Jim McDonald Loc: Ellsinore, Mo.

First photo submitted, so not sure how large they should be. Taken with Canon SX50..light hdr applied.
What needs to be done to improve this?

Thanks in advance.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

I've been resizing them to 2000 px longest side. No problems noted, but if larger than that it is a little slow on the upload. Then just attach your jpg image and check the Store Original box right beside it. The site downsizes the thumbnail but the larger file is available for members to view the detail in the larger version.

If you don't want anyone to do any sample edits of your photo be sure to say that. Many of us like for others to tinker and post their versions to illustrate the suggestions they make.

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

You could probably crop out the bottom 15% of your photo and still have an interesing shot. A bed of uni-color leaves are not so interesting - the well-saturated woods are.

Jim McDonald Loc: Ellsinore, Mo.

I did try to crop it...several tries actually..finally did, the I submit the wrong photo..This was my final attempt!

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

As Minniev suggested before, you might try uploading your original photo, but then check the box that says "store original". In that case, members who are skillful at editing photos can upload their vision of what would make a photo better, and you can choose from among them the one you like best. I see from your cropped photo there is a black band at the top that probably doesn't need to be there.

Jim McDonald Loc: Ellsinore, Mo.

Strange..I didn't notice the black band..'course the older I get, the less I notice it seems....not a real great occurance I find. So. Ill upload the uncropped photo also.

JC56 Loc: Lake St.Louis mo.

a lot!!!........ for starters go back and read your camera manual..... do a little resarch....then try again...thanks for the post....... keep on trying!!!!

Jim McDonald Loc: Ellsinore, Mo.

??? I'm not real sure what you are trying to tell me. But I do keep on trying!

Viceroy

I was not sure of the comment either. (not very constructive) I think the image benefits from the crop. Nicely done.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

You have a nice eye for a scene and you've captured some pretty fall colors with a reflection. Looks like those may be cypress trees, which I dearly love to photograph. The composition is nicely balanced. The downloadable photo appears soft and slightly out of focus. This could be a problem in the photo itself or it may have something to do with how you prepared it for posting (it almost looks like its been downsized and then enlarged again). You ought to check the download file yourself and be sure it looks the way you meant it to. If your original is fuzzy, you will want to choose a sharper version to work on, or reshoot with different technique (tripod, higher shutter speed for example).

You've also got some chromatic aberration (purple or turquoise fringe) that is showing up on the edges of the branches where they are contrasted against the sky. Don't know what software you're using, but it's easy to get rid of that stuff in Lightroom. Someone pointed out some CA in one of mine last week and it took me all of 30 seconds to clean it up.

Warning: many in this group are going to tell you the truth about your photos. Some are more diplomatic than others. You won't just get "nice shot" here, you'll get specifics about what is right and wrong and what you can do to improve. If you're serious about taking better photos, it's worth the ride.

Jim McDonald Loc: Ellsinore, Mo.

Thank you for your comments...I'll check them out in the AM. Have Lightroom 5 and PSE 11 to work with, find quite a learning curve here, but have all winter to work on it (Too cold for working in the wood shop). I welcome any and all comments, how ever they come, I'm new to this, but have a thick hide and do not take harsh criticism to heart, but try to learn from it.

JC56 Loc: Lake St.Louis mo.

Jim, i suffer from the same thing.....it's called camera rumbunganitist. here is how you contract the diease.

1. you get the crazy idea that these new fangled cameras will make you the next Ansel Adams.

2. you go plop down 3 to 4 hundred on a nice P&S.

3. you go out and shoot and i mean shoot to your batteries are dead and your memory card is full.

4. you get home dowload the pics and think....natty geo will call me in the morning.

5. they don't call.

6. they don't call because you haven't learned the craft or art of photography.

that being said......read, take photos, learn from others.....and expect rejection.........but most of all enjoy..... photography is worse than a herion addiction....... Good luck and kiss all of your disposable income goodbye!!!

Jim McDonald Loc: Ellsinore, Mo.

Thanks for the clarification...Don't have to worry about disposable income..Cheryl, (the bookkeeper , best friend and wife) keeps me inline and usually on budget. However she does manage to allow me to stretch it at times! Plan to utilize your advise!