Approve the Cookies
This website uses cookies to improve your user experience. By using this site, you agree to our use of cookies and our Privacy Policy.
OK
Forums  •   • New posts  •   • RTAT  •   • 'Best of'  •   • Gallery  •   • Gear
Guest
Forums  •   • New posts  •   • RTAT  •   • 'Best of'  •   • Gallery  •   • Gear
Register to forums    Log in

 
FORUMS Photo Sharing & Discussion Nature & Landscapes 
Thread started 04 Jun 2013 (Tuesday) 15:47
Search threadPrev/next
sponsored links (only for non-logged)

New to landscapes

 
bettyn
Goldmember
Avatar
3,451 posts
Gallery: 1 photo
Likes: 35
Joined Jun 2006
Location: Marco Island FL
     
Jun 04, 2013 15:47 |  #1

but just finished a great trip to Yosemite and took a lot of photos there. Would like some constructive criticism about these shots and how can I create better landscapes. Here's two shots: One of Half Dome from Olmstead Pt. and another of Mirror Lake. Are they overprocessed, for example? Thanks for your help. (Think I may overcooked #1, but not sure about #2.)

IMAGE: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/images/hostedphotos_lq/2013/06/1/LQ_651597.jpg
Image hosted by forum (651597) © bettyn [SHARE LINK]
THIS IS A LOW QUALITY PREVIEW. Please log in to see the good quality stuff.

IMAGE: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/images/hostedphotos_lq/2013/06/1/LQ_651603.jpg
Image hosted by forum (651603) © bettyn [SHARE LINK]
THIS IS A LOW QUALITY PREVIEW. Please log in to see the good quality stuff.

My Gear: 6D, 7D, EOS-M w EF-M 22 f2 STM and EF-M 18-55 f3.5-5.6 IS STM, 17-40L f4, 24-70L f2.8, 100 f2.8 non-IS macro, 70-200L f/4 IS, 400L f5.6,, Canon 1.4x II TC, Canon Speedlite 430 EX II, Better Beamer. Manfrotto carbon fiber tripod, 2 monopods, Manfrotto ballhead and pistol grip tripod heads.

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
Sirrith
Cream of the Crop
10,545 posts
Gallery: 50 photos
Best ofs: 1
Likes: 36
Joined Nov 2010
Location: Hong Kong
     
Jun 04, 2013 19:42 |  #2

#1 is definitely overcooked for me.

#2 is very nice, I like it a lot, but it's also a tad overprocessed (though not anywhere near as much as #1).


-Tom
Flickr (external link)
F-Stop Guru review | RRS BH-40 review

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
bettyn
THREAD ­ STARTER
Goldmember
Avatar
3,451 posts
Gallery: 1 photo
Likes: 35
Joined Jun 2006
Location: Marco Island FL
     
Jun 04, 2013 20:25 |  #3

Thanks. Having a tough time processing these. Need all the help I can get.


My Gear: 6D, 7D, EOS-M w EF-M 22 f2 STM and EF-M 18-55 f3.5-5.6 IS STM, 17-40L f4, 24-70L f2.8, 100 f2.8 non-IS macro, 70-200L f/4 IS, 400L f5.6,, Canon 1.4x II TC, Canon Speedlite 430 EX II, Better Beamer. Manfrotto carbon fiber tripod, 2 monopods, Manfrotto ballhead and pistol grip tripod heads.

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
stevensondrive
Member
33 posts
Joined Apr 2013
     
Jun 04, 2013 20:55 |  #4

some beautiful scenery!!


Canon 6D, 17-40L, 24-105L, 100-400L, 100L Macro, 50 1.8, 430EXii

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
Kaigler
Senior Member
Avatar
500 posts
Likes: 7
Joined Jul 2009
     
Jun 05, 2013 11:05 |  #5

We are getting ready to go to Yosemite next week. Cannot wait. Pretty decent composition on each image. One thing I might change is on number 2. The sky looks a little over-saturated to me.


