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It would be useful here, as you'v made quite a crop, to upload the original to see how much you've cropped and for others to make alternative suggestions, though this letterbox format does work well.
Just a tweak to contrast and saturation makes a difference, something you don't want to take too far as it'll look unnatural. I think that's important here because of the stark simplicity on a winter evening.
Just a tweak to contrast and saturation makes a difference, something you don't want to take too far as it'll look unnatural. I think that's important here because of the stark simplicity on a winter evening.
I do prefer the original in Mod 3. There is no problem with the colours and saturation. The issue is the tree is to far to the left of the picture on all the images and mods. That is what the judges will pick up on in any competition. It should be on the thirds or on centre for maximum effect. Also looking at the image it is a little Noisy / run through the Noise reduction in photo shop. Tom.
Thanks for adding the original. I've added a mod, really just to illustrate how many possibilities a subject like this offers.
I wanted to keep more depth in the base line, it supports the subject and there are attractive textures there. I cropped to place the tree off-centre in a square, then a grainy, contrasty b&w with frame and a hint of burn edges, worked in Nik Silver Efex.
The proportion work better for me, the processing may not be to your taste!
Moira
I wanted to keep more depth in the base line, it supports the subject and there are attractive textures there. I cropped to place the tree off-centre in a square, then a grainy, contrasty b&w with frame and a hint of burn edges, worked in Nik Silver Efex.
The proportion work better for me, the processing may not be to your taste!
Moira
Original posted image is fine, John (Dudler) image has more oooomph version 3 & 4 seem lost in the over abundance of sky and lack of "width", I get the impression the poster wasn't wanting a regular 4:3 (is that right?) image. Not that I can drive these photo tweaking things, but I would be inclined to remove the twigs in the lower right side of the image. Don't get me started on photo judges.
I suspect there are quite a few different crops here as has already been demonstrated, unfortunately hefty crops and high ISO do result in noise being introduced and lack of clarity.
I do quite like the gentle pastel and slightly warmer colours in Willies mod (2) and the mono works nicely.
I would have been tempted to use my feet and get a little closer to that nice tree.
I do quite like the gentle pastel and slightly warmer colours in Willies mod (2) and the mono works nicely.
I would have been tempted to use my feet and get a little closer to that nice tree.
Quote:I would be inclined to remove the twigs in the lower right side of the image
I'm glad you mentioned those Nigel, they were starting to niggle me a little bit - once noticed they are a distraction.
Clearly you like the panoramic crop, the others are given just to show alternatives (and are always worth bearing in mind to get the most from a location).
That said, the panoramic is my preferred option and if that's what you 'see' at the time (sometimes we only notice the possibility aftwerwards) thwen consider taking two or more images to stitch together as quality will be superior.
The 5th version is my favourite, and it's YOURS, so well done.
After an interesting discussion, I want to pick up just one point in there, raised by Tom. I entirely agree that some judges would pick this up for a heavily one-sided composition: and they are the same ones who insist on all images being shot at 100 ISO and having a single catchlight in each eye (and if there isn't one, add it!)
The 'Rule of Thirds' is good guidance as a generality, but it's not an unbreakable law. Quite often, using a dollop of negative space is a positive compositional tool, and for me, it works here. It's like breaking metre in a poem: bad poets do it all the time; mediocre poets never do it; and the very best do it sometimes for dramatic effect.
It's often a matter of personal choice, and that is a very positive thing - life would be exceedingly boring if we all did the same thing, all the time. But rigorous rule-following is best saved for heavy motorway traffic conditions. We can go wild in our pictures.
The 'Rule of Thirds' is good guidance as a generality, but it's not an unbreakable law. Quite often, using a dollop of negative space is a positive compositional tool, and for me, it works here. It's like breaking metre in a poem: bad poets do it all the time; mediocre poets never do it; and the very best do it sometimes for dramatic effect.
It's often a matter of personal choice, and that is a very positive thing - life would be exceedingly boring if we all did the same thing, all the time. But rigorous rule-following is best saved for heavy motorway traffic conditions. We can go wild in our pictures.
