Creek at sunset

[Guest]

As I have mentioned so often - I find landscapes really difficult. But armed with the E-M5 and newly acquired 40-150 kit lens I went off in search of the "Golden Hour".
Coming across this creek when it was getting quite dark I was a bit non-plussed at the settings I should use, so put it onto the Sunset Scene and fired away.
I would really like to know what you think.
Is it OTT and what could I have done better?


Is the patch of bright water off-putting?

[bilbo]

Re: Creek at sunset

Hi Lyn

I think the light is great, and that the first one is the better.

It just lacks a definite subject for me...

What you need is a little girl in a red riding hooded cloak with a basket of goodies on that piece of dirt right front, looking contemplatively into the scene.

[Zuiko]

Re: Creek at sunset

Nice colours in an attractive setting with excellent light at an ideal time of day. What more could you want? For me, No 1 is the most interesting of the two shots so I'll concentrate on that.

To my eye the composition could be improved significantly by stepping in front of that dark and intrusive tree trunk on the right. It acts as a barrier to the eye progressing to the most important part of the scene - the golden lit tree behind. You also need to lose that patch of bare earth in the foreground and I'm also uncomfortable with that virtually straight tree and it's reflection on the left - it looks almost like a telegraph pole and seems out of place.

It's true that a landscape photograph can always be improved by the inclusion of a definite point of interest, but short of always keeping a red canoe tied to your roof rack, this is not always possible. However, I believe that if the composition is strong enough the whole picture becomes the point of interest and features within the scene can gain prominence by virtue of the light picking them out.

Here is a suggested crop to fix the issues that I had with the original, plus a little cloning to remove what was left of that trunk on the right. Now the beautifully lit tree on the right can step forward and fully claim the viewer's attention.



The Sunset mode on the camera seems to have worked well, but it should be possible to replicate and even improve fairly easily. As a starting point, try setting the picture mode to vivid and the white balance to custom 5500K (this will increase the warmth). Most important, when making these settings in Aperture Priority mode it allows you to keep control of the aperture, ISO and exposure compensation, which are dictated by the camera in Sunset mode.

[Floribunda]

Re: Creek at sunset

Hi Lyn

I think the light is great, and that the first one is the better.

It just lacks a definite subject for me...

What you need is a little girl in a red riding hooded cloak with a basket of goodies on that piece of dirt right front, looking contemplatively into the scene.

Thank you for replying Brian
I know what you mean about a subject. I was so taken with the changing light late in the day that I thought I would try and make the golden colours the star.

[Floribunda]

Re: Creek at sunset

Nice colours in an attractive setting with excellent light at an ideal time of day. What more could you want? For me, No 1 is the most interesting of the two shots so I'll concentrate on that.

To my eye the composition could be improved significantly by stepping in front of that dark and intrusive tree trunk on the right. It acts as a barrier to the eye progressing to the most important part of the scene - the golden lit tree behind. You also need to lose that patch of bare earth in the foreground and I'm also uncomfortable with that virtually straight tree and it's reflection on the left - it looks almost like a telegraph pole and seems out of place.

It's true that a landscape photograph can always be improved by the inclusion of a definite point of interest, but short of always keeping a red canoe tied to your roof rack, this is not always possible. However, I believe that if the composition is strong enough the whole picture becomes the point of interest and features within the scene can gain prominence by virtue of the light picking them out.

Here is a suggested crop to fix the issues that I had with the original, plus a little cloning to remove what was left of that trunk on the right. Now the beautifully lit tree on the right can step forward and fully claim the viewer's attention.



The Sunset mode on the camera seems to have worked well, but it should be possible to replicate and even improve fairly easily. As a starting point, try setting the picture mode to vivid and the white balance to custom 5500K (this will increase the warmth). Most important, when making these settings in Aperture Priority mode it allows you to keep control of the aperture, ISO and exposure compensation, which are dictated by the camera in Sunset mode.

Thank you John - exactly the cc I was after.
It was the light I was trying to highlight and I included the second photo as I wondered if the gold in the first was too strong, and the second was a bit softer.
Landscape composition is so hard! Thank you for the edit. The tree on the left didn't bug me at all until you pointed it out! I left the tree on the right thinking that it made me feel I was standing back looking at the scene. Getting in closer as you have done is better.
I would love to have that "photo green light" that Pete mentioned in his Mottisfont post when it comes to landscapes.
I don't think that can be taught.
Thank you for the setting advice - it has gone into my "bible".