Canon 5D Mk III - Canon 24-105 f/4 L IS, Sigma 85 f/1.4, Canon 70-200 f/2.8 IS, Tamron 15-30 f/2.8 VC

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
Littlejon ­ Dsgn
Goldmember
3,266 posts
Likes: 905
Joined Feb 2012
Location: Sandy, Oregon
     
Jun 05, 2013 14:22 as a reply to  @ Kaigler's post |  #6

The first is overcooked, and number 2 the sky is a bit over saturated and the rest of the scene is a tad dark.




  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
patrick ­ j
Goldmember
2,468 posts
Gallery: 77 photos
Likes: 8744
Joined Mar 2009
Location: Denver
     
Jun 05, 2013 23:47 as a reply to  @ Littlejon Dsgn's post |  #7

Number 1 doesn't look like a real photo, the foreground looks like it comes from a different photo than the background, with the two being sandwiched together.


Flickr (external link)

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
Phoenixkh
a mere speck
6,863 posts
Gallery: 67 photos
Likes: 1484
Joined May 2011
Location: Gainesville, Florida
     
Jun 06, 2013 08:11 |  #8

Betty,

I don't know if you are a native Floridian or are a transplant but your thread title made me smile. I grew up in Montana and Wyoming so beautiful landscapes were part of my background. We now live in Florida... and I don't do much landscape shooting here... because that isn't our state's strength.

As a Florida photographer, I shoot hmmmmm wildlife, esp the large wading birds, sunsets (I guess this is landscape photography of a sort.... but not like the Rockies.), flowers, botanical gardens, etc.

Anyway, I'm probably not communicating very clearly here..... but when I saw your title and location, it did make me smile.... and I'm still smiling as I type this.


Kim (the male variety) Canon 1DX2 | 1D IV | 16-35 f/4 IS | 24-105 f/4 IS | 100L IS macro | 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II | 100-400Lii | 50 f/1.8 STM | Canon 1.4X III
RRS tripod and monopod | 580EXII | Cinch 1 & Loop 3 Special Edition | Editing Encouraged

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
IslandCrow
Senior Member
Avatar
589 posts
Likes: 1
Joined Oct 2008
Location: Rapid City, SD
     
Jun 07, 2013 12:02 |  #9

Nice overall lighting and composition. I'd initially stay away from the tone mapping programs/plug-ins, which is what I'm guessing you used to process these. When processing a landscape photo, generally I'm going to adjust the white/black points on the histogram as necessary; then adjust white balance, contrast, exposure (which really should be nailed already), saturation, vibrance and clarity as necessary in either ACR or Lightroom to get an overall good look to the photograph. I'll also apply some input sharpening. . .nothing too drastic at this point, though.

From here, I bring it into Photoshop, and really start looking at the individual elements of the photograph. The big areas I isolate are the sky, land and water, as these will often require slightly different processing to get the look I want. Most of my work is with tone curves, using masking layers on the adjustment layers to isolate the areas I want to affect. Next, I really look at where I want the viewer's attention to be drawn. Sometimes the natural lighting is absolutely perfect, but usually not, so I will lighten and darken areas as required. In general, the changes should be pretty subtle. You want to change the photo without it looking like you've changed the photo. I could use the dodge and burn brush, but I find it easier to use adjustment layers and masks.

The last step (usually) for me is applying some light sharpening, expecting to apply some additional output sharpening if I end up sending it off to the printer. Some people will only do this sharpening once they're ready to either publish to a webpage, print the photo, etc. I'll always save the PSD with layers intact, so when I decide a week later that I want to make just one or two little tweaks, it's easy to do.

Hope that helps. There's obviously no one answer. It takes a lot of practice to really perfect a technique. I'd definitely look for books on the subject, plus there are tons of videos and other explanations of techniques you can find online.




  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
bettyn
THREAD ­ STARTER
Goldmember
Avatar
3,451 posts
Gallery: 1 photo
Likes: 35
Joined Jun 2006
Location: Marco Island FL
     
Jun 09, 2013 22:25 |  #10

Phoenixkh wrote in post #16005101 (external link)
Betty,

I don't know if you are a native Floridian or are a transplant but your thread title made me smile. I grew up in Montana and Wyoming so beautiful landscapes were part of my background. We now live in Florida... and I don't do much landscape shooting here... because that isn't our state's strength.

