Mt. Mayon

[dai]

Hi, I'm very much a beginner in photography. Don't know much technicalities. This is a view of Mt. Mayon practically from the backyard of my home province which I visit during the holidays. It's really a beautiful volcano. Was I able to show it's beauty? Did I crop it properly? Did I do it any justice? I think my photo is not very sharp.




Camera: Panasonic DMC-FZ8
Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/320)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 6 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off

[tvoelcker]

This shot breaks most of the "rules" of composition however, I love it and think it worked great!!
This great mountain appears majectic and noble as it reaches up from the land stretching for the skies.
You have a beautiful subject and I would suggest trying lots of shots at different times of the day and study the effects of the light.
The camera is your brush and light is your paint.
Thanks for sharing a very nice picture.

[RoyL]

Originally Posted by tvoelcker

This shot breaks most of the "rules" of composition however, I love it and think it worked great!!

Still trying to figure out how this breaks all the rules of composition. This image fits all the rules into one nice bundle. This is what composition is about, creating a perfect shot and that is the Only rule of composition. The others are aid's.

In this case the Rule of Composition that is being applied is that of Symetry (think that's how you spell it). And used in landscape photography it can produce some pretty good images if the subject is right.

Having said all that You need to straighten the horizon and crop a bit from the right as the peak is not in center.

The color is great, I love the way the clouds swirl around, and the shadow/sunlight on the ground is really nice.

As tvoelcker said, try some other things, and don't know how close you can get but closer shots to fill more of the frame.

Don't know how much you know about editing but try doing a Panorama by shooting 2 shots, one as done and another turning your camera to the left half a frame then merge them to one image. Most software has features for making panorama's and then you can crop and edit all you like. And you can also then work using the Rule of Thirds. Would make a nice shot.

[tvoelcker]

Sorry, yes you are correct RoyL for I said composition rules rather than composition aides.
Main one being the subject is located in the middle of the frame. However, as I said, I think this worked well in this image.
Also I agree there is a nice bit of symmetry although there is a hint of perhaps another mountain to the left.
It's a great shot and please forgive my poor choice of words in my first critique..

[RoyL]

Originally Posted by tvoelcker

Sorry, yes you are correct RoyL for I said composition rules rather than composition aides.
Main one being the subject is located in the middle of the frame. However, as I said, I think this worked well in this image.
Also I agree there is a nice bit of symmetry although there is a hint of perhaps another mountain to the left.
It's a great shot and please forgive my poor choice of words in my first critique..

Wasn't being critical. Sorry.

I also noticed the other mountain, which was why I suggested that dai tries a panorama, even if it is just the plains to the left. Would make an even better shot than this but more work.

[dai]

Thank you guys!

Originally Posted by tvoelcker

You have a beautiful subject and I would suggest trying lots of shots at different times of the day and study the effects of the light.

Unfortunately, vacation’s over but I will definitely do so on my next visit there.

Originally Posted by RoyL

I also noticed the other mountain, which was why I suggested that dai tries a panorama, even if it is just the plains to the left. Would make an even better shot than this but more work.

Originally Posted by RoyL

Don't know how much you know about editing but try doing a Panorama by shooting 2 shots, one as done and another turning your camera to the left half a frame then merge them to one image. Most software has features for making panorama's and then you can crop and edit all you like. And you can also then work using the Rule of Thirds. Would make a nice shot.

Post processing knowledge - nil. I cropped and adjusted the exposure and saturation of the photo in windows photo gallery. Don’t have any editing software... yet.

And there are actually more hills both on the right and on the left of the volcano. I didn’t know how to do a panorama so it didn't occur to me but I will definitely try it next time.

I got another photo here, taken on the same day as the first. The peak is capped with clouds. I cropped out some of the sky, not sure if I did it right, though. But the horizon is still not quite straight. Not really sure though if it’s the mountain or me... but most probably me. This is a bit foolish but if the mountain is not that symmetrical, should I tilt the camera a bit to make the horizon appear straight or should I leave it as it is?



Thanks so much!

[RoyL]

Originally Posted by dai

Thank you guys!

I got another photo here, taken on the same day as the first. The peak is capped with clouds. I cropped out some of the sky, not sure if I did it right, though. But the horizon is still not quite straight. Not really sure though if it’s the mountain or me... but most probably me. This is a bit foolish but if the mountain is not that symmetrical, should I tilt the camera a bit to make the horizon appear straight or should I leave it as it is?

Thanks so much!

Getting the camera straight can be hard but use one of those bubble levels that you attach to the flash mount, if it is worth it. I would get some software,maybe Picassa as it is free (best price ever) and there are other free software packages, try looking here http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pix...eephotoedw.htm

[tvoelcker]

No reason to be sorry RoyL. I appreciate you keeping me honest :>)

I like how the peak is capped with clouds in the second shot, but, I like the frame of the first shot.
there is something about the way the first picture shows the mountain emerging from the landscape that I really like.
All said, they are both great shots and thanks for sharing..

[Vinam]

The first one is really well done, great natural color with the sky and the green of the landscape.

I have to say that for this shot, having the main focal point as big as a volcano fits right in frame perfectly, the angle of the slope shows how immense it really is. And although we all like to measure up rule of thirds by habit.. I agree it can be applied here in a few places.

Very impressive shot Dai, Cropping a little bit of the sky out might make the peak even more majestic. It's an interesting shot to critque, because it's so unique

I like my deep blue skies, and I liked seeing the peak , so number two which is clearer and easier to view is not as meaningful for me.

Strickly a amatuer, but I know how picts make me feel

[Vinam]

btw ... put a grid up in Post Prod, zoom in on a horizontal line in the pict and adjust rotation , take a look zoomed out and see how it is.. after spending a few minutes adjusting horizon in post, you'll remember to keep it straight when your taking pics , it starts to become automatic.