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| Group |
Round |
C/R |
Comment |
Date |
Image |
| 96 |
Feb 22 |
Reply |
Cheryl, I took a cut at toning down the white spots. I cloned some of them out but thought cloning all of them was not going to work. So I darkened them (with a luminosity mask) to make them gray and not draw as much attention. What do you think - does that go far enough? I also finally managed to get my Topaz Sharpen AI working again and used it to "unblur" the poor focus / motion. It helped sharpen the foreground some, but mainly it helped crisp up the mid ground in what I think was a needed way. |
Feb 14th |
 |
| 96 |
Feb 22 |
Reply |
Cheryl, I like the cooler look, but I still felt like the upper right was unnaturally dark. So I took a cut at it. But while doing that I had the thought to cool down the image a bit more overall, but then warm up the yellowish building and trees near it as a focus for the image. So I did that, brightening them a little too. I tried to even out the upper right, but then darkened the upper edge overall. I also darkened the lower edge and cooled that down a bit further. To me these changes drew me in to the image a bit more. Just a thought. I think they still preserve the look you were after but you would have to judge. |
Feb 14th |
 |
| 96 |
Feb 22 |
Reply |
Found the boots and the reptile head. The gorilla head took me a bit. |
Feb 10th |
| 96 |
Feb 22 |
Reply |
Thanks Haru for the kind words. I was thinking you might like this one. It is different for me - quieter and more understated in the colors. |
Feb 10th |
| 96 |
Feb 22 |
Reply |
Thanks Cheryl. I was trying to figure out what the white spots were. I guess it is spray from the ocean which is a bit to the left of this scene. Not knowing for sure I left them alone, but I agree they are distracting. |
Feb 10th |
| 96 |
Feb 22 |
Reply |
I think I see the snout at the top - having trouble with more than that. The left edge of that same rock does look like a folded wing to me. |
Feb 10th |
| 96 |
Feb 22 |
Comment |
Hi Cheryl. I too am anxious to get out and get some more captures but have not had time. So can I can appreciate your processing some older images - which can be fun too.
I like the quieter mood of this version vs the fireworks of last month. Both nice, but this one is speaking to me more. The frost on the trees is beautiful and I don't think overcooked at all.
If you are after a moody cold feel, did you consider cooling the colors down a bit? To me the whites are pretty neutral and some of the dominant buildings have a warm tone. A little more blue, perhaps a little darkened sky might convey cold if again that is what you are after. On the sky, a small thing, but I find the top right corner dark vs the rest in an unnatural sort of way - easy enough to fix. Just some small suggestions. |
Feb 10th |
| 96 |
Feb 22 |
Comment |
Hi Gloria. First, let me say this is a significant improvement over your previous version. The lighting is great - you found an amazing time moment when nature does what you want and spot lights your rock. I think it is a stronger composition than the first version as well. I particularly like that you have gotten in close to your rock to feature it more prominently.
Second I want to give a shout out to you for sticking with the same scene, revisiting, and reposting another try here. I've felt there was a stigma here at Digital Dialogue against that - don't know why, as it is not written down in the rules, but that was my sense. I further think it should be ok to even reprocess the same capture and repost the next month - maybe multiple times. I think for me at least that would be a more effective learning tool. Of course some of that can happen within a given month, but often doesn't - I think we are all to busy. So, I am really glad to see you breaking new ground (I think Haru does this some too - so kudos to him as well) with the idea of working a subject and keep coming back to the group to improve. Maybe I will just start doing this with reprocessed tries, and people can tell me to stop when they get bored of it. Sorry to use your submission to soap box a bit.
Third, I think I am with Haru on this - don't hang this one quite yet. I had a long time mentor who's favorite wisdom was "you can always do better". Of course you have to declare done at some point as well. But I think this scene could be even more amazing. Stick with the magic time of day you've found, but wait for a more interesting sky to complement the rock in the upper half of the frame. I'd explore the composition a bit more too. I agree with Dan that the sunlit rock protruding from the right is distracting, but maybe there is a different composition that uses it and, for example, creates more of a visual path from your rock to the horizon that suggests the story of sitting there and gazing out to the horizon. I'd also keep the long exposure which I think gives a mood you want in the water. But you may find you don't like what it does with the clouds, and if so, you could blend a shorter exposure for the sky. Just some thoughts. Certainly could proudly hang it at this point, but I think also room to keep exploring. |
Feb 10th |
| 96 |
Feb 22 |
Comment |
Hi Bob. I am a Sci-Fi fan too, so I like it as well. I seem to recall you took a shot at something similar a ways back, but this one is better - it has real mood. And the cool greenish color scheme likewise adds to the fantasy feel.
I feel like you have the making of something I could easily see on a book cover. I think it just needs one more thing composted in as a further focus. I'd suggest a dragon sitting on the right rock peering at the moon - but I don't know where you would get a photo of a dragon.
Again, it is different but not without artistry. It is a beautiful fantasy landscape.
|
Feb 7th |
| 96 |
Feb 22 |
Comment |
Hi Dan. I too love the alone time that can come from landscape photography. I suspect that is why many of us pursue it. I particularly like the moments after the shot. Before I am often anxious, waiting for the light, worrying about this and that. But afterwards there is nothing but enjoying being there.
As usual a beautiful image with your trademark simple, complementary colors. The longish exposure gives me a sense of calm, and timelessness. I find myself watching the horizon, waiting. I love the detail in the near rocks. To me the slight softness in the island is appropriate and gives the expected sense of distance. With the vignette, I find the shoreline on the right does not want to pull me out, but is more a bumper holding me in and guiding me back to the island and the horizon. The foreground rocks are likewise subtly composed to effectively guide. The extreme wide angle gives the image a visual interest beyond the normal view.
I see nothing I would change. The reward that morning was not only solitude but a magnificent image.
|
Feb 7th |
| 96 |
Feb 22 |
Comment |
Hi Haru. This is a beautiful image. The colors and the amazing level of detail are what I find striking. And I think it is the detail and sharpness that conveys the energy and power as you suggest. The black and white version is nice, but I think not as powerful as the color one.
I played with cropping a little more from the top to eliminate the little bit of sky that was pulling my eye up and out. I don't think you loose much other than the beautiful cool tones in the distant trees. Perhaps you could clone out the sky and have the best of both worlds. Wonderful image in any case.
|
Feb 7th |
| 96 |
Feb 22 |
Reply |
Thanks Bob. Shooting volcanos from a boat is more like sports photography than the sort of slow, contemplative landscape photography I am used to. I would be better prepared if I ever got a second chance at it.
I played with the crop a bit per your suggestion. I am not sure about the bottom, but cropping down from the top does tighten up the composition a bit in a way that I like. |
Feb 7th |
5 comments - 7 replies for Group 96
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5 comments - 7 replies Total
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