As a Florida photographer, I shoot hmmmmm wildlife, esp the large wading birds, sunsets (I guess this is landscape photography of a sort.... but not like the Rockies.), flowers, botanical gardens, etc.

Anyway, I'm probably not communicating very clearly here..... but when I saw your title and location, it did make me smile.... and I'm still smiling as I type this.

LOL! We don't get much experience doing this kind of photography down here, do we? I grew up in the Blue Ridge/Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, but never did much photography there. Couldn't afford a good camera back then!


My Gear: 6D, 7D, EOS-M w EF-M 22 f2 STM and EF-M 18-55 f3.5-5.6 IS STM, 17-40L f4, 24-70L f2.8, 100 f2.8 non-IS macro, 70-200L f/4 IS, 400L f5.6,, Canon 1.4x II TC, Canon Speedlite 430 EX II, Better Beamer. Manfrotto carbon fiber tripod, 2 monopods, Manfrotto ballhead and pistol grip tripod heads.

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
bettyn
THREAD ­ STARTER
Goldmember
Avatar
3,451 posts
Gallery: 1 photo
Likes: 35
Joined Jun 2006
Location: Marco Island FL
     
Jun 09, 2013 22:28 |  #11

IslandCrow wrote in post #16009041 (external link)
Nice overall lighting and composition. I'd initially stay away from the tone mapping programs/plug-ins, which is what I'm guessing you used to process these. When processing a landscape photo, generally I'm going to adjust the white/black points on the histogram as necessary; then adjust white balance, contrast, exposure (which really should be nailed already), saturation, vibrance and clarity as necessary in either ACR or Lightroom to get an overall good look to the photograph. I'll also apply some input sharpening. . .nothing too drastic at this point, though.

From here, I bring it into Photoshop, and really start looking at the individual elements of the photograph. The big areas I isolate are the sky, land and water, as these will often require slightly different processing to get the look I want. Most of my work is with tone curves, using masking layers on the adjustment layers to isolate the areas I want to affect. Next, I really look at where I want the viewer's attention to be drawn. Sometimes the natural lighting is absolutely perfect, but usually not, so I will lighten and darken areas as required. In general, the changes should be pretty subtle. You want to change the photo without it looking like you've changed the photo. I could use the dodge and burn brush, but I find it easier to use adjustment layers and masks.

The last step (usually) for me is applying some light sharpening, expecting to apply some additional output sharpening if I end up sending it off to the printer. Some people will only do this sharpening once they're ready to either publish to a webpage, print the photo, etc. I'll always save the PSD with layers intact, so when I decide a week later that I want to make just one or two little tweaks, it's easy to do.

Hope that helps. There's obviously no one answer. It takes a lot of practice to really perfect a technique. I'd definitely look for books on the subject, plus there are tons of videos and other explanations of techniques you can find online.

Tried the Mirror Lake shot again using some of your suggestions. Hope this version is better..

IMAGE: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/images/hostedphotos_lq/2013/06/2/LQ_652171.jpg
Image hosted by forum (652171) © bettyn [SHARE LINK]
THIS IS A LOW QUALITY PREVIEW. Please log in to see the good quality stuff.

My Gear: 6D, 7D, EOS-M w EF-M 22 f2 STM and EF-M 18-55 f3.5-5.6 IS STM, 17-40L f4, 24-70L f2.8, 100 f2.8 non-IS macro, 70-200L f/4 IS, 400L f5.6,, Canon 1.4x II TC, Canon Speedlite 430 EX II, Better Beamer. Manfrotto carbon fiber tripod, 2 monopods, Manfrotto ballhead and pistol grip tripod heads.

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
Bill ­ Ragosta
Senior Member
Avatar
323 posts
Joined Jun 2012
Location: Pennsylvania
     
Jun 10, 2013 13:14 as a reply to  @ bettyn's post |  #12

Personally I like that latest version much better than the first one you posted. I loved both of the photos that you posted but thought they were overprocessed (and overexposed in the first case).


