What’s Your Preference?

JaxD · #1 (**permalink**) 04-20-2011, 01:17 AM

I took this shot late afternoon and am looking for critique on the composition and exposure. Does the shot capture the light and mood of the late afternoon, which was what I was trying to convey? Is the tree entering the frame in the top right corner distracting or does it help frame the scene? Is the crop correct or could I have improved it by cropping differently? Is there anything I could have done to improve the shot?

As always, I value all your opinions and appreciate you taking the time to critique.

SS: 1/80
Aperture: f/13
ISO: 200
Focal length: 10mm

williamawalker · #2 (**permalink**) 04-20-2011, 07:49 AM

Let me first say I find the scene amazing! I'm not a professional by any means, but I like the tree on the right. if you cropped it out you would still have some of the leaves coming from nowhere. I believe the mood was captured correctly. I'd like to see a little more detail on the bike and the people, but shooting into the light is probably the cause of that. Wonderful picture though! The colors are amazing! Any HDR processing on it by chance?

JaxD · #3 (**permalink**) 04-20-2011, 09:30 AM

Thanks so much for your comments, williamawalker. There was no HDR processing, just some curves and levels. I hear what you're saying about the detail on the people and bikes. I did try initially to do some dodging there but couldn't get it looking right. Any tips on how to do it well happily accepted!

milosh · #4 (**permalink**) 04-20-2011, 12:26 PM

Wow, this is truly a great image!

The scenery is beautiful, exposure is good, colours are nice and vibrant but still natural. The photo does portrait late afternoon light and mood, and to me, it does say recharging, like you put it.

The tree in the upper right corner is perhaps a bit intruding, but I think you would have difficulties cloning or cropping it out, and, it's not such a big deal really. I would leave it like it is now.

Great work!

windrider86 · #5 (**permalink**) 04-20-2011, 12:30 PM

One thing I might try is to mirror your image. Notice the trees? Yup, that's the first thing you notice because they are so prominent. Your eye naturally looks from left to right. So by having the trees in the left, your eye will naturally move to the right and make viewing the people (who are the main subject) smoother.
Nicely done, I like the colors and the easy going feel to this.

SwissJon · #6 (**permalink**) 04-20-2011, 01:19 PM

I agree with Windrider.. I think that flipping this would help a lot. The "Half" tree would be easy enough to clone out, it's sitting in a patch of blue, but the tree that's hiding the sun is not a regular shape, and I think that would disturb you moreas the picture would become unbalanced.

I don't think you need to brighten the people in the shae, they're there for a reason, to get out of the sun.. If you brighten them up, you'll start looking for something special about them, when really they're just props in the greater scene.

All in all, an really nice photo. Well done.

EOBeav · #7 (**permalink**) 04-20-2011, 04:50 PM

Although it's a nice scene, your subject is in the shade which kind of ruins it for me.

JaxD · #8 (**permalink**) 04-21-2011, 05:50 AM

Thanks so much milosh, windrider, SwissJon and EOBeav for your opinions and suggestions. I really appreciate you taking the time to reply.

Bruce A · #9 (**permalink**) 04-21-2011, 05:59 AM

I agree with some of the comments for improving what is a really nice photo. If you don't mind me asking JaxD, where was this taken - the Hunter Valley or . . . ?