nairiam Loc: Bonnie Scotland

This is me attempting a bit of post processing. It is only about 8 feet wide, over a stream as it flows onto the shore and into the sea. I was captivated by the lighting and tried to make a decent image of it. It is cropped also to 'balance' the composition.
Please comment.
It would be nice to show before and after, but only one image allowed.

Arch


Original

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Nightski has said two comparison images of the same shot are OK. I think the one image rule is to keep people from trying to critique several totally different images in one thread - that would get really confusing. I usually post my processed version and one with the settings zerod out to make it easier for people to process or crop differently to demonstrate their recommendations.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I love the light and shadows, the texture of the bridge and that you filled so much of the frame with it.

One tiny thing would be to clone out the gray horizontal strip between grass and bridge, in center - maybe make it all grass. A larger issue for me - of which I have no ability to "fix" - is the big pile of rocks on the right. If it were water, the photo would be perfect :)

nairiam Loc: Bonnie Scotland

Many thanks. The original has been posted.

nairiam Loc: Bonnie Scotland

Many thanks for your reply. I did wonder about the rock, but decided to leave it in. I didn't notice they grey strip. I'm grateful for the second pair of eyes. It will be adjusted.

CSand Loc: Fayetteville, Georgia

Morning nairiam, I really like your photo-the view through the bridge very sharp. If possible maybe go back in the evening to catch the glow light and enrich the stones of the bridge. Would love to "sit a spell" here. May I say too that I loved the line under the photo about understanding. I plan to have my daughter cross stitch this quote for me and frame it and put it under the Christmas tree for my husband.

nairiam Loc: Bonnie Scotland

Thank you for your kind response. I think it's a very good quote - covers ALL eventualities. Please send me a photo of the completed cross stitch. Thanking you in advance.
Can't sit in this cold! Maybe next summer!
Nairiam

nairiam Loc: Bonnie Scotland

Linda's Bridge

Chuck_893 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

I like it! I like the uncropped version better. What I miss being able to see is the full reflection in the water. I know you were (originally) trying to provide a foreground frame with the stones and (pavement?), but with your crop I think you concluded the foreground could be a little distracting. If I'd made it, I wonder if I'd have tried moving a little closer so as to keep the same low angle into the arch, but also see and capture more of the reflection, perhaps even the whole reflection. Either that, or raise the point of view to do the same thing, which would get less of the arch directly but more of its reflection (it could even work in a vertical). I think the picture is good as is (except I'd crop some from right to off-center the arch), but I'd like to see more reflection. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

nairiam Loc: Bonnie Scotland

Thank you for your kind response, Feel free to do as you wish with the download. I need all the help I can get!

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Now that you've got both your versions up, we'll see what people can suggest for you! I think you were right to crop out the bottom with the OOF foreground and loose twig. Linda's cloning out of the gray road on the other side is nice, too. I think you've got a good capture of an interesting bridge that has great texture/color in it. It is well balanced & composed more or less along the rule of thirds approach, and the rock line around the far edge of the water forms a nice leading line to take you around the edge and through the arch till it disappears behind the other side of the arch.

It seems like you didn't have much else to work with or you'd have probably shot a little wider. That's common with bridges in populated areas, where there's all kinds of modern junk around - signs, cars, wires, modern buildings, etc. If you have classic scenery around this bridge (wide open meadows, old cottages) you might want to include more of that next shoot. But as shot, it's a photo of interesting texture/color/contrast with a nice reflection. The shapes formed by the bridge and the shadow (3 repeating arches above and below). It would, as noted, probably be a bit prettier in early or late day light. Light makes a great deal of difference, it can make a mediocre photo fascinating.

Because I can never resist playing with photos, I did just that. I cropped a little further to the left to see what it would look like to have the shadow and the right edge of the arch lined up on the thirds. But the fun of it was remapping the colors to warmer tones in topaz restyle and adding texture to the stones.

Remember that our opinions are just that, and your pictures are YOURS, so take advantage of all the interesting feedback/suggestions, but know that what we offer are just our ideas, and we (usually) weren't there to see the real scene. Most of us are still learning this craft.

w topas restyle

Chuck_893 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

Here's my recrop of your original. I changed nothing except the crop, from bottom and right. That's all I can do if I can't get out there and try different viewpoints. :thumbup:

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Minniev: I didn't clone; Nairiam did all the work :) Your edits bring out the texture so nicely. Beautiful work.

And seeing your original, Nairiam, maybe you just have to wade into the water a bit for slightly different angle.

nairiam Loc: Bonnie Scotland

Thank you minniev. That's the type of processing I would like to do. You have reproduced the colouring as I remember it. The grey strip under the bridge is better removed, I think.

nairiam Loc: Bonnie Scotland

Funnily enough, although I had no intention of entering the water, a straight on over the water shot was a non starter. Under the bridge was devoid of light from there!