Let me have it

From a hiking trip. I put in the practice but I just feel like I'm stuck. Thinking about investing in editing videos.

I know the feeling - it's easy to feel like you are spinning your wheels and not getting better. Hopefully some critiques will help!

1. I think the photo is beautiful but my eye goes to the bright orange in the upper left which isn't the focal point. I think you nailed the shutter speed and got the water just right (for me anyway). The tree roots in the foreground are almost a better subject than the stream. How to make it better? Maybe if you moved down stream far enough to leave the sunset (sunrise?) orange area out of the frame?

2. WAYYY too much halo-ing with the HDR along the mountains in the background and around the tree branches on the overlook. Let some areas go darker - seems kinda flat overall. Also not sure what the subject is - the river? Or the overlook and trees? You certainly had a great sky to work with!

James

The frustration is normal, and good. It is what motivates us to keep trying, learning, and hopefully improving.

Both shots show good balance, use of the 1/3's, leading lines, etc. The second one looks over-processed. Do you use a "live view" function when you shoot?

When you say "stuck", what do you mean? What is it about these two shots that leaves you disappointed?

I'm a little perplexed about what you mean by "stuck"? Really interested to hear why.

Both images show good composition and are enjoyable.

1. I agree with James, highlight top left unfortunately I'm drawn to. The image lends itself to B&W,
and actually enhances the mood. Have a play. I really like this image.

2. I also like this, even though there are mixed focal points. Unfortunately it is let down by post processing.
I'd suggest a more natural look in your PP may produce better results.

Well, i dislike both. First for not really thought out composition and second for being overcooked.

And you mentioned us the possible reason for it. Tell us about it. Spit it out, mate.

I like these. The first seems a bit dark to me, and the orange definitely draws my attention. It is easy to downplay that upper corner with a quick select, desaturation and lower the levels a bit. Then you can raise the overall image up, add a bit of saturation, etc.

I think I like this edited version better, but these types of things are very subjective. I think this shot could also be more interesting if it was a bit wider, show more of the tree and stream.

Image one, the water brightness actually draws my eye first and it's almost dead center. Moving back to compose and putting that in the upper left third w/ the stream moving towards you and out the bottom right of the image would have been a stronger composition IMO. I also feel there is a bit to much saturation for my taste. Dropping the aqua and blue out of the water and reducing the greens a bit gives it a bit more natural feel. I don't mind the relative darkness as this is common in the woods and adds some mood.

The second one has more issues and mostly from over processing. Composition could be better, not sure what you want us to focus on in that image.

Evertking wrote in post #18594890
From a hiking trip. I put in the practice but I just feel like I'm stuck. Thinking about investing in editing videos.

Hosted photo: posted by Evertking in
./showthread.php?p=185​94890&i=i165526131
forum: Critique Corner

Hosted photo: posted by Evertking in
./showthread.php?p=185​94890&i=i158873076
forum: Critique Corner

I realize this is a very old thread, but I have to say that your landscapes are a strong genre for you. I also find MOST of your portrait work to be good as well, and definitely convey a personal style, which is difficult to develop. I'm a fan of your work!

Not sure if it was a stylistic reasoning you did this... but at first I liked it, but the more I spent time with it, the out of what horizon really began to bother me. You have the main tree leaning right, and then everything behind it is leaning left. Looks as whack-a-doodle as the trees in front of my house. Its just not supposed to work that way. I know things like this can happen - my yard - but they aren't supposed to. I guess what trips me up is there is no level element anywhere. Closest seems to be the boulder to the right. So maybe its just my over simplistic mind... but I have a love/hate relationship with the image.

Dang.... this harkens back to 2018!

Glad it got resurrected....

I know this is a very old thread, but I'll share my thoughts not on the images, but on the editing mindset....

I've been on this forum for about 10yrs or so and I've seen countless users (including myself) get sucked into thinking there is a correct, perfect, or even a near perfect edit. Based on the comments I've seen throughout the forum, and especially in the Critique Forum, I would venture to say that the majority of users believe that for any given image, there is a best way to edit. Moreover, due to the verbiage of the critiques, I'm not surprised people think there is a right or wrong way to edit an image. Whether you are seeking the perfect edit, best edit, or the correct edit intentionally or subconsciously, it's a detrimental way of operating. I have a strong background in math and sciences, where there is almost always a correct and incorrect answer. Carrying over that mindset into photography nearly ruined the hobby for me. I understand there are some editing aspects like white balance, sharpening, and general exposure that are a bit more black and white, but even those things can be used creatively. If you are doing everything "by the book", and taking critique from people who do everything by the book, your images will be boring. You'll get frustrated, you'll get discouraged, eventually you'll get burned out, and the camera will sit on the shelf.

If you are asking questions along the lines of "What do you think of this image?", "Would you print this for a wall canvas?", "What would you do differently?", etc, etc, then perhaps you're asking the wrong questions. Take some time and look at your images and figure out how would YOU specifically like them to look different? (ie. How can I add more interest to the rocks, How can I showcase the water better?, How can I bring out the details in the trees? etc.) Then ask for suggestions on doing those things. You may be able to accomplish the task through editing, or you may need re-take the picture. Point being, if you don't actually know what you want to change, what is the point of re-editing/re-shooting?

/endrant