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awreddick · Joined: 06 Apr 2012 Posts: 5

Hi everybody, I'm new to Shutterstock and would really appreciate input on the attached. I haven't yet uploaded any images so I'd be grateful for any guidance you'd be willing to share.

Thanks! Alison

ruxpriencdiam · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 5:55 pm

Exposure/lighting as well as OOF.

Can we see the 100% crop please?

Mike Price · Joined: 06 Jun 2008 Posts: 2919 Location: South Wales

Agree with Barry regarding exposure and lighting. I cannot tell about the focus without a crop, but Barry can see an OOF image from a thumbnail so he is probably correct. The exposure should look more like this

awreddick · Joined: 06 Apr 2012 Posts: 5

Um, I thought I had uploaded the 100% crop...500x500... I thought I had followed the guidelines in the forums. My bad. @ Mike: thanks for the suggestions - I'll go back to the drawing board.

awreddick · Joined: 06 Apr 2012 Posts: 5

Have adjusted the exposure some. Thanks in advance for the critique!

ruxpriencdiam · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 7:01 pm

A 100% crop means zoom in or magnify 100% then crop out an area no larger then 500x500.

It is OOF and that still isn't a 100% crop.

ruxpriencdiam · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 7:10 pm

Perry is better at this but a 100% crop should cover an area around this size.

awreddick · Joined: 06 Apr 2012 Posts: 5

Okay - so 100% crop is really what it sounds like, if I read the post correctly. Trying with a different picture. Thoughts, please?

ruxpriencdiam · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 7:27 pm

Here is an idea of a crop.

And the crop below.

jeffbanke · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 7:55 pm

Not a snowballs chance in hell with your cat !

Nice example Barry ;-)

mikenorton · Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 2:24 am

A couple of things: I'm going to respectfully disagree that your picture is too dark. I think the density is fine. Second are you familiar with the rule of thirds? Your composition is a bulls eye. All your compositional elements lead right to the middle of the picture. The rule of thirds says to draw 2 horizontal lines that are evenly spaced and then draw 2 vertical lines that are evenly spaced (so it looks like a tic-tac-toe board). Then place your compositional elements close to the points where the lines intersect. Of course you have to do this mentally while looking through the viewfinder before you shoot the picture. Third, I'm guessing that you shot this picture between 11:30 am and 1:00 p.m.. The light is coming from straight overhead, landscapes look better when the sun is closer to the horizon. The ideal time to shoot this picture would be when the sun is low and streaming into the picture from from behind you.

I cropped and flipped your picture to show you a better composition. See how all the lines now lead to where the water comes to a point? Thats where you put the alligator next time! ;)

Mike Price · Joined: 06 Jun 2008 Posts: 2919 Location: South Wales

I agree Mike, I did not alter the overall exposure in my attempt, just opened the shadows on left hand side. I think it looks much better flipped and with the dark area of trees cropped out.

Mike

awreddick · Joined: 06 Apr 2012 Posts: 5

Quite a difference between Mike & Mike's and the original. Looks very good. Thanks y'all! I'll keep on trying until I'm ready to submit.

rinder99 · Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 10:53 am

Composition is King. and tough to teach after the fact. Good job Mike.Actually ya beat me to it.

jeffbanke · Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 11:02 am

Besides the composition discussion which is kind of redundant other than as a teaching moment, as the image is soft, so would get rejected anyway.