Practice with GND filter and other stuff

We went camping last weekend and I managed to get in a little practice with the GND filter kit among other shots. How did I do and what can I do to improve?

I don't understand why you need a GND on the first one.
I can't see where the transition is on the second one. That is great! Nice shot.
On the third one there is a poor PP around the edges of the hill and the trees, creating a halo effect. The picture is underexposed.

juanpafer wrote in post #13185271
I don't understand why you need a GND on the first one.
I can't see where the transition is on the second one. That is great! Nice shot.
On the third one there is a poor PP around the edges of the hill and the trees, creating a halo effect. The picture is underexposed.

Thanks for your CC. I only used the GND filter on the last shot. Since the sky was so bright and the rocks were so dark. Can you tell me what causes a halo effect? I've noticed that on several of my photos.

Lonestarlady61 wrote in post #13185314
...Can you tell me what causes a halo effect?...

Usual due to over sharpening

For 2nd shoot, you're better off with CPL filter to make the sky darker.

GND filter will be great for sun rise / set.

i think your trees are glowing in the last

Do you have the original shot?
If you were not merging layers, it might be a result of too much shadow recovery or highlights recovery.

x_tan wrote in post #13185482
For 2nd shoot, you're better off with CPL filter to make the sky darker.

GND filter will be great for sun rise / set.

Thanks for the info. about the CPL filter. I actually didn't use any filter for the first 2 shots. Just on the the canyon wall and clouds.

Bryan Grant Photography wrote in post #13185497
i think your trees are glowing in the last

I didn't even see that until someone else mentioned it. I need to study my shots a little closer before I post.

juanpafer wrote in post #13187471
Do you have the original shot?
If you were not merging layers, it might be a result of too much shadow recovery or highlights recovery.

Yes I do. I always keep my originals. I was having a hard time getting the canyon wall to balance out even with a gnd filter. I think the filter wasn't strong enough. I'm pretty sure that the only Cokin gnd filter I have is a .2. My son bought me some off brand filters but they are plastic. I'm posting the original file below. It's very dark so I used Elements 9 to lighten the shadows and I used a little dodge and burn on the canyon and the clouds.

I prefer the unprocessed original.

PPd something more like this:

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It's quite amazing looking at the untouched vs. original file you posted ... look at how dark that area is in the untouched file and then to see just how much detail was captured in that dark area ... amazing indeed ... I love Digital Photography.