Canon 60D, Canon 30D with grip, EF 70-300 IS USM, Tokina AT-X Pro 100 f/2.8 macro, EF 100-400 1:4.5-5.6L, EF-S 15-85 IS USM, Sigma 50 f2.8 macro EX, 430 EX II

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
IslandCrow
Senior Member
Avatar
589 posts
Likes: 1
Joined Oct 2008
Location: Rapid City, SD
     
Jun 11, 2013 12:11 |  #13

Another alternative to HDR you have in a shot like this where you have a defined area in shadow and another area in bright light is to manually blend the two exposures in Photoshop. Although your latest edit looks much more natural, it's really easy to get an unrealistic look with HDR tonemapping. Of course, another option is to use a GND filter, but personally, I like the flexibility of blending exposures in post processing (and that's one less filter I have to bring with me).

So, I'm not saying blending exposures is better than using HDR tools. That's entirely up to you as a photographer to decide. It's just another potential tool.




  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
snapshot2011
Senior Member
570 posts
Joined May 2011
     
Jun 14, 2013 06:40 |  #14

Respectfully, they dont look overcooked to me?

I like them both. Pop on over to the HDR section to see overcooked images. I think you did a super job on them and would not hesitate in printing them to hang on the wall. You did well.

Do you like them? Dont worry what others like. Don't know about your ideas, but I photograph to a look I like. Thats my style. People will then appreciate your style. Out of 10 people 2-3 or 5-7 may like your photos or 8 may hate them. What I have learnt is not to shoot for others, shoot for yourself.

Someone mentioned avoiding plugins. I use them, I use anything at my fingertips to assist in giving me the result I want.

The only time I ever worry about making a photo look like what the client wants is when they pay me on a contract shoot to get a certain look.

I produced a photo recently where a local knob said it looked rubbish and that clouds don't look like that. Tell that to the 35 customers who purchased a copy.




  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
Crimzon
Cream of the Crop
Avatar
5,279 posts
Gallery: 13 photos
Likes: 405
Joined May 2009
Location: Calgary, Alberta
     
Jun 14, 2013 15:59 |  #15

I like #2 the best, and I don't think it is overcooked. Perhaps the blue is a tad saturated, but I don't think it looks bad. Overall it is a beautiful image.

The composition of #1 is excellent, but the background doesn't match the foreground. I know distance haze pays a part in the trees and their color, as well as the mountain. The BG is a little "too" blue, and washed out. I'm not good enough to explain how to fix it, all I can say is that is looks a bit "off" color. The sky and clouds look great though.

Overall #1, could be tweaked, and go from just good, to very good.


My blog (external link)

Always feel free to provide constructive criticism to any of my pics.

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
sponsored links (only for non-logged)

3,462 views & 0 likes for this thread, 12 members have posted to it.
New to landscapes
FORUMS Photo Sharing & Discussion Nature & Landscapes 
AAA
x 1600
y 1600

Jump to forum...   •  Rules   •  Forums   •  New posts   •  RTAT   •  'Best of'   •  Gallery   •  Gear   •  Reviews   •  Member list   •  Polls   •  Image rules   •  Search   •  Password reset   •  Home

Not a member yet?
Register to forums
Registered members may log in to forums and access all the features: full search, image upload, follow forums, own gear list and ratings, likes, more forums, private messaging, thread follow, notifications, own gallery, all settings, view hosted photos, own reviews, see more and do more... and all is free. Don't be a stranger - register now and start posting!


COOKIES DISCLAIMER: This website uses cookies to improve your user experience. By using this site, you agree to our use of cookies and to our privacy policy.
Privacy policy and cookie usage info.


POWERED BY AMASS forum software 2.58forum software
version 2.58 /
code and design
by Pekka Saarinen ©
for photography-on-the.net

Latest registered member is semonsters
926 guests, 117 members online
Simultaneous users record so far is 15,144, that happened on Nov 22, 2018

Photography-on-the.net Digital Photography Forums is the website for photographers and all who love great photos, camera and post processing techniques, gear talk, discussion and sharing. Professionals, hobbyists, newbies and those who don't even own a camera -- all are welcome regardless of skill, favourite brand, gear, gender or age. Registering and usage is free.