Untitled No. 1: CC please.

neilds37 Loc: Port Angeles, WA

CC please.

(Download)

mallen1330 Loc: Chicago western suburbs

Very nice shot! There are few rules or guidelines in landscape photography, however, the most basic one is to always keep the horizon level. It's an easy PP fix.

Frank2013 Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.

neilds37 wrote:

CC please.

Well done neilds, bit noisy but not a deal breaker for me. I could like it as is if leveled. A heavy crop may make me like it more. Lot of space on the left. Details could be brought out under the pier. If cropped a flip might improve, as is a flip might leave you starring at the reflection in the water.

photosbytw Loc: Blue Ridge Mountains

On my screen, it looks a little soft, which is a small point. Personally, I would crop of the top 25%. I don't think it adds anything to image. Then there is the noise and the wonky horizon.................

Respectfully

neilds37 Loc: Port Angeles, WA

Thank you all for your comments. I'm at a loss as what to do about the "horizon". The camera's internal level said it was level. The "horizon" has land masses receding on either side. PSE grid has the observation platform level.

This was taken a few minutes before the sun appeared, and the noise is consistent with the best I can get out of the camera with reduced light. Any effort to gain more detail under the pier would only produce Noise.

I used manual focus with "focus peak" turned on, and had focus on the towers roof. The soft focus is another product of the low light.

I did consider cropping, but wanted opinions on the un-cropped composition.

I greatly appreciate your taking the time to critique this honestly. I seem to be shooting at the limits of the camera, unless someone has words of wisdom as to what I can try.

Thank you again,
Cheers, Neil

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

neilds37 wrote:

Thank you all for your comments. I'm at a loss as... (show quote)

My internet connection is playing up so not able to always get on therefore posted in your thread without asking your permission. Hope this is OK?
To reduce the noise either try smaller aperture and much longer exposure on a tripod or take bracketed shots if your camera does that.
Feel free to contact me if you need help.
I straightened the horizon using the spirit level in the crop tool.
I took your download into Camera Raw and got details out of your shadows and reduced the blue on the pier and then a crop.
Frame to give it added depth.
Probably needs a reshoot but its not all bad my friend

(Download)

neilds37 Loc: Port Angeles, WA

Billyspad wrote:

My internet connection is playing up so not able t... (show quote)

Dang, Billie. I don't know how you do it. This is a bracketed shot processed in EasyHDR 3 and tweaked in PSE 13. Now, to me, the horizon looks crooked. Anyway, your improvement is appreciated - thank you for taking the time to do it. I still have a lot to learn about PP. Guess I'll go back to the original Raw single photo and have another go at it and see if I can match yours.

...and since the sky was the subject of this photo, I can't reshoot it. :?

neilds37 Loc: Port Angeles, WA

Using Billy's tips I feel I have a greatly improved version of this, and the 10x8 print is much better. The "horizon" has stayed the same, 'cause that's how it looks. The left side "horizon" is the coastline of Vancouver Island. Noise does not show in the print, but the soft focus is still present of course.

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

neilds37 wrote:

Dang, Billie. I don't know how you do it. This is a bracketed shot processed in EasyHDR 3 and tweaked in PSE 13. Now, to me, the horizon looks crooked. Anyway, your improvement is appreciated - thank you for taking the time to do it. I still have a lot to learn about PP. Guess I'll go back to the original Raw single photo and have another go at it and see if I can match yours.

...and since the sky was the subject of this photo, I can't reshoot it. :?

HDR has the effect of increasing noise. Its part of the process. You can try processing all your RAW files separately and eliminating the noise in them, converting them to jpeg and using those in your HDR software.

Or if your software allows it just use it to merge the images and export as a Tiff before you tone map it. Open the Tiff in Camera Raw and carry on as normal. The Tiff will have all the information contained in your bracketed images but without tone mapping will not have the noise.

Hope it does not sound too complicated but just shout if you feel I can help

neilds37 Loc: Port Angeles, WA

Billyspad wrote:

HDR has the effect of increasing noise. Its part o... (show quote)

The thought of PP the RAW's first crossed my mind, but didn't want to spend the time on it. I used a preset in HDR for this photo. It produces the merged and has the tools for tone mapping, and also has numerous presets. Although the second print looks good, with your help I'll see what more I can pull out of it.

neilds37 Loc: Port Angeles, WA

Billyspad wrote:

HDR has the effect of increasing noise. Its part o... (show quote)

Should we move this over to the PP section?

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

neilds37 wrote:

Should we move this over to the PP section?

I think its fine here. This forum seems to spread and cover a lot of subjects. You posted and asked for C and C it was me jumping in with PP advice so I would leave it as is my friend.

neilds37 Loc: Port Angeles, WA

Billyspad wrote:

I think its fine here. This forum seems to spread and cover a lot of subjects. You posted and asked for C and C it was me jumping in with PP advice so I would leave it as is my friend.

OK. Here's my latest. Just the single RAW file, put it through Lightroom, then layered sky and water in PSE.

(Download)

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

neilds37 wrote:

...and since the sky was the subject of this photo, I can't reshoot it. :?

Lots of interesting discussion about the pp, but seeing Billy's crop and reading others' suggestions of same, I was thinking how that made the story about the pier. Whereas I was seeing the bigger story :)

For me, the pier is a little boring, architecturally, and it was all about the sky and wide open space. Beautiful image, great discussion!

neilds37 Loc: Port Angeles, WA

Linda From Maine wrote:

Lots of interesting discussion about the pp, but seeing Billy's crop and reading others' suggestions of same, I was thinking how that made the story about the pier. Whereas I was seeing the bigger story :)

For me, the pier is a little boring, architecturally, and it was all about the sky and wide open space. Beautiful image, great discussion!

Thank you Linda. I'm having a difficult time getting this like I want it.