sun going down on grass

[Gernot]

Hi guys!

This is my first post here and I'd like to know what you think about this shot in terms of composition an light.


Thanks in advance!

Camera Model: NIKON D90
Focal Length (35mm Equiv): 40 mm
White Point Chromaticity: 0.3
Exposure Time: 1/320 sec
F-Number: f/9.0
ISO Speed Rating: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Metering Mode: Pattern

[cowgrlsheart]

Really incredable! I love the light on the grass. One thing I might have done (and I wasn't there, so I'm not sure if you could have done this) but getting down lower and shooting up throught the grass might have made a better shot. The telephone wires in the background aren't an eye sore, but they tend to distract from the focal point.

I'm not sure that the rays would have been as strong if you'd been lower but, I'd go for it again and just see how it goes. It's just a thought. I am a laying down on the ground photographer It turns out some unique stuff though! I have to say that!

Good Luck!

[Gernot]

cowgrlsheart, thank you for looking at my pic!
I think i'll really try to get lower (cam height was about 50cm)!
I think of the wires as distraction - maybe processing could eliminate them. Most of the time I'm too lazy for processing (the shot came directly off the cam) but in this case I think I'll try.
Again - many thanks for your response!

[Krusty79]

Hi Gernot,

Nice image, but the one thing that distracts me is that leafless branch that extends into the sky on the left. I think it would be better if you cloned out the part that extends into the sky. The wires don't really bother me.

I also think that if you cropped out some of the plain sky at the top, you would still be following the rule of thirds and it would emphasize the sun and flowers more.

Lastly, I'm curious what this would have looked like if you took the shot a few minutes later, when the sun would not be as bright and blown out. Just my opinion.

Greg

[cowgrlsheart]

Following up on what Greg said, I think if you get down lower, you'd see less sun, which would help. I think you might avoid the need to post process by getting down lower too. If you take it at a different angle, say, laying more up-hill, the wires will be to your far left and won't even be in the picture. The sun will be lower because the mountan will cover it better.

The branch should definitely go as Greg mentioned. The point of this picture is to make the single stalk of grass with the sun on it a WOW subject. Making these changes I think will give you a winner of a photo.

[Gernot]

Hey Greg!
Thanks for your input! I tried to apply your suggestions. it's weird: the more i clone out the branch the more it disturbs me. But it looks better than reaching into the sky!


btw - a similar shot of the same scene which i don't like that much but puts more detail on the grass and flowers but the sun is completely blown out




Again, thanks for your replies - I'm learning to look at details in my pics I ignored or overlooked before!

[cowgrlsheart]

Gernot, I have a huge issue with paying attention to detail too! It's hard to continue to do so throughout a long photoshoot. Btw...I like your first shot better than the second one, but the color of the grass is pretty with the more daylightish look!

[JohnT]

It is a nice shot, you have a little sun flare but overall good capture. I use a plugin to take out the wires called wireworm (free of course)

MV's Plugins Wire Worm

[Gernot]

Thanks for the tip John!
Seems like the plugin only works on Win and not on Mac

[Krusty79]

Gernot,

I see that you have cloned out the part of the branch that was extending into the sky. I think that's an improvement and I thought that would totally eliminate the problem, but that plain branch is still little bit of a distraction (is that what you meant when you said the more you clone it out, the more it bothers you?). I do like the cropping of the sky.

I think getting a graduated neutral density filter will help a lot when the sky is much brighter than the landscape. I have a problem with blown out skies also and am deciding which graduated ND filter to get.

Another option is to go the HDR route when the dynamic range of the scene is greater than the camera can capture. I haven't tried that yet, but it looks intriguing.

Greg