View from the Tracks

This shot is from one of my favorite areas. Any suggestions on how to frame these tracks for a better composition? All thoughts and CC are very welcome.

I think this is fantastic shot!

Im thinking that this photo would look a lot better if you could pull some more detail from the hills. They seem a bit light to me.

Over-all I really like it though.

I'd crop out the top 1/2 of the sky so the foliage along the tracks becomes more of a focal point.

Great location! I'm regularly envious of folks who are so good at selecting a location.

I like the composition, but I would like to see more contrast in the mountains.
You did a great job!

^ I agree, but what a great image

Love the shot! You can use LR4's graduated filter (M, under the histogram in the right panel) to help with getting back some color in the mountains and sky.

As far as composition, I like it. I think it has just the right balance between sky and foreground.

As a thought for processing, you might try to reduce contrast which will tend to even out the overall tone of the image. Then using a curves adjustment, pull down at the center of the diagonal line to darken the overall image again. I think this will give you a better balance of tones between the sky and foreground. You might also clone out the white post near the center of your image.

For the heck of it, I did all the above but also went further using both NIK Color Efex 4 and Topaz Simplify.

I hope you don't mind my playing with your image. Hopefully, it won't look too bad.

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Very nicely done, composition is good, exposure is good, the image is sharp. I would just increase the contrast and saturation a bit. Something between Gene's edit and your original post, closer to your original.

BrandonPerkins wrote in post #15539737
I think this is fantastic shot!

Im thinking that this photo would look a lot better if you could pull some more detail from the hills. They seem a bit light to me.

Over-all I really like it though.

Thank you for your comment Brandon. I'll see what I can do about fixing that.

cpam.pix wrote in post #15539760
I'd crop out the top 1/2 of the sky so the foliage along the tracks becomes more of a focal point.

Great location! I'm regularly envious of folks who are so good at selecting a location.

Thanks for responding cpam. So are you talking about a 16:9 ratio crop? My son told me about this area so I wandered down to see what I could find. The lines and curves in this track really drew me in. Luckily the trains don't run here very often since I set up in the middle of the tracks.

DelAllenGreenwood wrote in post #15539825
I like the composition, but I would like to see more contrast in the mountains.
You did a great job!

Thanks DelAllen. That issue is coming up quite a bit so I'll see what I can do to fix it. I have limited experience with Photoshop but I think I can figure it out.

Flo wrote in post #15539827
^ I agree, but what a great image

Hi Flo, it's good to see that you are still around also. Thank you for your nice comment.

alintx wrote in post #15540011
Love the shot! You can use LR4's graduated filter (M, under the histogram in the right panel) to help with getting back some color in the mountains and sky.

Thanks very much. I have lightroom 4 but I have to admit that I'm totally lost on how to use it. I use photoshop CS6 most of the time.

navydoc wrote in post #15540485
As far as composition, I like it. I think it has just the right balance between sky and foreground.

As a thought for processing, you might try to reduce contrast which will tend to even out the overall tone of the image. Then using a curves adjustment, pull down at the center of the diagonal line to darken the overall image again. I think this will give you a better balance of tones between the sky and foreground. You might also clone out the white post near the center of your image.

For the heck of it, I did all the above but also went further using both NIK Color Efex 4 and Topaz Simplify.

I hope you don't mind my playing with your image. Hopefully, it won't look too bad.

Thanks so much for your detailed instructions Navy Doc. I remember you from when I used to post over here all the time. I do like your edit a lot but I might tone it down just a tad and no I don't mind at all. It was nice of you to take the time.

Titus213 wrote in post #15541140
Very nicely done, composition is good, exposure is good, the image is sharp. I would just increase the contrast and saturation a bit. Something between Gene's edit and your original post, closer to your original.

Hello Titus, good to see that you are still around too. Thank you for your CC and feedback on how to improve this shot.

The shot has nice light and good visual appeal. Aiming your camera slightly lower would reduce the excess sky and allow you to frame the image between the rails, which would strengthen the leading lines. A simple levels adjustment brings the hills out of the haze and makes the picture worthy of printing and framing. You are definitely improving!

Woolburr wrote in post #15543825
The shot has nice light and good visual appeal. Aiming your camera slightly lower would reduce the excess sky and allow you to frame the image between the rails, which would strengthen the leading lines. A simple levels adjustment brings the hills out of the haze and makes the picture worthy of printing and framing. You are definitely improving!

Hi Woolburr, I can always depend on you for good advice. I will give your suggestions a try when I can get over that way. Thank you for letting me know that you think I'm improving