Power lines in fog

[phil24]

While looking for some fog shots I came across this power lines view. I liked the lines and the depth it brought out but I just don't think it really came out the way my eyes saw it. This is a cropped and photoshop elements "auto" adjustment view, since I am just beginning with elements I really have no idea how to use it. Looking for input on how I might have composed better to give the real feel I was trying for. Also I will post the original for ideas on how I could have cropped better, post processed etc. Anyone is free to make changes as I am here to learn and seeing is a great way to learn.


The original Nikon D90
Exposure 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture f/8.0
Focal Length 105 mm
ISO Speed 200
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash No Flash

[jeanneholverstott]

hey, phil, as someone who doesn't even know how to do any decent pp yet, take my commentary with a grain of salt and recognition that i am an amateur, too. i, too, love the idea of the shot. i'd almost want less depth of field to blur the background more. the angle of the shot is also what i think is throwing it slightly off. perhaps if the angle were slightly more upward, it would have helped?

regardless, love the idea. keep up the good work. hopefully someone else gives you more helpful feedback, but i wanted to comment!

[graciousness]

Hello Phil

I don't know what it is about power lines, but I seem to be drawn to them, too, albeit they do creep me out and I have recurring nightmares about them (now what would Freud say about me.....).

Originally Posted by jeanneholverstott

the angle of the shot is also what i think is throwing it slightly off. perhaps if the angle were slightly more upward, it would have helped?

I have just learn recently that in regards to taking photos of architectures and such, tilting your camera up would give quite a bit of distortion to the image (lens distortion). So in saying this, the way you have shot this is just fine and only needs some minor tweaking to straighten the lines as they are leaning to the left a little bit. The ground almost looks straight to me, though, so I am guessing that there is a little bit of lens distortion, but this can be easily fixed with photoshop. I've never used elements, though, so I don't know if there is adjustment you can do there, but google anyway and find out.

In regards to composition, I like the amount of the snow on the bottom, but wish there was more space to the top for balance. It was shot too tight at the top and so there's no use for me to say include more of it in the edit. If you get another opportunity to get shots like this one, it's better to step further back and get more into your shot, as you can always tighten the crop when you edit later.

I do really like the minimalistic effect of this shot and if taken better, it would have been a brilliant photo. It is minimalism you are trying to achieve with a moody atmosphere, yes?

There is a little bit of vignetting on the corners of the photo which would suggest this happened from the lens. It would help if you advice what lens you used so others can advice you better on this.

In regards to post processing, you really need to not use the auto adjust in order to learn. Make sure you are workign on a copy of the image and then play with the settings there. Doing it this way would also give you different ideas on how this photo could look in different adjustment settings, plus you learn to develop your own taste as far as how much or how little work processing you like to achieve on your photos.

I hope this helps. Good eye for the subject - just go out there, shoot again, take several shots of the same subject for comparison, and don't be afraid to fiddle with those settings in your photoshop. How else are you going to learn

[phil24]

thanks for the input. I may be able to get permission to go at this shot from the opposite angle, coming up the hill instead of going down. the snow is gone for now but at least I could see how the composition works.

[phil24]

Sydney, Australia one of the top places on my list I want to visit and a reason I really love this website is the people from around the world you can contact with. Thanks for your input.
I will check for an adjustment in elements I just bought a book so maybe it is in there.
When I first set up for the shot I had it with more sky but for some reason just zoomed in and did not pay attention to what I had cut out. Good point for me to remember in the future.
Exactly what I was looking to achieve, and I have never had the word brilliant even closely associated with any of my photos so you have inspired me to go work harder, thanks!
I wasn't sure why the vignetting had occurred as I have not seen it on other shots with this lens- it was a Nikon AF 18-105 VR lens I used.
Thanks for all of the encouraging comments and tips to improve!

[SwissJon]

To add to what others have said, I'm not sure what the maximum aperture of your lens is, but I would have opened the lens up to whatever it is (f/4.5?) and taken the shot what would have happened is that the background poles would have been thrown further out of focus and would have becomes blurred. That would add to the lonely feeling you're looking for.

As an alternative, stepping forward and zooming out, so you're still filling the frame, would push the distant poles further away.. As has already been stated, this would cause a bit of distortion, converging verticals as they're known. This kind of distortion is reasonably easy to fix in Lightroom, Photoshop, and Elements. There's an article for you here

How to Overcome the Problem of Converging Verticals

I think you need to learn to look around the edge of the frame when you're taking photographs, to ensure the subject is correctly placed, it's disappointing to read you have no more room above.

However this is information for your future adventures.. As far as this one goes, I think you've gone about as far as you can.. I like the post processing you've done, it certainly enhances the subject, although I'm not so sure about cropping the neighbouring poles in the way you did, you should crop them wholly in or wholly out. I would also opt for making them upright and tipping the ground, and the vignetting you see is a result of the lens.. Light fall off on the corners.. You should be able to correct that in Elements by putting an exposure vignette and increasing the exposure by an appropriate amount.

I guess it's just a case of waiting for another foggy day

[phil24]

Thanks Jon,

I can get an f3.5-5.6 depending on zoom so stepping closer would give that blurred ability on the distant poles.
The article was a big help as I did not know what converging verticals even meant until I read it so thanks!
You are right on the checking the edges I got so wrapped up in trying to get lined up to look down through the poles I forgot to see how the overall composition looked, oh and I was actually standing in the road so I had to dodge a few cars which may have made me rush a little, still no excuse though.
When I cropped it I was trying to get the two lines in the top to help bring your eyes through the center of the photo, again I probably should have looked at the other lines & poles as well.
Really appreciate everyone's help on this as I am trying to learn something I have always loved, but never had time or resources to get any real training.
Switzerland is another of those great places to visit I have on my list by the way.

[SwissJon]

Lol. Switzerland is lovely, but getting crowded because of the tourists wanting to see the wilderness

Just a little tip from experience, when standing in places that make you rush, like the middle of the road, take a slightly wider angle than you think you need, it's easy to crop a photo after the fact, but if you miss something and you're too tight, it's gone forever.