Stevieboy Loc: West Palm Beach, Florida

Went out the other late afternoon about an hour or so before sunset and captured this landscape with my Canon sx50 hs . Did some slight processing cropping and straighening the horizon and spent a minute or so in adobe camera raw and came up with the final result which I really liked. Would appreciate your imput and thanks.

Steve

before

(Download)

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

The processing is a bit harsh for me, but I want to mention one thing about straightening horizons and the sx50. The camera has a built-in grid and sort-of-level.

Use the display button on the back, and toggle: you will see view through LCD, view through LCD with grid, view through viewfinder, view through viewfinder with grid. Taking time to keep composition level before shooting will surely aid in quality of results and easier pp.

I keep mine set to view through LCD with grid, but then close the back (it revolves, flips etc), so that when I put my eye to the viewfinder, I am seeing the grid that way too. Mostly I shoot with viewfinder, but then can turn the LCD flap around for easy shoot through it without having to toggle through the choices (keeping it closed most of time also keeps scratches off it).

Picdude Loc: Ohio

I'm a little like Linda on this. I like the way the sky and water came out in the processed version, the rocks and trees on the left-hand side seem little too much. Maybe if you could blend or mask the two images together?

Nightski

This is the Photo Critique section, Stevieboy. One finished image is to be put up for critique here. Only one photo per thread is allowed. If you are looking for help with post processing, you should post in the Post Processing section. They are very helpful.

Stevieboy Loc: West Palm Beach, Florida

Thanks for taking the time to comment Linda, Picdude and Nightski. Much appreciated.

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

I like this bright, clear, image. It seems realistic for the time of day when the light is right and everything seems to stand out. But I'm afraid you fail miserably at levelling the horizon.

jim hill Loc: Springfield, IL

You surely must have known the horizon was askew. So why did you post it with that "fault." Could be that you did so on purpose.

At first the unlevel horizon caused a knee-jerk reaction. After looking at it for a few more moments it grew on me, a lot. Along with the slightly overcooked effect.

I have checked your list and to me this is the most interesting photograph I have found among you works. It is unsettling to a fault and it says more about the viewer than the photographer. For me, it hovers - and this image will not soon be forgotten. With a level horizon it would be just another sun-downer photograph at 90 degrees to the left.

Be bold.

Stevieboy Loc: West Palm Beach, Florida

Thanks Jim and Mcveed for your comments. The background for this photo is as follows. I live in a golf community with abundant wildlife and landscape opportunities. It was later afternoon and I felt like going on a hunt for opportunities. I went in my golf cart and took my Canon bridge camera the X50 Hs and on Olympus 5dmark2 with the fairly large 24-150 and the teleconverter sitting next to me so I had to be careful about twisting and turning.

After I left I decided to only use the bridge camera and had the Olympus sitting next to me. I was driving around and captured a bunch of nice bird photos. That little Canon does a great job. I was on a little bridge and sneaking up to some birds while on the golf cart and glanced to my right and saw what might be an interesting landscape. I zoomed out as much as possible ( widest position)and snapped a few while twisted around. When I got the photos up there was something about this capture that I really liked so I leveled the horizon and did a little tweaking in ACR and was so impressed with the capture from this little inexpensive camera thought I would share it.

So that is the background and those were my thoughts. Thanks for looking and commenting.

My best and have a great holiday,

Steve

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

This is what I don't understand. The horizon doesn't look level to me. But I notice that this one is titled "before". Is there an "after" that got removed by admin because you can only post one version in this section?

Stevieboy Loc: West Palm Beach, Florida

Maybe so. I entered a before and an after. Maybe they did remove the after.

jim hill Loc: Springfield, IL

I have been in formed that hey did remove the after.

That's quite alright as I think I still prefer the before for the reason I have already stated.

A further comment: If the water were falling OUT of the picture I wouldn't be crazy about it.

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

I'm afraid they did. How about posting the 'after'?

jim hill Loc: Springfield, IL

You are now free to post the "after".

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

Only one photo per thread in the critque section. The second photo will always be removed. You may and I encourage you to post the after in another thread and link to it here. Technically only the "after" or finished photos should be posted in the critique section.

Jim_In_Plymouth Loc: Plymouth MN

I am going to be a minority of one. I do not believe we know the horizon is askew. The far side of the pond comes closer to you as you move from left to right. Thus, providing a misleading horizon. I have included a marked up copy of the original demonstrating the misleading horizon. Constantly get into this discussion in camera club.