Tire tracks in the sand - suggestions for art show

[mlewis1127]

I am submitting the following photo for an art show at my college, and before I print it out I want to get any suggestions on further post-production tweaks that I could make in Lightroom 3 to improve the photo - such as exposure, clarity, brightness, etc. (it was shot in RAW format so I have quite a bit of control)

I have to print it in the next couple days, so any quick feedback would be greatly appreciated!

[Tzetsin]

It would almost be like cheating asking someone else to help you create a photo for publication ;D

But i'll play... I'd get rid of some of the distractions in the sand (that big gob of sand in the middle and a couple black spots out to the right / topish). maaaby crop it a bit higher so the sharpest part of the picture is right at the bottom and perhaps give it a bit of a dutch angle, though that might be going too far.

[SwissJon]

Could you post the Exif data?

[mlewis1127]

The photo was taken on a Sony Nex-3.
Focal length 18mm
ISO 200
F5
Shutter speed 1/2000

[Krusty79]

I agree with Tzetsin about cloning out the distractions. Otherwise, I think your exposure looks good. I am curious why you used f/5 when I would think you would want more DOF in a shot like this.

[milosh]

Originally Posted by Krusty79

I agree with Tzetsin about cloning out the distractions. Otherwise, I think your exposure looks good. I am curious why you used f/5 when I would think you would want more DOF in a shot like this.

I'm not quite sure if I would want more DOF in this shot, since I'm afraid the background would be competing with foreground for interest. I think it's better this way.. the background is distinguishable and it's supporting the front part of the photo but it's not trying to compete for attention. Just my opinion of course!

Regarding the photo, I find the leaning horizon to be a drawback.. You wouldn't have to crop too much if you corrected it. Next, you would expect sand to be more yellow, especially in midday Sun. It's easy to adjust it by tweaking the white balance, and the whole photo looks nicer. I've done these edits to illustrate this.. Hope you don't mind, I'll take it down if you want.

[SwissJon]

I agree with Milosh, the DoF adds to the photo, drawing the viewers attention to the subject and making the background exactly that.. If this had been taken at sunset with some lovely dark clouds then maybe, but even then I think the photo would have been better with this shallower DoF.

I'm not sure I'd clone out that sand that got spat out of the track.. The eye pauses there, which adds interest for me, otherwise you'd start hunting for somewhere else to stop. The couple of black marks, I agree.

The sand, from where I used to live, looks about the right colour, especially with a cloudy sky like there is, but I like Milosh's enhancement, and I would enhance the blues a little, to bring out the cloud details.

And like Milosh said.. Straighten the horizon.

[Krusty79]

I see your point about the DOF.

I was also wondering if you guys find yourself wanting to see either where the tracks end or the vehicle that made the tracks? Or do you prefer it the way it is, with just the tracks? Does that add an element of mystery to the shot for you?

[milosh]

Originally Posted by Krusty79

I see your point about the DOF.

I was also wondering if you guys find yourself wanting to see either where the tracks end or the vehicle that made the tracks? Or do you prefer it the way it is, with just the tracks? Does that add an element of mystery to the shot for you?

Well, I prefer it this way. Don't know why exactly. They're only tracks left by some vehicle that passed and is no longer visible..
I didn't feel it that way, really. This just illustrates how different we are.