Mudscape - help!

[jeff.amadon]

They're emptying the canal nearby for the winter, so the bottom of the canal is exposed... I'm calling it a "mudscape".

This shot is an example of what I'm going for, kind of a minimalist composition. Maybe boring, I dunno.



Anyway, I'm asking for help specifically on how to post-process this particular shot. I'm aware that the lighting in this case was not the best (it was taken in the "forbidden noon hour" but hey, that's when my lunch break is), so the piers in the corner are really darkly shadowed. I struggled between that and not overexposing the shiny mud or losing the mud texture. I'd like to go back in the morning, when the sun would be shining on the piers at a lower angle, so that's in the works. In the meantime, though, is there any way to fix this shot in post? Selective dodging?

One rule: no HDR. Only 'cuz I'm trying to stay out of the HDR world until I know what I'm doing otherwise.

Thanks!

Link to larger: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffnbr...12834/sizes/l/

Camera: Nikon D40X
1/60 f/5.6
50 mm
ISO 100

[mpf777]

I don't have much advice on this but one thought I had is maybe composing a shot that is just the cracking mud in the frame. Seems like it mainly is about being there in the correct light and finding those angles and subject matter that are minimal of clutter yet are interesting. You might just need to shoot a lot to get it.

Mike