[alfbranch]

Re: Creek at sunset

Lyn
Are you happy with these?

You went out at the correct time of day and the light was very nice which makes all the difference.

I agree with John about the composition but I would add that the clutter in the river (not that you can do much) is not helping or adding to the shot. Think about what to exclude from the shot.

[Floribunda]

Re: Creek at sunset

Thanks Alf. I am happy with the colours but was always doubtful about the composition.
The clutter is very typical of our river and creek systems. I guess we tend to take it for granted as a natural part of the scene.

[KeithL]

Re: Creek at sunset

Even in John's crop, I find the horizontal tree trunk in the foreground grabs my eye, and takes my interest away from the rest of it. I don't think your viewpoint really works well enough - that damned tree trunk is in the second shot, too!

I would be inclined to find a viewpoint where there is a point of interest that causes your eye to be drawn into the shot; e.g. something further away than the trees, or something in the water that really stands out as 'different' to the rest of the scene.

[Floribunda]

Re: Creek at sunset

Even in John's crop, I find the horizontal tree trunk in the foreground grabs my eye, and takes my interest away from the rest of it. I don't think your viewpoint really works well enough - that damned tree trunk is in the second shot, too!

I would be inclined to find a viewpoint where there is a point of interest that causes your eye to be drawn into the shot; e.g. something further away than the trees, or something in the water that really stands out as 'different' to the rest of the scene.

Thanks for your input Keith. As I said to Alf, the logs and debris are very much part of our local creeks, it is hard to find a viewpoint without them. I guess the Healing Brush could come out, but - I actually like them in the scene. A case of familiarity I guess, but I will try and keep in mind what everyone has said.

[Guest]

Re: Creek at sunset

Lyn - I'm not good at critique as such but prefer your second take for its better lighting/exposure and less cluttered composition.
The foreground log is an essential element that leads the eye back into the picture.



The edit:

1. Clone out the midstream bracken

2. Saturation +15%

3. Vibrance +25%

4. Crop from left and resize to original width.

5. Sharpen 50% to give willow leaves a crisper finish.

6. Save.

[Floribunda]

Re: Creek at sunset

Lyn - I'm not good at critique as such but prefer your second take for its better lighting/exposure and less cluttered composition.
The foreground log is an essential element that leads the eye back into the picture.



The edit:

1. Clone out the midstream bracken

2. Saturation +15%

3. Vibrance +25%

4. Crop from left and resize to original width.

5. Sharpen 50% to give willow leaves a crisper finish.

6. Save.

Thank you Mark for taking the bother to respond.
I quite liked this second photo too, which is why I included it.
Whilst I admit there is not much of a focal point in either photo, it was the golden light that I was trying to highlight.
The patch of bright light bothered me a little, but no-one has mentioned it, so I guess it is ok.

[KeithL]

Re: Creek at sunset

Thank you Mark for taking the bother to respond.
I quite liked this second photo too, which is why I included it.
Whilst I admit there is not much of a focal point in either photo, it was the golden light that I was trying to highlight.
The patch of bright light bothered me a little, but no-one has mentioned it, so I guess it is ok.

Damn - I keep looking at that, now you've mentioned it!! I think I'd dim it meself. The tangle of branches looks like an interesting focal point after Mark's de-clutter, etc. Getting much better.

[Guest]

Re: Creek at sunset

Thank you Mark for taking the bother to respond.
I quite liked this second photo too, which is why I included it.
Whilst I admit there is not much of a focal point in either photo, it was the golden light that I was trying to highlight.
The patch of bright light bothered me a little, but no-one has mentioned it, so I guess it is ok.

As John says,
"I believe that if the composition is strong enough the whole picture becomes the point of interest and features within the scene can gain prominence by virtue of the light picking them out."

The patch of bright light on the opposite bank balances the bright contre jour light of the willow.

[alfbranch]

Re: Creek at sunset

Looking much better
The only thing that lets it down for me now is that fallen tree that is now a lead in has been cropped a little tight

[pdk42]

Re: Creek at sunset

Hi Lyn. For me, the first shot is the most interesting so far as composition goes. I'd definitely get rid of the tree and I'd also tone down the foreground to the right bottom - it's not particularly interesting/attractive and is probably best left as an enigmatic dark area. On the enigmatic theme, I'd try turning down the exposure too. Finally, given that this is all about colour, you could try some really bold colouring and contrast.

Anyhow - here's my take on it, for what it's worth!