Don't quite have it...

[ChowChi-Ching]

I can't figure out what is not making this picture work for me. The sun on the water really hurt the image but it was really bright that day, and since we don't live there, it is not an easy reshoot... What is not quite right in this picture??

[ChowChi-Ching]

Is this crop any better?

[SpeedingSphere]

I think the lack of the sun on the left and the glare being present is taking away from the shot. If the sun was there, the glare wouldn't be such a focal point in the image.

I like the first crop better, but the top left area needs something besides those clouds. I would say if possible, reshoot about an hour and a half later and catch the sunset with the reeds silhouetted.

[ChowChi-Ching]

I wish I could reshoot - my next chance won't be until October

[GB1]

ChowChi-Ching -

I can see what you were going for here, but I don't think any one thing is wrong with the image, more a combination of factors. The sky and ocean colors aren't that great for a water shot - they need more saturation (perhaps a polarizer would help? but shooting into the sun reflections like that is tough). The reflection is almost completely blown out. There's no real subject in the photo, and the sandy area looks a bit drab. I do like how the grass parts ways to create a natural path into your shot, but the way the right side glass shoots out of the frame is distracting.

This could be one of those situations that felt really nice when you were there but didn't translate to a great image. The smell, breeze, temperature, and sounds are lost.

Maybe if someone was sitting on the embankment on the left there. Or if there was a boat out in the water?

Gb

[jkriminger]

I think what is hurting this is that there is not much contrast in the colors of ocean and sky. If I was playing with it I would probably layer sky, ocean and sand and work to pull..say some green out of the ocean..maybe a little hue saturation into the sand..brown it a little and darken the levels on the sky...or reshoot! In fact I think I'll do that on my own and see if I'm just blowing smoke..?..

[ChowChi-Ching]

Feel free to edit my pics and post whatever you can come up with!

[jkriminger]

here you go..a quicky

..ah forgot to burn around the bright spots

[jkriminger]

well, did I kill it with gaudiness?

[ChowChi-Ching]

You did a good job, the sky is a bit too blue but I just don't think I can get past the sun reflection..... guess this is one of those 'lesson learned for next time' type of pics.... :-/

[jkriminger]

everything but the blown out water can be manipulated. Sky can be easily toned down..6 mins work on this one.

[ChowChi-Ching]

Yeah, I will have to play with this some more....... I really appreciate your help!!

[Frog]

Try cloning the tops of the reeds leading off frame if you can do it and still leave them looking natural.
I see what you were going for...just really difficult conditions.

[AgingEyes]

How about this?



I'm just playing with the colors, toned down the big blown highlights, darkened the foreground and increased the contrast of the sky a bit. May be it could change the mood of the pic?

I think the composition is the problem (isn't that easy to say, eh? The grass in the foreground...too much of it. The grass on the left also got in the way of whatever they are sitting on the beach and stretching all the way to the water. The way I see it, there's a something like a trail on the foreground sitting in the middle of the grass leading down the beach, to the water and up the sky to the sun. But, along the way, what are those things that are cutting in the way sitting on the beach? The perspective also seems to be quite narrow. I'd like to see this shot with a wider angle (may be you already did if so I apologize). Perhaps also moving horizon either up or down more, too.

Just the way I see it. I could be way off, mind you.

[ChowChi-Ching]

Thanks, I appreciate it - that looks alot better too.... the big things in the water are actually posts of where there used to be a dock.... This is off the beach in Ocean Shores, WA......

Is this version any better??

[jkriminger]

um, no. Way too much saturation. Beach looking like a lawn. But the cloning of the reeds does look better.

[readingr]

How about a conversion to B&W which works really well on this subject. The problem with colour is that the camera cannot capture the full dynamic range your eye sees. so it gets real difficult to capture unless you merge 3 different exposures.

Hope you don't mind but I took the liberty to convert it so that you can see what I mean.

I selected the high water mark added a feather of 150 and then did a slight levels in the midtone to lighten it up a tad, then burn in the highlights in the sea at 3% until it looks good.

Roger

[GB1]

Chow - Just to say that I checked this thread last night on my home computer, and the shots look a lot better on that monitor, much more vibrant, etc. I'm now starting to realize that one's display factors a lot more into the experience than I ever realized. Another variable to consider, which isn't good because sometimes a slight difference can really make a make or break a photo.

[ChowChi-Ching]

That is very true..... Kind of makes critiquing a bit more challenging. I have found the same problem with different computers... I guess I will have to see what I can get printed up and see if this can be saved.....