Laie Portrait

[Tsuyachan]

Nikon D5000
VR 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6G
ISA200
1/400s
F/11
April 24, 2010 at 6:10am HST

Brought my new camera on a long and slow drive up to the North Shore on 'Oahu. This photo was taken at a scenic point in the small town of La'ie. I was so excited to get up early and head out on the road for this "shoot".

As a beginner, my questions are:

1. I believe I had my camera on some kind of automatic setting. What would be other manual settings that I could have used to get a sharper and better image?

2. I did do a little sharpness, color and saturation enhancements in Photoshop Elements 8 (I'm new a this too - I feel like such a dummy fumbling around this program.). What other treatments can I try to enhance this photo?

3. I'd like a critique of the overall composition. I did crop this photo a little. I shot it in both "portrait" and "landscape" orientations but I think I like this orientation better. What do you think?

Thank you so much for your critique and advice! I am loving my camera and have found a new creative outlet!!

Aloha,

Robin

[LeeR]

I think you needed t do a levels adjustment first, before increasing the saturation. I noticed a big improvement in the image when I lowered the 'gamma' (the middle, gray slider in the levels dialogue) but then the saturation was a bit too rich. Other than that the composition is solid. I might have like to have had just a bit more on the left but aside from that, this is a great shot.

[JohnT]

I really like it, and it is so nice to see water looking like water not foam. The colors are nice and clarity is solid.

[Tsuyachan]

Thanks LeeR! I will play around with the levels. Is the photo a little over exposed and is that what the levels will improve? Or, does a levels adjustment apply to "noise"?