What’s Your Preference?

greenroomsessions · #1 (**permalink**) 03-31-2011, 04:37 AM

I took this just up the road from my work. I did no PP on it. I would like to know how the exposure is. Should I have cropped the top a little? Any other critiques are very much appreciated.

Nikon D40X
Shutter Speed: 3 sec
Aperature: f/29
Focal Length: 42mm
ISO-100
Metering Mode: Pattern
No Flash

jentenna · #2 (**permalink**) 03-31-2011, 05:45 AM

As always, I have to preface my comments with the "I'm a newbie" disclaimer, but...

I love this shot. I think the exposure is great.... The water is very bright, so it commands attention as the subject, but there's plenty of detail in the surrounding area. This adds texture to the image, and the tangle of needles and branches provides an interesting contrast to the silky smooth water.

I also like the framing. It provides context for the photo... a sense of where the water comes from. And the top of the photo is bright, but not so much as to distract from the subject.

greenroomsessions · #3 (**permalink**) 03-31-2011, 08:28 PM

Thanks jentenna!

jdepould · #4 (**permalink**) 03-31-2011, 08:34 PM

The exposure looks pretty good, maybe a touch hot on the background--just a little.

Were you using ND filters or just the small aperture?

Your thinking on cropping the top might be good, try it and see? It's just a little bit distracting to me, since it's so bright.

I feel like the composition could be a little bit stronger. Right now it's just kind of there. I don't have any strong point of interest. Maybe getting closer and shooting some details of the waterfall would give you some interesting images? If you can go back, try a different time of day too. The light is a little flat, though it isn't harsh, so that's good.

greenroomsessions · #5 (**permalink**) 03-31-2011, 10:12 PM

Thanks jdepould. I was not using any filters. I actually don't have any. Could an ND filter have helped me here? I really don't know much about filters.

I will try cropping.

It is a place that I can go back to. I will try and make it back during a different time of day. Can you please explain what you mean about the light being a little flat?

Thanks again.

jdepould · #6 (**permalink**) 03-31-2011, 10:21 PM

Sunset light has a lot more character, it looks very different, than midday light. The light here doesn't really add anything to the image, it's just there.

ND filters are often used to achieve the soft water effect, because they let you use a longer shutter speed without overexposing the image.

navcom · #7 (**permalink**) 04-01-2011, 12:54 AM

I agree with Jamie...flat light and maybe a slightly different crop. Plus it is just a bit overexposed on the upper portion. Otherwise it's a neat shot.

"Flat" simply means there is no contrast. Light during the middle of the day is shining (for the most part) from directly overhead or close to it. This produces shadows that are only under objects. Light very early or late in the day is coming much more from the side, producing longer shadows...which produces more depth to a photo. Plus the light is also more "golden" and much less harsh which makes exposures much more pleasing.

A graduated neutral density filter (or ND grad for short) would definitely help here. It's a rectangular filter that's half clear and half shaded (kind of like sunglasses but not polarized). The transition between shaded and clear is feathered. In your case, you would place the shaded area over the upper portion of the image with the transition zone on top of the horizontal log.

What this will do is "push back" the intensity of the upper portion and bring it closer to they dynamic range of the lower, darker portion of the image.

All in all, your image is pretty cool. You did well with your long exposure. Only thing I might recommend is also trying a standard neutral density filter (not graduated...completely shaded). These are great for water shots as they allow you to slow down your shutter speed without having to use such a small aperture (which can cause diffraction and soften an image).

Hope that helps!

greenroomsessions · #8 (**permalink**) 04-01-2011, 03:35 AM

@navcom - Thank you very much for you explanation about using the ND filter and about how different light would affect this shot. I really appreciate you taking the time to explain this.