Catherine Creek Landscape

[Titus213]

I got out on a hike in Catherine Creek, Washington on the only day I could this week. It turned out cold, wet, and dark. I am new to the digital photo realm and I went to take pictures with the new Digital Rebel. So I took pictures in the cold and rain. And when I got home I tried my hand at Photoshop. This is one of the images. Particulars are Digital Rebel, ISO 100, shutter 1/125, f5.7, 18 mm on kit lens, shooting RAW.

[Dirty Shirt]

WOW! That is really nice.

[Wendy Lilygreen]

I like it too. is it poss to crop a bit off the bottom to concentrate the eye on that water in the distance?

[RAitch]

I wouldn't crop it... I like it the way it is.
The detail in the distance is kind of grainy. If you take too much of the foreground away, I doubt it would look as nice.

This way, your eyes move from the grassy foreground to discover (cause I didn't really see it at first) the water and valley in the back.

Nice shot!

It looks like it could use a curve boost with PS, but it's still nice.
Maybe something like this...

[OCCNC]

RAitch - I like the change. It ads some snap to the foreground too. PS is amazing. I've lots to learn I can see that.

[LisaMarie]

http://www.geocities.com/lmaphotography/tituscredit1CatCreek.jpg

I looked at it with less of the foreground and also adjusted the levels a bit. Nice location Titus- do you go there often ?

[tafletcher]

I like the original image. Great shot. I wouldn't change it.

[Titus213]

Thanks to all for the comments and suggestions. Lots to learn but having a great time. I especially appreciate these forums for the wealth of knowledge available and all the brains to pick.

LisaMarie - Catherine Creek is about 50 miles east of Portland, Oregon in the Columbia River Gorge. It is actually on the Washington side of the river which is the water seen here in the background. We live just outside Portland so we don't really get here as often as I would like. For some summer/fall shots and different views of the area check the link here to our web site:

http://home.comcast.net/~norwoods8/CatCreek/index.html

Not particularly good photos but they were taken pre-digital with a Canon T70 and a 35-105mm f3.5. Negatives scanned.

[RAitch]

Just looking at my alteration at work, it seems a little rich in colour. Maybe my monitor at home is a little dark. Perhaps I should try calibrating it.

[Jonny]

Just looking at my alteration at work, it seems a little rich in colour. Maybe my monitor at home is a little dark. Perhaps I should try calibrating it.

Indeed it does! But i understand what you were trying to do.

[PaCiFiSt]

Nice shot - Wish I could get shots that looked that good..

[Hellashot]

I wouldn't crop it... I like it the way it is.
The detail in the distance is kind of grainy. If you take too much of the foreground away, I doubt it would look as nice.

This way, your eyes move from the grassy foreground to discover (cause I didn't really see it at first) the water and valley in the back.

Nice shot!

It looks like it could use a curve boost with PS, but it's still nice.
Maybe something like this...

I disagree. I think what you did cranked the colors too much. The original is very good. You feel the dismal mood of the foggy area and the colors should be subdued because of it.

[Titus213]

I disagree. I think what you did cranked the colors too much. The original is very good. You feel the dismal mood of the foggy area and the colors should be subdued because of it.

Thanks Hellashot - my wife agrees and she comes high on my approval list. She is a landscape painter and liked the shot because it reminds her of Bierstadt painting. In fact it's next on her easle.

Thanks again for all the great feedback. Sometimes the learning curve goes vertical....