Is this cliche?

[laura.wilkerson1333]

EXIF
D40
f/4
1/60 sec.
ISO -200
18 mm

I lovelovelove this shot...the colors are gorgeous. But I'm starting to wonder: Is this a cliche, overdone photo? I'll still love it, but I would love it less if I knew it was cliche, or that I was just following the crowd by taking it.

[MarianHeart]

Wow! I can definitely see why you love this shot. The colors are so vivid and cheerful, but it is the sunlight that really makes the whole picture. I know there are a lot of road/tree photographs out there, but I think this one is unique because of unusual lighting. I may be wrong (definitely not a professional over here) but it is very pleasing to look at, and I think that is what counts.

[denja]

Nice image Laura! Wonderful saturation and tonality. The only thing that I notice is that if you would have taken the photo from a higher location, then the road would curve and obviously lead the eye to center of the photo. From this perspective, the bend in the road is almost lost and the eye is led straight up and out of the photo. I could be wrong, and usually am, but that is my impression of this remarkable image,

Jim

[navcom]

Originally Posted by MarianHeart

I think this one is unique because of unusual lighting. I may be wrong (definitely not a professional over here) but it is very pleasing to look at, and I think that is what counts.

This is a great example of the power of the "golden hour" and is why landscape photographers are never seen out in the middle of the day. For most outdoor scenes, early or late in the day light is by far the best....and this picture demonstrates that fully.

If you get a chance and for fun, take a look at professional landscape photos and try to determine what time of the day they were taken. You will find that 80%+ are taken when the sun is low in the sky. It's one of those "light bulb" moments for many a new photographer and reinforces the fact that "it's all about the lighting".

A picture taken at noon looks like your average tourist shot. The same scene taken about 30 minutes before sunset will look so much more pleasing and dramatic that the casual onlooker will think to themselves, "wow, the photographer must have a really nice camera!"

Nice shot. Yep, it's a bit cliche...mostly because of the road itself. But it's still a pretty shot! I'd hold on to it. One thing to remember next time...use a bit smaller aperture....say f/11 or so. You will get a deeper depth of field and make the image a bit more sharp. Also, use the lowest ISO you can for image quality. You may need to use a tripod, but it will be worth it.

[iLovePink]

I love it! and you say yourself that you love it so.... who cares if it's been done before?? you did it great!

[ReflectingGrace]

I dont think its cliche. its gorgeous! so crisp and clear and golden. unique perspective too. more interesting than just a horizontal landscape. great job!

[DPphotographer]

A good photo is a good photo. Just because it isn't necessarily ground-breaking doesn't mean it's cliche. Marian is right. If it's feels good to look at, that's what matters. It is a good picture.

[SaraSmile]

It's very nice. The only change you could have made is maybe to have crouched a little closer to road level to take the shot with a wide angle lens. But it's great, really. Did you have to enhance the sky in Photoshop, or was it really that beautiful of a day? Well done.