Grand Canyon

[ICE]

i dont know how to resize pics sorry

[ctcook]

Copy this:

img src="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p265/IC3Bucket/DSC_0303.jpg" width="740"

Edit your message and paste it to replace your image, an then just put a < at the beginning and an > at the end and you get:



If you'll include your EXIF info and something specific you would like to be critiqued on, you will get more replies. I like this picture, with some minimal post production it would really stand out. Try adjusting the levels/curves, possible a graduated filter at the top. Try bumping the saturation a little to bring out the reds.

[NathanCH]

You've really got a great photo here! I agree, just add a TINY bit of saturation to bring out some of those reds in the rocks. But even as it is, it looks great.

Nice location too!

[ICE]

thx guys, is there an easier way to obtain my EXIF info rather than looking at my camera screen and typing it down? I'm sure theres a copy and paste somewhere.....

[ctcook]

If the image is on your computer you can right click the file, choose properties, and then details. I know you can copy some information, and not others. I'm not exactly sure why. I imagine that you could use google to find a program that will extract this information for you.

Found one:
Exifer
Download

You can copy the EXIF info to the clipboard easily, example:

J:\Pictures\Gallery\Bear Lake\Michael_Jumping_Pillow.jpg
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D40
Date modified: Friday, September 25, 2009 12:01:56 PM
Orientation: Top / left side
X-Resolution: 3000000/10000
Y-Resolution: 3000000/10000
Resolution unit: Inch
Firmware version: Adobe Photoshop CS3 Windows
Date taken: Sunday, September 20, 2009 12:10:52 PM
Date digitized: Sunday, September 20, 2009 12:10:51 PM
Exposure time [s]: 1/1000
Exposure program: unknown (0)
Exposure mode: Auto
Exposure bias [EV]: 0.0
F-Number: F4.8
Focal length [mm]: 90
35mm focal length [mm]: 135
ISO value: 200
Shutter speed [s]: 1/1000
Aperture: F4.8
Max. aperture: F4.6
Digital zoom: Off
Subj. distance range: Unknown
Flash: Not fired, compulsory flash mode, return light not detected
Metering mode: Multi-segment
Gain control: None
Light source: Unknown
White balance: Auto
Contrast: Normal
Saturation: Normal
Sharpness: Hard
Colour space: Uncalibrated
Subsec time: 60
Subsec time original: 60
Subsec time digitized: 60
Sensing method: One-chip color area sensor
File source: DSC
CFA pattern:
Custom rendered: Normal
Scene type:
Subject program: Standard
Image width: 2400
Image height: 3000
EXIF version: 0221
Compression: 6
X-Resolution: 72/1
Y-Resolution: 72/1
Resolution unit: Centimeter
JPEG offset: 862
JPEG size: 8557

[EasternSierra]

Originally Posted by ICE

i dont know how to resize pics sorry

OK, I'm gonna try give you a formal critique...

First Impression-- The composition is excellent, but the exposure is unbalanced. You have blown highlights in the background.

Technical Aspects--Just by looking at it, I would guess that you exposed for the front cliff, so it wouldn't be too dark, but you didn't have any sort of graduated neutral density filters to stop down the background and sky. This has resulted in an unbalanced exposure and has blown out your background. Increasing the saturation, as suggested, might help a little bit, but it won't cut the atmospheric haze or help the blown highlights.

In the future, I would recommend carrying a set of Graduated Neutral Density filters. I use a Cokin filter holder so I can stack multiple GND and ND filters without vignetting, and I can also turn and slide the filters inside the holder to fit many different exposure requirements in the field. These filters will help you stop down the sky, and equalize the exposure so you have good saturation and detail throughout the image and dynamic range.

It would also have helped to use a circular polarizing filter. These things are priceless when it comes to cutting through atmospheric haze and boosting saturation. They are absolutely necessary for mid-day shooting, IMO.

Overall--You have a really solid composition with lots of layers, and a very nice leading edge from top left to bottom right(roughly). It's a very solid comopsition, so working with some filters to balance your exposure and cut atmospheric haze will make your next one much better.

Unfortunately, I don't think there are any truly acceptable Photoshop "fixes" for this one. At least as far as I know, but I fully admit that my PS skills are minimal at best, and I know virtually nothing about fixing exposure errors within the program.

Keep Shooting and Have Fun!