Clear subject

[benchdog]

On my orginal image (below) I feel the back ground is competing with the subject being the water falls. Do you think the back ground is competing with the subject? Although I do like the way the back ground is lit.



This is a crop version.



What do you think? In the cropped version with less back ground a better composed shot?

Thank you

[windrider86]

Yup, the second version is WAY better. The first one has to much going on and gets confusing as to what the main focal point is

[sk66]

Problem is the water is underexposed and the BG is too bright...The bright area naturally competes for attention.

I adjusted the exposure and balance in this example

[Rigu]

Raising my hand with another vote for the cropped version.

[benchdog]

Originally Posted by sk66

Problem is the water is underexposed and the BG is too bright...The bright area naturally competes for attention.

I adjusted the exposure and balance in this example

Thanks sk66, as soon as I read this it hit me like a brick. I made an adjustment to the water only and I think it's better balanced. What do you think? I left the BG alone because I like the light and I thought your adjustment to the BG was a little to dark.

Thanks for the input it was very valuable.

[sk66]

Better, but now it is close to "monotone"...at least on my calibrated monitors. I do think the water now gets the majority of the attention, but it's not "locked" there...

[benchdog]

Originally Posted by sk66

Better, but now it is close to "monotone"...at least on my calibrated monitors. I do think the water now gets the majority of the attention, but it's not "locked" there...

I do need to calibrate my monitor but it is very close. I agree I got it close to monotone. I played with it a little more (had to fix the snow also) but didn't pull as much blue out of the water as you did in your example. Let me know what you think.

Thanks again sk66 you have been a great help

[sk66]

If you're happy, I'm happy...it is better now. The eye keeps coming back to the subject now.

[benchdog]

Originally Posted by sk66

If you're happy, I'm happy...it is better now. The eye keeps coming back to the subject now.

Ya happy with it finally. Glad to hear your eye keeps going back to the subject now. Mine was but sometimes I wonder when I am looking at my own work am I forcing it.

Again thanks for all your input it was very valuable.