Steps

Your second post, years on from the first - and clearly you like University cities! I like the composition, too: though the colours are a bit OTT for my taste. Did you do any processing on this - and if so, what? There's no EXIF data showing up, and that's really helpful stuff for technical issues. Often, a 'save for web' instruction strips out the EXIF data. I've done a mod reducing yellow and green saturation, and increasing red, to give what i think is a more natural look. I also burned in the top right corner for midtones and shadows, reducing the effect of the flare a bit. A lenshood might help exclude stray light from outside the frame, but some flare is likely because you have a bright highlight in frame. However, this will be far worse if the lens isn't absolutely clean.

Your second post, years on from the first - and clearly you like University cities!

I like the composition, too: though the colours are a bit OTT for my taste. Did you do any processing on this - and if so, what?

There's no EXIF data showing up, and that's really helpful stuff for technical issues. Often, a 'save for web' instruction strips out the EXIF data.

I've done a mod reducing yellow and green saturation, and increasing red, to give what i think is a more natural look. I also burned in the top right corner for midtones and shadows, reducing the effect of the flare a bit. A lenshood might help exclude stray light from outside the frame, but some flare is likely because you have a bright highlight in frame. However, this will be far worse if the lens isn't absolutely clean.

I thought I recognised those steps! That's a place that I know well - the gardens have a lovely atmosphere but I've found them difficult to photograph satisfyingly - even the sculptures... Good to see the return of a prodigal son. I hope you are still enjoying your photography - that's the main thing. I've uploaded a modification, I made three changes. First, I rotated slightly anti-clockwise so that the bottom, most distant step is nearer to horizontal. That's where I am heading, I want to have a secure landing when I get there... Then I adjusted colour very roughly - like John I found the balance here a bit odd. I reduced saturation on cyans heavily, on blues slightly, and I boosted reds a bit. I think the resulting greens top right are a bit more natural. Willie (banehawi) is the white balance guru, I suspect that he will be along here later... Those Exif details would be really useful! (As you had problems with the light in that top right corner, a tighter crop would be another option.) I also did a wee bit of dodging (highlights) and burning (shadows), with large brush size and very low opacity settings, on the foreground vegetation, to enhance the textures there. I really like those red leaves and thin black stems. This is a simple image, and knowing the location adds a lot. But I feel I am there, and it will take you back there. That's an important part of what photography is about. Moira

I thought I recognised those steps! That's a place that I know well - the gardens have a lovely atmosphere but I've found them difficult to photograph satisfyingly - even the sculptures...

Good to see the return of a prodigal son. I hope you are still enjoying your photography - that's the main thing.

I've uploaded a modification, I made three changes.

First, I rotated slightly anti-clockwise so that the bottom, most distant step is nearer to horizontal. That's where I am heading, I want to have a secure landing when I get there...

Then I adjusted colour very roughly - like John I found the balance here a bit odd. I reduced saturation on cyans heavily, on blues slightly, and I boosted reds a bit. I think the resulting greens top right are a bit more natural. Willie (banehawi) is the white balance guru, I suspect that he will be along here later... Those Exif details would be really useful!

(As you had problems with the light in that top right corner, a tighter crop would be another option.)

I also did a wee bit of dodging (highlights) and burning (shadows), with large brush size and very low opacity settings, on the foreground vegetation, to enhance the textures there. I really like those red leaves and thin black stems.

This is a simple image, and knowing the location adds a lot. But I feel I am there, and it will take you back there. That's an important part of what photography is about.
Moira

Lovely colours and composition, Matt, the steps are important here, leading the viewer through the scene. I also like the way you have placed the steps to one side rather than having them in the centre. If someone had been walking along the path, about two thirds along, it would have been wonderful, but the fallen leaves and shapes of the shrubs tend to make up for that. I have done a modification. I straightened the path steps a bit more than others have, and got away with it, i.e. I didn't lose too much of the outside of the frame. But it did remove the glare top right. At the time of shooting, it would have helped if you had avoided that bright light, just by lowering your camera a touch. And if there were more steps that could have been included by doing so, all the better. My straightening (anti-clockwise rotation) has made that tree on the right straight, so it might be true to actuality. I also reduced the saturation and ran the burn tool over the top right area because the bright light had degraded the area somewhat. Pamela.

Lovely colours and composition, Matt, the steps are important here, leading the viewer through the scene. I also like the way you have placed the steps to one side rather than having them in the centre.
If someone had been walking along the path, about two thirds along, it would have been wonderful, but the fallen leaves and shapes of the shrubs tend to make up for that.

I have done a modification. I straightened the path steps a bit more than others have, and got away with it, i.e. I didn't lose too much of the outside of the frame. But it did remove the glare top right. At the time of shooting, it would have helped if you had avoided that bright light, just by lowering your camera a touch. And if there were more steps that could have been included by doing so, all the better.
My straightening (anti-clockwise rotation) has made that tree on the right straight, so it might be true to actuality.

I also reduced the saturation and ran the burn tool over the top right area because the bright light had degraded the area somewhat.

Pamela.

The EXIIF is needed to coment fully but you must get the technical side right or otherwise content and composition are not enough. Needs the full top third cropping off to get rid of the flare, then quie a nice shot, if a little over saturated. Paul

The EXIIF is needed to coment fully but you must get the technical side right or otherwise content and composition are not enough. Needs the full top third cropping off to get rid of the flare, then quie a nice shot, if a little over saturated.

Paul

Thanks every one for you input, and the modifications. Unfortunately, I'm away from home and only had a copy of the image on my ipad to make adjustments with, using Photoshop Express. As a result I've lost all the Exif data. What I can tell you is from memory: WB - Sun Shot in RAW and some adjustments made with Nikon ViewNX. Agree that it got a little over saturated, but that was my ham fisted mangling to try and reduce the flare. Must try harder! and post more often!

Thanks every one for you input, and the modifications.

Unfortunately, I'm away from home and only had a copy of the image on my ipad to make adjustments with, using Photoshop Express. As a result I've lost all the Exif data.

What I can tell you is from memory:
WB - Sun
Shot in RAW and some adjustments made with Nikon ViewNX.

Agree that it got a little over saturated, but that was my ham fisted mangling to try and reduce the flare.

Must try harder!

and post more often!

I wouldn't have thought colors were OTT, I would try and burn in as much as possible the top right hand corner by using the Radial Grad Tool or Burn Tool and the area that can't be toned down then crop it. But otherwise for me nice photo, bet the colors would have been nice later on in Autumn. Mike.

I wouldn't have thought colors were OTT, I would try and burn in as much as possible the top right hand corner by using the Radial Grad Tool or Burn Tool and the area that can't be toned down then crop it. But otherwise for me nice photo, bet the colors would have been nice later on in Autumn.
Mike.