My first RAW post ... a rework for Gandini

[Leighow]

Hello dear members:

Gandini offered to help me improve this image that I posted under the the share forum.
************************************************** ********

For this critique I adjusted my PC screen's "brightness" to match the "lightness" of a print that I made on my Epson 880. (That print was a tad light).

Then I:

1: altered the crop to add a bit more foreground
2: darkened the blue and cyn saturation to be more in line with the real world
3: saturated all colors a bit more (just a bit more for the yellows).
4: brightened a bit - but no more contrast
5: no more sharpening because the screen image looked un-natural.

http://members.rogers.com/hleigh/PINE_3.jpg


HOWIE

PS: All comments are welcome. This was a point & shoot. I admit that it was really too-easy! So how do we make such easy shots better ? I do not know. What is your opinion ?

PPS: I must say that the 8 by 11 version looks great as a screen saver. But, I realize that it is only a winter trail.

[eland]

Howie,
I've stayed out of this waiting for Gandini to write.

However it looks good now.
One thing that would improve it I think.

If you crop off some of the dark branches at the top.
the image has more depth.

Scroll it up on the screen about an inch or to that lighter
horizontal branch and you'll see that it's easier to look
"into" the picture. The eye then goes up the path straight away.

A pleasant photo.

Kind regards
eland

[gandini]

I was talking about composition in my digital photography class last week, and I think that is why I "volunteered" to make some comments on your photo, Howie, so long as you were willing to hear me out. You put the image on Critique Corner, so the gauntlet is clearly at my feet. Actually, your re-work to post on this forum has made my original comments even more applicable. I will start by reminding you of the much-abused and bandied about "rule of thirds." It is such a traditional rule for many reasons, one of which is to place the "focal" point of the image at the intersection of any of the two horizontal dividers, and the two vertical dividers. Another reason is to place horizons at the horizontal dividers.
In your original image, you actually had the snow horizon at the lower horizontal (now a little higher, almost at the half-way point) and you had the tree trunk at left at the left vertical (now a little further toward the center.) While these original elements worked quite well, the "problem" for me was a lack of a focal point relating to these well-defined spaces in the image. If I looked down the ski-path, it goes nowhere. If I look across the snow-horizon, it takes me across the image, and past the edge. The same goes for the vertical tree trunk. The ski tracks get lost in definition just as they turn right around the corner to the center of the image. There is no strong statement made by any of the elements in the image leading my eyes into the scene and keeping me there, to ponder the quietude, or the solitude, or anything else I might find if personally in this scene.
I keep looking into the scene to find something of interest (maybe a lone skier turning the corner) or some detail that makes me linger (is that a wolf track, or a bear scat on the side of the trail?)
Actually, like many winter images, there is very little texture in the snow, mainly due to the distance from it to the photographer, and the mainly dormant foliage is essentially colorless. The overall image lacks color, despite the faint hints of autumn oranges and yellows, and may look better in black and white or as a duotone.
I cannot comment on technical quality as the reproduced image is too small. So after all that, could it have been made "better?" Perhaps with a tighter framing and some greater detail we could have focused on the trail, and been left to ponder the eternal: "where does it go?" Perhaps the inclusion of an animal, or person. Perhaps monochrome. Perhaps some blowing snow from a wisp of wind in those lonesome trees.
It's easy to criticize, so I will stop now. But be assured that I only do this in a modest attempt to encourage you to reflect on the photographs you post for our delectation.
thanks again,

[Leighow]

PHILIP & ELAND

Thank you so much for devoting so much time, care, and consideration to this photo.

Your comments and suggestions are right on. In fact, they have jolted me into spending more time thinking and creating better and more rewarding images. I guess that I had better join a camera club too.

One thing for sure, I cannot fault Mother Nature. The woods in our area are flooded with light and with more care I should be able to take advantage of same. The ball is in my court.

Thank You Again,

HOWIE