NikonGear'23

Images => Critique => Topic started by: Somnath Goswami on August 17, 2015, 10:12:14

Title: First post for critique
Post by: Somnath Goswami on August 17, 2015, 10:12:14
Please let me know about your thoughts , a 1/25 second exposure at F8, D610 and 70-200 F4. Raw converted to BW.

I don't mind harsh comments as long as they are relevant.

Regards
Somnath

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7698/17037355121_e809c01b4f_c.jpg)
Title: Re: First post for critique
Post by: Jakov Minić on August 17, 2015, 10:26:49
Somnath, I like the image a lot.
Well thought of and executed. I like the mood of the B&W conversion. I am sorry I wasn't there :)

What I would improve, and those are minor details:
- I think the image is tilted, so I would straighten the horizon;
- By straightening it, you would need to crop off a bit from the top, bottom and left of the image in order to remove some of the whites around the frame and to bring forward the subjects.

That's just my irrelevant taste ;)
Title: Re: First post for critique
Post by: Bjørn Rørslett on August 17, 2015, 10:30:15
A general comment: 'harsh' in this context is something you didn't expect or appreciate. No bearing on the validity of the comment as such.

Specific for this image:

I think the mood is well captured and by making the hill reflection a central part of the frame, the perceived delicacy is enhanced. The bits and pieces jutting out from the water also contributes. However, the overall impression is that of detachment and distance. It is like we see the entire scene safely ensconced in our car instead of being "into" it. So a much tighter framing would to me produce a marked improvement in graphical strength.

The tendency towards a high-key treatment suits the image and therefore b/w just comes natural as well.
 
Title: Re: First post for critique
Post by: Erik Lund on August 17, 2015, 11:52:36
When rotating to get the horizon straight, no need to crop, if you have photoshop you can use photoshop content aware fill for such a non complex edge extension.

Super nice mood!
Title: Re: First post for critique
Post by: Somnath Goswami on August 17, 2015, 11:53:25
Thanks a lot to both of you for such insightful remarks. Really appreciated.

One specific question is how to know that there is a tilt? I use LR 4 and try to view in grid to know if there is tilt. Often I fail to perceive a tilt. Any remedies?

regards

The same morning with a wide view , 24 mm and colour. The slush and mud , all in :-D

(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8581/16020238383_32d6a66fda_b.jpg)
Title: Re: First post for critique
Post by: Somnath Goswami on August 17, 2015, 11:54:31
When rotating to get the horizon straight, no need to crop, if you have photoshop you can use photoshop content aware fill for such a non complex edge extension.

Super nice mood!

Thanks Erik. :-)
Title: Re: First post for critique
Post by: Erik Lund on August 17, 2015, 12:09:11
Actually, the horizon doesn't always need to be level, it just needs to look as if it is level...

Move the image to the edge of the screen... ;-)
Title: Re: First post for critique
Post by: Frank Fremerey on August 17, 2015, 12:10:15
In Photoshop I feel the grid is a great help eliminating minimal rotation. How can we help you there?

#1 has a very nice drawing style. Light. Should see it after rotation before I can add a hint concerning proportion.

#2 is just perfect as it is inmy feel.
Title: Re: First post for critique
Post by: Akira on August 17, 2015, 13:01:36
Hi, Somnath, I basically like the image as it is.

As all have said, the horizon would need to be leveled.  And I would crop the bottom a little.
Title: Re: First post for critique
Post by: Somnath Goswami on August 17, 2015, 15:35:59
Thanks to everyone :-) . Will put the tips fot tilt correction to use. Specially love the "move the image to the edge of the screen" one , it's actually working  ;D

Cheers
Somnath
Title: Re: First post for critique
Post by: ColinM on August 17, 2015, 22:13:06
I like both of these.

With the colour one, have you considered cropping the bottom third (or more) off? At the moment the muddy shoreline is in sharp contrast with the smoothness & serenity of the top half - this may he what you intended. However by concentrating on the upper half you'd get a quite different serene feel and also a quite nice wide-------screen image.
Title: Re: First post for critique
Post by: Akira on August 17, 2015, 22:35:33
Somnath, have you tried the B&W treatment on #2 in the manner similar to #1?  That would work, and I'd like to see one!
Title: Re: First post for critique
Post by: Somnath Goswami on August 18, 2015, 05:51:51
I like both of these.

With the colour one, have you considered cropping the bottom third (or more) off? At the moment the muddy shoreline is in sharp contrast with the smoothness & serenity of the top half - this may he what you intended. However by concentrating on the upper half you'd get a quite different serene feel and also a quite nice wide-------screen image.

Thanks for that alternative POV. I actually remember having that sort of a frame but yet to process.

Cheers
:-)
Title: Re: First post for critique
Post by: Somnath Goswami on August 18, 2015, 05:52:53
Somnath, have you tried the B&W treatment on #2 in the manner similar to #1?  That would work, and I'd like to see one!

Perhaps I converted one , will have to dig. If not then will process one and post for sure during the weekend

Cheers
 :)
Title: Re: First post for critique
Post by: armando_m on August 18, 2015, 15:07:37
#2 wonderful tones

if it was my image i would crop a bit from the left and from the bottom

#1 is great , no further comments to what has already been said.
Title: Re: First post for critique
Post by: Peter Connan on August 18, 2015, 18:54:38
I think they are both stunning! Love the surreal look of the first and the subtle sunset hues of the second.

But I am not much use as a landscape artist.

Do you know the easy way to straighten the horizon in LR?When you open the crop tool, in the right-hand panel there is a button that looks like a spirit level. If you click on that, you can drag a line along the horizon (or whatever line you want to be horizontal).

Of course, it's much better to get it right in camera, as this kind of editing moves pixels around, which is why I always have my viewfinder grid diesply turned on, and have the virtual horizon as one of my button customizations, and on "my menu" as well.

And still I get it wrong!
Title: Re: First post for critique
Post by: Somnath Goswami on August 19, 2015, 05:35:54
Thanks Armando and Conan  :).

@Conan , yes I have also the same menu setting lately.

Cheers
 :)