Waterhead by WeeGeordieLass

This photo is here for critique. Please only comment constructively and with suggestions on how to improve it.

Comments

LynneJoyce Plus

9 20 99

6 Jun 2012 10:01PM

Like 0

Lovely scene with good depth. See my mod for my idea for improvement.

canonfan Plus

7 7

6 Jun 2012 10:06PM

Like 0

A lovely scene and well captured
Jim

rhol2 6 369 1

6 Jun 2012 11:04PM

Like 0

Looks good to me.
A well-chosen point of view achieves that sense of depth and the horizon is well placed.

It might be worth cloning out the little figures(?) at bottom left,and the red coats in the boat above, but that's being a bit picky perhaps!

Roger.

Last modified by rhol2 on 6 Jun 2012 11:10PM

ams99 Junior Member 6 65 9

6 Jun 2012 11:23PM

Like 0

I would be proud of that one.

For improvement maybe you could have included a tiny bit more on the LHS. When i say tiny i mean a really small amount to balance out with the vacant space on the RHS to prevent it looking a little tight to the left.

banehawi Plus

13 1.6k 3680

7 Jun 2012 12:41AM

Like 0

Its a very nice scene. Slightly underexposed, - could have done with a + 2/3 perhaps, as the sky was influencing the metering.

I like Lynn's idea of the extra beach, and I would take it a little further with adding a little shy too.

Lifted shadows, toned down highlights in the mod also.

regards

Willie

paulbroad 9 123 1161

7 Jun 2012 8:51AM

Like 0

A very well composed scene but I suspect you have been working on it to make the sky/clouds stand out and the result is some tonal compression giving a flat effect. Brighten things up a bit and darken where necessary with the burning in tool.

Paul

puertouk 5 1.1k 17

7 Jun 2012 5:12PM

Like 0

Hi Elaine, it's a nice image, but I felt as though it did not have that punch that draws the viewer to look at it. It's bright image with boats on or around the water. Like many others. So, why not do or be a little different to all the others? I put the image into Photoshop ACR, made adjustments to contrast to give a little more punch to the sky. Reduce the highlights, again to give more definition to the sky. I boosted clarity to help the image a little, then open it in PS. Copied the background layer.

I then opened a gradient map from the adjustment layers panel > In the layer mask thumbnail I painted in black over the 3 boats in the foreground to bring the colour back, as well as the pebble shoreline. I then added a curves and levels adjustments to the image.

I now feel the colour of the boats lead the viewer into the image with a more dramatic sky and background. Hope you like it.
Stephen

Constructive Critique

WeeGeordieLass Plus

5 420

7 Jun 2012 9:54PM

Like 0

Hi Everyone,

Thanks to you all for such great advice, comments and mods.

Sorry I haven't replied yet to you all - I've been busy with work, but will have time to reply to you all tomorrow night..........when I'm settled on my sofa with a large glass of red wine in hand.

Looking forward to replying to you all tomorrow night.

Cheers

Elaine

ams99 Junior Member 6 65 9

8 Jun 2012 12:27AM

Like 0

I love the mod with the inclusion of more beach.

WeeGeordieLass Plus

5 420

9 Jun 2012 11:59AM

Like 0

Hi Lynn,

I like the improvement with the addition of more foreground.

The boats look better too with more detail showing.

I like the mount and frame very much.

Thanks for taking time to advise me.

Cheers

Elaine

WeeGeordieLass Plus

5 420

9 Jun 2012 12:01PM

Like 0

Hi Jim,

Thanks for the nice comments and for taking the time to comment.

Much appreciated.

Elaine

WeeGeordieLass Plus

5 420

9 Jun 2012 12:04PM

Like 0

Hi Roger,

Yes I know what you mean about the distracting elements in the shot. I tried cloning out the blue thingy on the bottom left but made a mess of the cloning so thought I'd best leave alone.

The red coat didn't bother me so much.

Maybe when I brush up on my cloning skills I'll have another try.

Thanks for taking the time to advise me.

Cheers

Elaine

WeeGeordieLass Plus

5 420

9 Jun 2012 12:07PM

Like 0

Hi Alan,

I agree that the inclusion of the beach is a good improvement to the shot.

I'll try adding a bit of canvas to the left and see what it looks like.

Thanks very much for your helpful comments - much appreciated.

Take care

Elaine

WeeGeordieLass Plus

5 420

9 Jun 2012 12:12PM

Like 0

Hi Willie,

That's a great mod.

I did wonder if it was slightly dark - didn't notice it until it was uploaded here.

The extra foreground and sky are a good improvement and I'm going to definitely do this in my final image.

Thanks for your help.

Cheers

Elaine

WeeGeordieLass Plus

5 420

9 Jun 2012 12:13PM

Like 0

Hi Paul,

You're right - I used the burn tool to darken the sky and clouds a bit.

I agree that the image could do with brightening up a bit.

Thanks for you ideas.

Cheers

Elaine

WeeGeordieLass Plus

5 420

9 Jun 2012 12:15PM

Like 0

Hi Frank,

Thanks for taking the time to add your comments.

I'll have a try using the command in PSE that you mentioned to lighten shadow areas.

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

Cheers

Elaine

WeeGeordieLass Plus

5 420

9 Jun 2012 12:21PM

Like 0

Hi Stephen,

I certainly do like your mod. I like the differing tones in the shot very much.

I love the way it's different - I think I'm lacking at times in being creatively different.....so thanks for showing me what's possible by thinking outside of the box!

I'm going to follow your workflow and see if I can produce something a bit different - I agree that this shot is a cliche.

Thanks for your great ideas, and taking time to help and advise me.

Cheers

Elaine

Last modified by WeeGeordieLass on 9 Jun 2012 12:22PM