Reflection / ISO noise

[Jilly]

I saw this awesome sight, and had to snap a picture. I don't have any reflections yet, so I was thrilled to even see one that clear.

1/40 exposure
f/3.5
ISO 400

It was very dark, so I lightened the exposure.
I also cloned out some of the sticks in the water, and flipped it hoping that the melting snow would look like a cloud (I didn't think I'd be able to clone that out).

Someone commented "I like the composition ... With the ISO noise it adds some character to the shot too."

What does that last part mean??!?
What else could I do to make this better? I wanted a bit more sunset color, but I might have been too late.

Here is the original -
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2687/...32e66fcc0e.jpg

[LeeR]

I am not quite sure why you did what you did, the original looked pretty good to me. My first impression is that I like the darker image better. The colors are so much more intense. I could see a bit of lightening but not as much as you have here.
In answer to your question: when you are shooting in low light situations your camera will automatically adjust the ISO so you don't have to shoot at ridiculously long shutter speeds. However, high ISO shots tend to be grainy (noise), which is what the poster was referring to. However, the noise in your image is not from the high ISO but from all the lightening you did. Which brings up a question: I don't know what tool you are using to lighten that image but I suspect you could have done it in PS or GIMP without all the noise.

[kstiltne]

I agree, the original image looks much better than the altered. Much better colors, much cleaner. I would go back to the original, maybe lighten it just a bit and get rid of the sticks in the water. Otherwise...good image.

[wal]

The original pic is better..Noise due to iso is kind of like grains from old film and sometimes could be artistic, which will look good if used properly.. but the lightening you did enhances the noise in post processing is too much.

When taking Sunsets or landscape and it's getting too dark.. use long shutter speeds with small aperture and ISO as low as possible to minimise noise.. Must use a tripod. You'll get sharper images. Adding noise purposely to a picture.. to create an effect/ artistic pic is another different thing... here the ISO doesn't matter much.. but you still need a large aperture as F13, so the landscape is sharp throughout.

[SuperDan]

Originally Posted by wal

the lightening you did enhances the noise in post processing is too much.

I do like the image and it does well, as also a very good reflection shop.. but yes the noise is distracting.

Keep shooting! and thanks for sharing!

[Morningstar33]

I like the original shot better myself.

Getting rid of the sticks in the water was a good idea. So was flipping the image to make the snow resemble a cloud. I think those would enhance the original image.

Great shot though. Cheers!

[Jilly]

Hmmm.. I still like the lighter one better than the original. I guess I like how much clearer (to me anyways) the reflection is. I can't see all of the trees in the original.

Thanks for the feedback though! I tried it again, and this time played with the saturation, so the color wouldn't disappear when I lightened the exposure.
I do like this one, but I am wondering if the colors are too bright.

[See & Wonder]

I vote for the original it seems so much more dramatic then the one you posted here.

My first thought looking at the posted one was, why is it sort of fuzzy, which I understood when you mentioned you had flicked it for the clouds.

The last one you posted is just to bright, doesn't seem natural anymore.

So I would pick the original and I love the composition.
CW