natural bridge, Hocking hill Ohio [Rita K Connell Nature & Landscape Photography: Composition]
Uploaded: November 01, 2009 20:11:40
horizonal
Exif: F Number: 14, Exposure Bias Value: 0.33, ExposureTime: 1/15 seconds, Flash: did not fire., ISO: 250, White balance: Manual white balance, FocalLength: 35.00 mm, Model: NIKON D300
Rita K. Connell November 02, 2009
jim and I went out shooting last week and these are two of the shots I took can't make up my mind which one I like best. #1199828Rita K. Connell November 02, 2009
sorry here is the second picture #8097122Teresa H. Hunt November 02, 2009
Rita, I think I like the second one because the vertical composition pulls your eye to the waterfall. And I really like waterfalls. :)I do think the photo could use a little more punch. Though not sure how to achive that. :) #8098130
Debbie E. Payne November 02, 2009
Rita - Such a beautiful place. The horizontal shows the place but the vertical showcases the waterfall which is the most important element in the image. I think the vertical enhances the waterfall and yes, a bit more punch would give this shot even more impact. #8098677Joan E. Hoffman November 03, 2009
I agree on both counts... the vertical crop and the fact it needs a bit of punch. Probably if you duplicate the layer, adjust the Highlights, midtones, and shadows, then use the multiply blend and adjust the opacity to your liking, it would punch of the colours a bit. RIGHT Dale?? LOL #8099523Aimee C. Eisaman November 03, 2009
I like your vertical shot better. It includes all the most important aspects of the scene in a small space allowing for a more dramatic composition. I agree to try giving it a bit more punch. Also try a high pass filter and to me this is crooked. I know the bridge probably goes up hill, but I'm wondering if the image would work with it straightened. :~) This is a beautiful place! #8099569Anthony L. Mancuso November 03, 2009
Great spot you found here Rita..I think both comps work well...I think the vertical is slanted a little, evidenced by the reflection of the waterfall not being totally vertical..to punch it up I would try a simple levels adjust, then try Joans suggestions or burn the left side of the bridge a bit and dodge the shadow areas of the rocks... #8100253Dale Hardin November 03, 2009
Excellent POV on this Rita and I like the fact that you're presenting both the horizontal and vertical views. I like both but like the rest, am drawn to the vertical for the reasons already stated.However, if you do some enhancement on the images and a crop on the horizontal, it turns into the more dominant image. May I offer a few suggestions?
Since the bridge and a few more small areas are blown out, levels adjustments are difficult. I'd suggest using the shadows/highlights tool and set the shadows to zero but darken the highlights by around 25 or so. Then increase the saturation and contrast just a bit. Maybe around 15 to 20 on both.
Then add a high pass filter using the soft light blend. All these changes will cause the bridge to get blown out again so repeat the shadows/highlights adjustment with the shadows at zero and the darken highlights about 25.
As Tony noted the vertical image is tilted so that needs correcting. On the horizontal try this crop. Use the 8 x 10 horizontal format starting in the lower right at the place where the first N in your name is and with the upper left side ending up just to the left of the left most tree. This will tighten the comp and leave you with a printable format.
If you want the bridge to stand out a bit more you might try selectively adding a very, very slight blur to the background area but if you try that you must be careful not to overdo it and not to include limbs that are on the same plane as the bridge.
This is a wonderful image and no matter what you do, it will still end up being a keeper. Well done. #8100506
Michael Kelly November 03, 2009
Rita I like both and I am going to go against the grain here. I actually like the first horizontal the best because of all of the horizontal elements in the shot from the bridge to the strikingly layered rock. When you have a photo that stacks many elements in a single direction it has a power all it's own. With the overall beauty of the scene I think it works extremely well. #8100903Christie R. Bielss November 04, 2009
I have to ditto both Dale and Mike - I like the horizontal. With the suggestions Dale gave, I think it will be the more striking of the 2 images. Although, you can't go wrong with either image - they are both beautiful. #8104519Rita K. Connell November 04, 2009
ok I straighten the vertical one by the water as much as I could this was not a crop picture and I applied all of dale suggestion. the horizontal picture with all of dale suggestion and a new crop and with some dodging on the rock that Tony suggested as well as the bridge. #8104653Aimee C. Eisaman November 04, 2009
Okay I take back what I said...I'm so in love with the horizontal image now! I guess I must have missed it potential before! :~) #8104710Christie R. Bielss November 05, 2009
Love, love, love the horizontal! The changes are just gorgeous! Great job Rita! #8105588Rita K. Connell November 05, 2009
thanks Aimee and Christie, I always like the horizontal one best, but the changes to it has made it as beautiful as I saw it. that was the first time that I had done any dodging, thats pretty cool, it really helped that black hole on the right. Thanks Dale and Tony #8105634Anthony L. Mancuso November 05, 2009
Great job Rita..the horizontal one is outstanding, opening up the shadows gives it an HDR look... #8105826Dale Hardin November 05, 2009
WTG Rita. The new post is outstanding and really accents the scene wonderfully. Turned out even better than I'd envisioned thanks to Tony's help. #8106053Rita K. Connell November 05, 2009
thanks Dale and Tony I couldn't take a bow without you. it is my new picture on my gallery wall. thank you. #8106815Anthony L. Mancuso November 05, 2009
It was a great team effort and thats what the phellos are all about!....Hopefully we will see this one with a shiny silver (or better yet gold!) badge next month.. #8106850Ellen H. Robertson November 05, 2009
Well done, love the horizional. The waterfall is fabulous, but I love the tones in the rocks to the right. Beautiful. #8107266Rita K. Connell November 05, 2009
one last question which would you put it in nature and landscape or travel photography and place. I am thinking n&l but just not sure. #8107576Michael Kelly November 05, 2009
Very nice Rita - I love what you did with it and I still think the horizontal is the way to go here. Fantastic shot and beautifully done PP to make it even better. #8107579Teresa H. Hunt November 05, 2009
I'm going to change my mind and say horizontal too. I love what you did to the photo . . . makes everything stand out more. Great job!! I'd enter in N&L #8107595Anthony L. Mancuso November 06, 2009
I would go with N&L too.. #8108542Sign up for an interactive online photography course to get critiques on your photos.
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