Composition/technical details critics please

Hey there,

These are some quick pics from my latest trip in the Charlevoix region in the Quebec Province, Canada. These are some pics that I thought were keepers.

Shot on Rebel XT/350D (Good ol' body), with 17-40 f/4L lens (Love it). with polarizing filter (Hoya Pro1 Digital) on for all of them.

No processing done, but I'd like to hear some ideas on how to change them as well as a cheap software to do so, since I'm just 17 and a student, so Photoshop is out of question at 700$ for processing software when I'll be buying a 70-200 f/4L)

Now, to the pics:

First two are quite overexposed, IMO.

For this one, it was hard to get appropriate lighting on the golf course AND the sky.

Best is probaably no1. However, the horizon needs straightening and a little could cropped from the bottom. I fail to see the humour of the sign and you must stop this now or risk having to make an explanation for each subsequent image.

As far as the mansion having the sun behind it, Id like to see what a grad ND filter would do on that?

corkneyfonz wrote in post #10432150
Best is probaably no1. However, the horizon needs straightening and a little could cropped from the bottom. I fail to see the humour of the sign and you must stop this now or risk having to make an explanation for each subsequent image.

16 km/h...Seems like they decided to change 10 miles/h to 16 km/h, while most people would have made it 15 or 20. Seeing a speed limit not ending by 5 or 0 was pretty awkward to me...hmmm....well... I guess you're right. Sorry.

And you're right about the horizon line. I think the little mountains' tops got me a bit in diagonal.

Scottdog129 wrote in post #10432322
As far as the mansion having the sun behind it, Id like to see what a grad ND filter would do on that?

That's interesting. Although I'm not too sure of the practical usefulness of this kind of filter without a tripod.

jsboutin wrote in post #10431901
The Sun was behind the Manoir while I took this one, what kind of settings could have given me appropriate lighting?

Ummm... as far as I know, a reflector or a second source of light is the only way how to get light somewhere where it´s not. So unless you can borrow the lights from a local football stadium, I suggest waiting for a better hour.

MMX wrote in post #10433801
Ummm... as far as I know, a reflector or a second source of light is the only way how to get light somewhere where it´s not. So unless you can borrow the lights from a local football stadium, I suggest waiting for a better hour.

Sure it'd have been better, and simpler, but since it's not always possible to do so, I thought I might just as well ask, and I got an interesting suggestion for a grad ND.