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seaspray2 · Joined: 09 Jan 2012 Posts: 270

Just a shot of power lines, taken with the kit lens unfortunately, though , I know, don't blame on the equipment. Would this be more in the commercial value category? I can go back there, on skis so how would /you improve this ? I also wanted to say I like the eggs and chocolate shot, but would have liked it with a chocolate chick or bunny in the shell.

jhuls · Joined: 02 Jan 2012 Posts: 1046

The lighting is all wrong, everything is too dark and in shadow except for the sky. Your camera exposed for the sky and left everything too dark.

I'm not sure it's worth a reshoot though, I think this one would get rejected for LCV. What product or idea are you trying to help promote with this photo?

seaspray2 · Joined: 09 Jan 2012 Posts: 270

I guess it is tough to shoot against a bright sky...have to use recovery tool and probably darkened everything. Is there a way to shoot objects against a bright sky without losing the sky or underexposing object? Thinking about electricity or conveyance of it. Thanks for critique, any way to improve the shot?

seaspray2 · Joined: 09 Jan 2012 Posts: 270

This is the original with a small amount of fill.

hhltdave5 · Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 6:45 pm

Power lines have been done to death even several years ago. I remember when I joined 6 years ago I did a power line shot and was told it was old hat even back then.

Try to keep this in mind when coming up with shots and that is how many will you have to fight with to get sales. Over done concepts get lost in the masses very quickly. If you have something that is very unique or special then I say go with it but if it is just generic then it probably will not be the sale maker you think it could be.

Also what has been said about the lighting is correct. When you are faced with bright areas such as sky, snow, sand etc the scene can fool the meter and end up giving you an under exposed image.

rinder99 · Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 6:59 pm

This is about as good as it's gonna get, But agree on LCV.Also Look at what your up agains't. 969 Pages X 100. One of the reasons I keep telling folks to search first.

http://www.shutterstock.com/cat.mhtml?lang=en&search_source=search_form&version=llv1&anyorall=all&safesearch=1&searchterm=power+lines&search_group=&orient=&search_cat=&searchtermx=&photographer_name=&people_gender=&people_age=&people_ethnicity=&people_number=&commercial_ok=&color=&show_color_wheel=1

seaspray2 · Joined: 09 Jan 2012 Posts: 270

Hi all. thanks again.I am not trying to annoy you . I did follow your advice,Rinder, and saw some amazing photos but none of this type of wooden power lines. so I though to give it a go. I also under stand about exposure, I think, so I find that usually the sky is 1 to 1 1/2 stops brighter than the landscape. How would you then get everything exposed properly? Or do you always add a sky later? Thanks again. Hope you don't mind but will keep trying and learning and hope to get some acceptable photos soon.

hhltdave5 · Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 8:41 pm

rinder99 · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 12:23 am

mikenorton · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 1:30 am

seaspray2 asks:
"Is there a way to shoot objects against a bright sky without losing the sky or underexposing object? "

Yes. Everything in the composition must be in the same light. Shoot when the sun is low in the sky and at your back or over your shoulder. When the sun is low the color of the light is warmer and the sun at your back or over your shoulder will send the shadows behind the objects in your composition.

Look at Dave image from White Sands: the sun is on the left causing the shadows to so to the right, not toward the camera. The white sand, the soaptree yucca and the blue sky are all receiving the same light. Dave meters his hand, I meter a red hat. The red hat and the blue sky would both have metered the same for Dave's image.

http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/51753/51753,1257628678,1/stock-photo-the-moulton-barn-and-the-teton-range-in-grand-teton-national-park-wyoming-40439383.jpg
The sun is to my right, see how it lights the sky, mountains, barn and grass evenly? Look for compositions like this.

http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/51753/51753,1228185676,1/stock-photo-a-buck-and-rail-fence-with-the-grand-teton-mountain-range-in-the-background-photographed-at-21386350.jpg
In this one the sun has just come over the horizon, the warm light is turning the white snow and gray granite mountains pink. The foreground is darker because it is not getting direct sunlight but all the clouds are bouncing light down on the green pastures making them bright enough to be acceptable.

http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/51753/51753,1219608070,1/stock-photo-a-nineteenth-century-silver-mill-in-colorado-photographed-during-the-autumn-season-16494862.jpg
In this one the suns light is from the right and lighting everything from the waterfall to the sky evenly. (I did use Photoshop to make the shadow side of the mill a little lighter, but the detail was there I did not add it.

seaspray2 · Joined: 09 Jan 2012 Posts: 270

Okay...thanks again for the advice from all. I will try to see the light better and try to be unique. I have to admit the competiton is pretty tough.

banepetkovic · Joined: 03 Mar 2012 Posts: 135

copidosoma · Joined: 17 Nov 2009 Posts: 3787 Location: Canada

ruxpriencdiam · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 9:40 pm

seaspray2 · Joined: 09 Jan 2012 Posts: 270

Well, I wasn't trying to ba kit lens ad but glad to see you think it is sharp. It doesn't have a nice look like my canon 17-55 but can't exactlyb describe why. I use it because it light for skiing etc. Location is Cypress bowl Vancouver.