Zions Canyon - Kolab - Critique Wanted

[Croasdail]

Hey all.... so here is my first real attempt at digital senic photography with the 20d and 17-40L. Looking for some feed back as I am mid trip in Salt Lake City and heading north on Sunday and would like to get some help before I do some work in the Tetons. So don't be shy. This is an uncroped image and resharpened after reduction. Color is pretty much as shot. I used a polorizer on the lens as there was heavy haze from the New Harmoney forest fire just across the valley from this.

[jopfin]

Its a great pic, the composition is great, the bottom half is very dark though, could be my monitor vs. yours though. I love the sky, the tree branch on the right side is somewhat of a distraction because you can only see that one part(IMO). The rocks are beautiful, keep it up, great work. Hope this helps you......Joe

[rssfhs]

Well, it's a very good photo, but just saying that doesn't help you, so here is my critique: Either add more of that pine tree on the right or leave it off. Also, the image looks a bit dark and over-sharpened. For web display, try using Unsharp Mask with a radius of 0.2 pixels @ 400-500% and the threshold set to 0. If it's not enough than try 0.3 @ 300-400%.

[Croasdail]

First - jopfin and rssfhs - thanks for the advice... always welcomed and appreciated.

Here is another with sharpening as advised above...... again au-natural except resizing then upsharp masking applied to regain detail lost. Recroping sugestions welcome....like cutting out the tree in the first one.

[rssfhs]

Here is another with sharpening as advised above......

Much clearer! Very nice looking shot!

[sparker1]

Those are nice comps, but lighting isn't good across the frame. Either Levels adjustment or Shadows/Highlights is needed to bring out those dark areas without destroying the well exposed parts. I didn't think the first was oversharp, but the second seems a little less than sharp. I guess we all have different tastes on that, so experiment and suit yourself.

[Croasdail]

Thanks - I am working from my laptop as I am still on vacation and it is not optimal for this. the first one was USM'ed after reduction using 75/1/0, the second was 300/.02/0 - so I am at a loss which is right or wrong until I actually print it or see it on my larger monitor at home. Other best practices would help.

The lighting on the second image is due to the sunrise... both of these were taken early morning with skies that were becoming overcast. Not sure how to smooth the lighting in the sky without making it look un-natural. If any one has suggestions get the sky more even - I would love to hear. If I were doing this the old fashioned way I would use a gradiated ND filter.... sure there is a way to do that digitally - just haven't learned how yet.

thanks.

[sparker1]

I sure understand the problem of working from a laptop, as that is my standard tool. It is a far cry from my old CRT. You can still use graduated ND filters with digital. I had plans to acquire them for my lenses, but feel that Shadows/Highlights in PSE3 does very well as long as the highlights aren't totally blown. I do use a CPL and a couple full ND filters(1 stop & 2 stop) to preserve the highlights.

[Croasdail]

Thanks Stan... I think I will be packing some ND filters next time. I was having to compromise too much on either getting forground detail or sky detail - I could never find a good balance. I don't have PSE3 yet and was debating just moving up to the full blown product. But that is a subject for another day.

[SnowSpyder86]

I love the pics man, very nice, but a tad bit too dark. Go into PS and lighten them, give em the finishing touch

[ChP]

I was just in Zion. It is an amazing area - the color in the rocks is incredible and the views are very dramatic. Your first image is most certainly underexposed. It was a tough scene because the sky threw off your meter. To remedy this problem you could either take multiple exposures and then use merge to HDR, or invest in a split nuetral density filter.

The second shot is much better, I really like the composition and the light hitting the temple makes the picture.

[Croasdail]

ChP - I have never tried the mulitple exposure method... must give it a try. I had thought of buying a gradient ND filter but have not gotten around to it - my bad. I used to use Cokin stuff many years ago... still rebuilding and haven't gotten around to it yet.

Snowspyder86 - now that I am home I will play with it some more on my better monitor.. it's tough on the laptop as it is far from being calibrated.

Thanks for the comments both of ya!