Lake shot for C&C

It looks odd to me - rather as if the clouds are floating on the water.

You made the reflection in PS right? When something in the distance reflects off something relatively near the camera it's shape gets stretched toward the camera, not a perfect mirror image as you created. That's why it looks odd to me.

I like the clouds in the water... I don't really shoot landscapes at all but this is nice...

Clever, but seems odd in some way.

Still can't work out if I like it or not

Frugal wrote in post #13044344
You made the reflection in PS right?

The reflection is real. There was no wind...just blue skies and a few clouds. I shot it at 16mm so there's a bit of distortion at the corners/edges.

I did some basic processing in ACR - clarity, vibrance, saturation, tone curve, and a bump to blue & green in HSL. I also fixed the horizon and cloned out some glare.

In PP, I used a curve to brighten things up, an exposure mask on the back trees, and a vibrance mask to add a bit of additional color to the front flowers.

Looks alright to me, with the exception of the horizon line splitting the frame...

Several folks have used the term 'odd'. I agree, there's an unnatural aspect. I'm not sure if it's the unusual reflective water or something I did in post. This is SOOC:

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argyle wrote in post #13044635
the horizon line splitting the frame...

Yes, broke the rules here. I wasn't creative enough to come up with a way to compose it without losing the powerful reflection.

frankk wrote in post #13046738
Yes, broke the rules here. I wasn't creative enough to come up with a way to compose it without losing the powerful reflection.

Rules are made to be broken. If we all followed them, life would be boring.

My thoughts on rules has always been that you should know them and understand them, but that doesn't mean that you have to follow them.

I love the photo.

I think it's odd because it's so pure. Water is rarely that still and reflective. You caught a special moment. It's a great shot and should be on the wall real big. And nice PP too.

frankk wrote in post #13046738
Yes, broke the rules here. I wasn't creative enough to come up with a way to compose it without losing the powerful reflection.

I wouldn't exactly call it 'powerful', but it is a good reflection. There's some dead space at the top (from just above the left cloud) that isn't adding anything to the shot (it's not picked up in the reflection anyway). This could be removed, bringing up the horizon off dead center (not all composing is done in the camera...some is done in post in order to get the most pleasing image...each shot doesn't necessarily need to be the entire frame). Sometimes a centered horizon works in reflection shots where you have perfect symmetry, in others it doesn't. Just a suggestion to improve the image...you're free to disregard.

drumnut01 wrote in post #13048251
Rules are made to be broken. If we all followed them, life would be boring.

My thoughts on rules has always been that you should know them and understand them, but that doesn't mean that you have to follow them.

I love the photo.

I can't tell you how many times I've heard that line throughout my forty years in photography, either as a photographer or as a judge. Nine times out of ten, those that disregard even the most basic rules of composition typically end up with a poorly judged image. The exception is if the image is spectacular in other ways (but that's a rarity anyway). But if the goal is not improvement, but just getting pats on the back...

frankk wrote in post #13046692
Several folks have used the term 'odd'. I agree, there's an unnatural aspect. I'm not sure if it's the unusual reflective water or something I did in post. This is SOOC:

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I guess this puts the assumption that the reflection was fake to bed.....LOL

That whole thing about trying to explain 'why' the reflection was fake....LOL....that made me laugh.

The center horizon is the real issue with this image. I have seen images with the horizon in the center and it worked for those images, but that is rare. I think if you had composed for more foreground in the image it would have made all the difference. Since I was not there, that is just an assumption, but it seems like the foreground was adding more colors and would have moved the horizon up.

For the record, I am not a die hard 'rule of thirds' guy. With landscapes, especially ones with sky, I also like to consider the rule of fifths. Sometimes thirds is better, sometimes fifths is better. But, one thing they both have in common.....nothing is in the middle. Just off center is usually best.

EDIT: I just looked at the image again, and what I would suggest is that next time you get a situation like this, compose the shot so that the empty sky is less. There is a little too much blue sky above the clouds. Crop that down some and consider including more foreground.

Here is a quick edit to show you what I am talking about. Obviously, I can not create more foreground, but by cropping the top and right side it changes the image.

I am not saying this is perfect or even close to it, but I just wanted to show how a different composition changes the image. Notice how the sky doesn't over power the image any more and how the foreground has more weight. It is all about putting things in balance. One of the best things I remember being told was this: "Look at your image and ask yourself, does everything contribute to the visual statement I am trying to make? If not, then recompose. If so, then shoot it." When you look through your viewfinder you have to ask yourself 'what is the first thing I notice?' Then, decide if that is the visual statement you are trying to make.

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