Brilane

Good scenic pictures.

Just one hint for you, of which you may already be aware.... In scenic shots although some good pictures can be taken with a wide angle lens, it is a good idea to use telephoto on some shots, as they can greatly enhance the grandeur and impression of the view. Remember, when a great vista is looked at with the human eye, the viewer, although he is aware of the whole view because of the effect of peripheral vision, is, at any one moment, only concentrating on one smaller part of the scene, then the focus of the eye can be moved to concentrate on another part of the scene later. A telephoto lens more accurately catches the, eyes', impression that the photographer had experienced there, this explains why if the vista is taken with a wide or standard angle lens, the photographer can be disappointed by not capturing the desired effect.
I hope that I have explained it clearly.

Brian.

Nice composition. Personally I would have tried fill in flash to 'harden' , lighten, the gate in the fg.
Brian

Good scene, xiaoli, but it lacks detail in the snow banks in the foreground.
I would suggest that, because it was highly reflective it needed exposure compensation of about +1/2. If the whole scene was a snow field, you could need exposure compensation of up to +3.
Good luck, as it seems we are getting a lot more snow.

A lovely combination of colours. It is a good picture, and all the elements are needed to make it work. My only thought is maybe if you cropped the picture so that the 2 end posts are stil lin the picture, and leavig an equivalent portion less of the top foliage, it may improve the effect.
Brian

I would suggest that using a circular polarising filter would probably have given you a picture nearer to the effect that you wanted.
Brian

A good composition of a busker scene.
Although, I go back to my advice about composing, etc, in camera. I suggest that the shot needed to be exposed for the shadows, using the exposure compensation faclity, to reveal more detail in the shadow, this can be checked on the screen or viewfinder, as you compose the shot, for the best result. The shot, as it is, does not have very much detail in the shadows on the person in fancy dress, so no amount of enhancement will give a satisfactory result.

Brian

I can't give you much advice re. this picture, Xiaoli, except to say that you are making a lot of difficulties for yourself when you expose the picture,
With film cameras it was usual to compose in camera before taking the picture. This also included 'type' of exposure, and using exposure compensation if necessary. This is much easier to do with digital as you can see the effect, in the viewfinder or screen, as you move the dial to + or -.

By 'setting'. the camera before exposure could save a lot of work later.
Brian

You have made a good job of the enhancement, and remember a little grain does give this type of picture character and atmosphere.
Brian

The shot is aceptable as it is. It is a natural looking picture just as you would see it if you were looking up from a low viewpoint and a steep angle, and is a good effect.
I've done a very simple mod though.
Brian

I like your mod, (image 5), it really illustrates the importance of the 'old' system of composing in the camera, which would have probably shown up the 2nd person, and a slight move in your position may have hidden the person or made it easier to clone her out.
Brian

Nice work, especially with the available light.
Maybe, just a little touch of lightening on the lutist at the RHS of the picture is needed.
Brian

This one suits this manipulation better than the others. I realise that it is rather difficult to choose the type of picture that can be enhanced by this effect, I suggest that it calls for a picture that has very little small detail and some large close images.
Brian.