Looking for Feedback

[lburnell]

Ok now I got this right here is the pic I would like feedback on.

Canon 20D
18-5mm
Shutter 1/40
Aperture F11

[martin-images]

Nice overall, but the image is split half and half which doent help the composition, and theres no where in the pic that realy leads the eye to, i would crop out just below the outcrop to improve the look and make the outcrop the lead in to the photo.
Regards
Martin
www.martin-images.smugmug.com

[BlueTit]

It is a lovely scene ok, but I think MArtin is right, there is nothing leading you into the picture, but I am not sure what you should do to change that. I think you have some sensor dust, top right hand corner. Where was this taken, looks like a lovely spot.

[lburnell]

Thank you very much for your suggestions. This was taken at Natural Bridge State Park in the Red River Gorge in Kentucky.

[neil_r]

Lovely scene, I agree that the "half and half" split does not help it and there is a huge blob of dust top right, I also think that the image is a little soft and would benefit from some USM

cheers

N

[symes]

The clouds are lovely in this pic and it is a great vantag point but the horizon really hurts the composition...

Try cropping it to put the horizon lower or higher depending on what you want to accentuate...

cheers,

[cassarilda]

I agree with all above... you could have used more foreground (providing it was of suitable quality to include in the photo ie. no barriers etc :D ), and maybe less sky...

BUT im glad to see someone else with the 20D has the same dust spot on their sensor as I do... ;) I must get that cleaned

[kenyc]

I'd crop the left out and turn it into a vertical composition with the right 1/2-1/3 of the current pic.

Nice color, focus, etc. Not sure of the direction of the shot or if a polarizer was used (looks like it probably was), but a deeper blue sky might improve the shot.

Nice Work,
KAC

[mkh]

It doesn't do anything for me. The image has no focal point. Some have said that there is nothing leading you into the image but I'm not sure where it would lead you to. Perhaps a tighter crop on the cliff would help but it would be nice if this put it above the horizon. Unfortuantely the cliff just blends into the background hills.

[lburnell]

Wow, thanks for all of the great feedback. I hope to return to Red River Gorge this weekend or next and try agian. I will post pics when I return and look forward to all of your excellent suggetions.


Lance

[AJ Montgomery]

Is this photo from along the Mogollon Rim in Arizona?

[lburnell]

No. It is the Red River Gorge in Kentucky.

[AJ Montgomery]

Thanks for stating the location. Are you open to retouch/reposts? I would love to make a stab at this photo, sharing my efforts so that you and others can see.

[lburnell]

Yes please have at it would love to see the results.

[AJ Montgomery]

Thanks! Here is a quick effort:
http://www.kajmonty.com/gallery/albums/Post/RRG_2.jpg

Process:
Convert to 16 bit, save as .psd
Create duplicate layer, select color range to sperate foreground and sky, create new layer via copy with sky or foreground, one or the other doesn't matter.
Applied gaussian blur at 4 px to sky, then USM 150% 1px.
On foreground, adjusted Shadows/Highlights ~ 40/80/70 - 15/50/90 - 10/10
Applied USM 100% .5px
Flatten image
Applied USM 50% 1px
Cropped to 2:1 ratio
Convert to 8 bit
Save as JPG

[lordjim]

Nice shot lburnell.

Amazing Photoshop skills AJ! How did you learn all that? Is there a particular book you would recommend?

[AJ Montgomery]

Amazing Photoshop skills AJ! How did you learn all that? Is there a particular book you would recommend?
Believe it or not, I have attended no classes nor have I read any books. I get my knowledge from trial and error, asking questions of others, searching the internet and using the help function in Photoshop. I have been using it for many years and have a background in graphic design, including Illustrator, Freehand and many other programs.

Regardless, thank you for the compliment. It just goes to show there is no substitute for learning the hard way!

[lburnell]

That looks great. I am going to play with it in PS myself, but doubt it will turn out as good as yours.