A view for Critique

[dawesy]

Taken outside Crookwell, a small town about 40ks from Goulbourn prior to the recent rains. This is their water supply reservoir which is near full as a result of being spring fed so they have avoided much of the pain and water restrictions Goulburn have had to endure.

While it is a lovely spot, I'd like thoughts and suggestions on the image. It's been a while since I've put up something recent, and even this is from a few weeks ago. I'm hoping to start taking and posting at least one shot a week for a while to try and get myself back into shooting, and learn from the experience. So it begins here!

[jamesw]

What lens, exposure, aperature, was it hand held or tripod?

Although landscapes are not my forte, so to speak, something about this shot is lacking, imo.

I think shooting at sunrise/sunset would improve this shot, or perhaps even under exposing a little... For me, the sky (the way it fades from a blue to white) is off putting, and looks a little over exposed.

What I am getting atis that it looks like you metered off of the foreground, which compromised the exposure of the sky.

[jamesw]

I must add...

FWIW I do quite like the composition, and I am guessing you shot during the middle of the day which would have created difficult exposure conditions for the scene.

Good work.

[dawesy]

Shot with a Sigma 18-125, 1/125s @ f/16. [Edit:] Handheld [/Edit]

You are right about the time of day. One of those shots that was not planned, and I didn't get a change to get back that day. Will make a point of it sometime soon. I see what you mean about the sky, and I think it is a fair point. Having said that the original is quite underexposed, so I may have a play with it.

[dawesy]

A darker version, don't think it helps the sky much but overall I like it better. Had a crack at burning in the sky just above the horizon a bit but didn't come up well, in no small part because my PP skill suck.



Thanks.

[jamesw]

Shot with a Sigma 18-125, 1/125s @ f/16. [Edit:] Handheld [/Edit].

sorry to nit pick btu what focal length were you at?

i much prefer the second shot btw

[dawesy]

Do'oh.. it was at 18mm.

Thanks for the advice, the second is far better. I think sometimes I listen to the 'auto correction' feature a little too much!

Cheers.

[jamesw]

i think your going to have a difficult time PPing that shot. because of the time of day, the exposure conditions are ridiculously challenging, and using nd filters would be difficult aswell.

either use the raw file to create a HDR or go back and reshoot in the evening or early mornign... i really think your onto a winner!

[big pix]

the second pp is perfect...... don't touch it any more....... the simplicity of this shot is what makes it fantastic........