Shutterstock Photographer Forum :: View topic

mikenorton · Posted: Tue May 22, 2012 11:38 pm

I agree with what has been written but I like what you were attempting to do. You are trying something different, that's good. When you try something different you always learn something.

I'm thinking you shot about 60 degrees from the sun. You shot into the shadow side of the boats and that is what's making your picture appear dark. I think it's a good exposure but the shadow side of the boats kills it. If the boats weren't there I think the exposure would be fine. Maybe no boats and a silhouette of a person fishing on the end of the pier would have been a better composition. As it is if it was sharp and did not have the fringing would it get accepted here? I don't know. But if it was sharp and did not have the fringing I think it would make a nice print for someone's wall.

You put the brightest part of the sky behind tree branches, that's good. It would be nice if the clouds were up in the top left but those silly things don't always cooperate with photographers.

If you would have been on the other end of the pier looking back at this camera position you would have had the lighting Dave was referring to and the light would have been on the other side of the boats. But the shore end of the pier would have probably been real dark.

The thing I really like is the worn parts of the boards on the pier. The side light brings that detail out. Everyone must walk right down the middle. What I don't like is the diagonal rope crossing the pier. Unless it's keeping one of the boats from drifting away next time move it for the pictures and be sure to move it back when you are done.

sineho · Joined: 15 Apr 2012 Posts: 12 Location: Denmark

Thanks everybody, I appreciate all of your advice.
I feel I have an even better understanding of how I should be aware of the light and shadows.

@ pharm: Thanks!

@ ruxpriencdiam: It was good to see this link, I did not know about this. One more aspect to consider :)

@ hhltdave5: Good explanation and thank you for your tips, I'll try them next time.

@ rinder99: I'll look forward to that day, it would be less frustrating, than to come home and not understand why the shot is bad.

@ mauijon: Thanks for your visual explanation I get your point.

@ Taras: I'll remember this, I think I need to get a crash course in RAW editing.

@ Mike: Thanks for your feedback and compositing tips, I was hoping that this composition would be stock worthy, but I get the point with a man fishing might be even stronger. I might also have some copyright issues on the boats.

/Simon

semmickphoto · Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 4:22 am

I use Lightroom for RAW, some use ACR, very similar products and very easy to understand.

sineho · Joined: 15 Apr 2012 Posts: 12 Location: Denmark

semmickphoto · Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 4:35 am

I dont use Photoshop to process RAW files. Lightroom does a better/easier job in my opinion.

sineho · Joined: 15 Apr 2012 Posts: 12 Location: Denmark

semmickphoto · Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 4:42 am

Not the same, similar, but Lightroom has more options focused on the processing of a RAW file.

ruxpriencdiam · Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 5:51 am

And if you use Canon you can use DPP which is very good as well.

jeffbanke · Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 12:29 pm

semmickphoto · Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 1:01 pm