Tracks

[SwissJon]

I was out looking for reflections when I found these tracks leading into the water which held my interest for half an hour while I played around with various filters. Eventally this one turned out to be my favourite, I used my trusty B&W 6 stopper (I'm going to get another one cos I like it so much) and a hiTech 2 stop soft ND Grad on the sky.. I tried a 3 stop and it was too strong (The sky was darker than the lake) and I tried a 1 stop, but didn't like it as that meant the lower half was too dark.

Apart from a little cloning to get rid of an electricity pylon (The Swiss put them everywhere. ) this is exactly as shot. I've made no colour alterations nor cropped in PP.

I've a couple of questions please..

The tracks aren't quite central.. With the camera in portrait position I couldn't find the right spot for the tripod to make it in theright place. Normally in situations like this I'd crop so that they were, but I was wondering if it was needed.. The rail on the left is wonky and the one on the right is straight and I quite like the asymmetry.. What do you think?

The sky has been darkened by the filter, which was my intention, but the clouds bordering the top are almost lost. Do you think I should work on them? What about the sky itself? Should I add a filter to boost the colour saturation?

I'm not so sure about the shore, should I apply a grad filter to it to darken it a little?

Last but not least, do you think a CPL was needed here?

Any other comments, especially PP work, like colour balance?

Here's the Exif:
F/14
4 seconds
ISO 100
26mm

I used the hyperfocal chart and focussed at 3m
I used a ND 6 stop
I used a soft ND Grad 2 stop on the sky.

[2stroke]

Hey John-

Really nice image! I think it is outstanding for SOOC, but I cant help but think that this would be crackin with a little more contrast/curves in PP. It looks as tho the clouds on the extreme top are a little muddy, dont know if that is from the grad or not.

I like how the tracks are a little wonky and in that I think them being not dead center is just fine, could even be pushed a little either way.

[Krusty79]

Now that you mention it, the clouds at the top of the image are darker than their reflection. I wonder how the 1 stop grad would have looked instead. I think the asymmetry of the old rails is fine and is appropriate for old, broken down tracks. Something about the proportions of the image seems a little bit off to me and I think it is because the area of reflected sky is larger than the amount of sky I can see above the land. I think if you would have angled the camera upwards a little, to show a little more sky, that would have evened out the proportions. Nice shot, though and your images are improving.

How do you like the Hitech ND grad? Someone on Flickr recommended them to me also, but they are much cheaper than the Lee ones and I wonder about the quality.

[benchdog]

This is a nice image but it leaves me asking what's the story. I look at the tracks and it tells me one thing, I stop, look across the lake and say OK. They don't seem to connect for me.

[tlpphoto]

Nice image SwissJon. I like the story of the image -- makes me wonder how the tracks got there and where they go.

Regarding your questions. I think the sky needs to be popped a little in brightness, contrast (especially the clouds), and saturation. The sky, especially the top, looks a little muddy to my eye. I think the tracks are find as they are. If they are slightly off center, it doesn't bother me. I think the shoreline is great -- looks very warm and inviting -- "just how to I get there over those submerged tracks???"

Well done.
Tim

[SwissJon]

Thanks. I'll have a crack at the clouds.

To answer your question Krusty, the hi-techs are ok. They're not Lees, for sure, but then they cost 1/5 the price. They have very little colour cast and do what they're supposed to. Like I said at the start, this photo is with no colour adjustments and a 2 stop onthe sky. I'll show you the result after adjustment later today if I get the chance. They sit in a standard Cokin P holder, a cheapy I got on Fleabay for virtually nothing. I've ordered a set of hard grads so I guess I'm happy with them

[Lorenzo Reffo]

Nothing to do with your questions and colour balance - just a comment not a critique. Did you try to lie down on the ground and take the picture down there? I'm just curious because it seems like you could have had a better dramatic effect to me - and also you could include a little more of the sky this way. But I'm wondering if you won't lose reflections doing that - maybe you could work it out standing on your knees!

[SwissJon]

Originally Posted by Lorenzo Reffo

Nothing to do with your questions and colour balance - just a comment not a critique. Did you try to lie down on the ground and take the picture down there? I'm just curious because it seems like you could have had a better dramatic effect to me - and also you could include a little more of the sky this way. But I'm wondering if you won't lose reflections doing that - maybe you could work it out standing on your knees!

No.. These tracks were suspended in mid-air coming out of a wooden building.. I think they'd previously been used to launch a rescue boat, they were only about 30cm apart.. I guess I could have lowered the tripod, I didn't think about that.. Hmm.. Still things to learn!

You're right though, if I'd somehow got the camera closer to the tracks, it would have changed the dynamics of the picture. Although I'm not sure in a better way.. Here I've got a calm tranquil scene.. Old forgotten railway tracks on a sunny day leading to a lakeside house with mountains in the distance..

I think the composition you suggest is more suited to a black and white photo with dark ominous clouds making it look like maybe a bridge collapsed.. A valid picture, but perhaps not what I was thinking about at the time.

[SwissJon]

OK.. had time to do a bit of PP at lunch.. Not sure if I pushed the PP a bit far here.

[EOBeav]

Jon, I agree with the lower point of view. That would also help shorten up the distance between your lines (the tracks) and the shoreline across the lake. For my tastes, there's a little too much water space between the two.

As for your lighting situation, what would happen if you bracketed this shot at 2 EV's or so apart, then blended them in Photoshop? It shouldn't be hard to make a fairly even transition point somewhere in the reflection. Just a thought.