from your manual, tutorials, DPS, and all the experience time allows.

If you haven't read about the Rule of Thirds, that's what the mat/thread viewer is for, placing subjects in the most pleasing areas of that sensor. Moving around a lot is a huge help in discovering a winning image. Go where no one has been. Not having the camera with you will set you free.

[ilike2spike]

Thanks for the comments and insights.

[FGPhotography]

I thought i'd try and fiddle around with it a bit in PSE, please keep in mind here I am no pro when it comes to editing but practice always makes perfect and the mountains in Banff (plus that adorable boy) seemed a good opportunity to play around and practice. Again, disclaimer, I'm not a pro and I may have butchered it, but here's my try

[EnzedSailor]

Not bad at all, and I think the rule of thirds is not set in concrete; sometimes central is ok. In photoshop, the distractions in this particular pic are dead easy to edit out as shown here (and someone else did a good one too) Don't be too hard on yourself - I was impressed with the dramatic lines (great diagonals) and placement of subject in your pic, it actually grabbed me and impressed me Nice.

[freezeframe03]

I would suggest watching where your subject is positioned in comparison to the background. If your son were to take a step to his right so that the peak of the mountain were seperated from his head the photo would be more pleasing to the eye.