Reflection of Gold

[Malok]

This is one I took yesterday morning here in Rocky Mountain National Park. Any thoughts about how it could be improved, particularly on the composition. I have a few niggles with it, and I'm curious if anyone else has the same reaction. Sorry I couldn't fill the TRC with clouds, they just wouldn't cooperate. :)

http://morninglight.us/cnp/forum/gold%20reflection.jpg
Canon D300, F29, 1/10", tripod, 2xGND filter

[timmyquest]

the backround is not level where the foreground is, no way around it :? but aside from that it's great.

[Malok]

Actually, the photo was taken perfectly level. I used a spirit (bubble) level to make certain. It is the rolling ground that is not level. I also left the opposite shore of the pond at an angle intentionally as it would ruin the photo to have it straight across.

Malok

[eastcoast909]

Perhaps a crop to bring the mountain a little closer to the left hand edge and a little less in the middle?? Composition is definately not my strong point! :(

If you are not adverse to touching up the shot, then you should be able to clone in some more cloud in the right hand top corner.

All in all a very nice photo IMO. :)

[timmyquest]

It is the rolling ground that is not level.

Malok

Thus "no way around it" ;-).

I dunno, i think any other issues is just being fussy.

[kawter2]

The colors go amazing with each other.


There is something about the way the top left of the sky is framed, but that is a nit pick response to a great shoot

[berto]

personally, i like the picture a lot.
the composition is good.

its all subjective really.

berto

[flowe]

I'm fascinated by this picture - it's a bright and lucky spot in this my day. I really love autumn pictures, and even more so if made that well.

Technically, I admire the use of the spirit level. The off-level border between water and vegetation is purely due to the fact that its RH end is much closer than the LH one. Then the mirror images on the water surface are exactly vertically below the boles - as nature intended.

Cropping - no, I wouldn't, and I don't worry about the TRC either. To mee, it's a beautiful kind of sky with a lot of lively variation. If anything, I would clone out the unmotivated white spot just at 10 o'clock from the center.

******************

Now about sharpness, and I think it's a very general issue.

Most of the images I see here - say 3 out of 4 - and this one too appear to me as far to soft (as rendered on my near professional LCD). To illustrate the point, I show here my sharpened version:

http://homepage.hispeed.ch/flowe/digifoto/img/gold_reflection_mod.jpg

To compare the 2 versions in situ, you can go here (http://homepage.hispeed.ch/flowe/digifoto/roro_07.htm), but it works only if you have Javascript enabled.

Question 1: Do YOU recognize the difference? It certainly will depend on your monitor and some other circumstances.

Question 2: If you recognize the difference, do YOU think it worthwhile do discuss sharpness here and to repeatedly emphasize this issue in commenting pictures?

Question 3: can you duplicate the improvement using malok's posted picture and your own methods of sharpening?

As I see it, the improvement is amazing. I refrain from describing all the leafes and rocks I see :wink: - the picture should talk for itself - either you can recognize it, or you don't.

Please consider too that malok's original JPG is of 99% quality and 270KB heavy, while my version is 80% and 85KB only. Just imagine what the D300's original file would look like...

Very much looking forward to your comments
flowe

[Qurlyjoe]

In general I agree with you, Flowe, but I have a slight quibble. In your sharpened version, there's a slight halo effect above the mountain to the right at its edge with the sky--a typical side-effect of sharpening. You don't mention which technique you used. I've had better results consistently by converting to LAB mode, and then USM-ing the lightness channel. More recently, I've had very nice results using NIK Sharpener Pro (http://www.nikmultimedia.com/products/usa/entry.php). (I also like their D-Fine noise remover.)

Oh, yes, I like the shot, too. Where in RMNP did you take it, Malok? I just got back from two weeks there.

[Malok]

Thanks for the comments. I normally am accused of over sharpening my photos and so I have tried to bring the sharpening down a bit. Sometimes I just can't win. :)

As for the location, it was taken just off of Hwy 7 just up from Lilly Lake. I live just down the road.

[tnelms]

I don't see anything at all wrong with this photo. The colors are great as is the framing. Excellent job!! BTW, when did you get blue skys yesterday? I don't remember anything but gray skies here yesterday.

[Malok]

This photo was actually posted to this site a couple of days ago. It was taken on the morning of Sept. 27th. You are right, no blue skies since then, hence no new photos. :(

[tnelms]

Sorry, I didn't pay attention to the date you posted it. I was just getting a little jealous thinking you were getting blue skies up there and we weren't :roll: