Just a Dream ...

[GB1]

The Oregon coast, December 2009.

How can I make this better?

-GB

[Shebang]

Frame it and hang it on MY wall. That would be better!

I do like your other shots - like the one with the tracks - better, but this is still beautiful. Might be a little dark on the left.

[Frog]

Can't think of anything or see anything to improve.
I like the feel of it.
I suppose you could crop some from top and bottom and make it a pseudo pano but I don't think it would improve it.

[BlueRob]

I like the way it is GB...I download it and try some PS on it without much result....maybe some cooling or warming filter but I like the tonal range of it.

[starriderrick]

Amazing light, tonal range. I.M.H.O. Leave it alone..Straight out of the camera? This is sweet.Great composition,the title says it all.Very nice GB.

Rick

[Lava Lamp]

"How can I make this better?"

Add a supermodel?

Actually, I don't think that would be an improvement. Your photo has a great glowing luminosity that carries through even on a little image on a little monitor.

Did you alter the colors? I think that could be something to play with...

[GB1]

Thanks all. This is a scanned Kodachrome 64 slide. I've done very little to it, as I want to keep it as untouched as possible as I work on a Kodachrome's finale series (just a little self project I'm doing ...), but I did clone out some birds in the sky that were blurs due to them moving and the SS being too slow. Then I decreased contrast a little to make it more soothing. Finally, I added a vignette so to create a little more of a 'dreamy' feeling (it already looked as such, but I wanted to amplify it a bit).

Btw - I asked what can I do to make it better because, I am not sure it's 100% there... Can't quite put my finger on what might be missing, but ... whatever.

Paula, I see what you mean about the left side. I will adjust the location of the vignette, moving its center a bit to the left, to see how that looks. I will post it here for all to see.

Frog, I'll try that pano idea.

Rob, I see what you mean, it may be too blue. But .. not sure a warming filter will not create a bad mix of cold and warm spots (perhaps that's what you saw in your expts?). Ahh.

Rick, thanks too and yes the tonal range was almost as what you see, cept for the slight decrease in contrast. It was clear that day (the only day) or most of it, but there was still enough haze or what not to limit contrast. A really unusual situation for me, as southern Cali has so much bright sun (!)

People love your suggestion here Lava ... Which would catch the viewer's eye? I think if I did have a model here dressed in a Sunday dress or old fashioned day-at-the-beach outfit with blanket etc that it might have made a great scene. Soooo much can be done with the right setting, props and model. Food for thought.

G

[BlueRob]

Not really a bad mix of warm and cold spot using some sort of PP filter...just alters the light tone....currently the image has a nice subtle cool tone to me and when adding more "coolness" did not seem to add anything...same as with a warming filter....works good, looks good but again alters the "real" light and I see no point in that....altering this is to alter the mere essence of the pic itself IMO.

[daq7]

I like it. Would a UV filter of a polarizer have reduced the white haze a bit? I realize that getting that was part of the point, but it seems bit harsh.

[BlueRob]

I like it. Would a UV filter of a polarizer have reduced the white haze a bit? I realize that getting that was part of the point, but it seems bit harsh.

Yeap no doubt a PL filter with reduce the haze and boost the contrast and play a bit with the colors but I think that haze makes the picture....adds a rich soft mood if you ask me.

[draymorton]

"How can I make this better?"

You can't.

Seems that people are grasping at straws trying to come up with suggestions for improvement. Good luck with that, guys.

[daq7]

Hey, grasping at straws is the only monkey trick I have...

[draymorton]

Hey, grasping at straws is the only monkey trick I have...

Ha, well at least you came up with something. More than I could do.

[armando_m]

Add a mermaid ?
I do not see what else to suggest

[LeeIs]

I can't think of anything you can do to this to make it better. The colours are nice and mute. the subtlety works well, love the layered hills. come to think of it, maybe if you had a bigger rock/hill right where the sun was that would sorta sheild some of that, that would've been nice. maybe then the sun rays woulda radiated nicely from behind it?

but, it looks good the way it is. and the straight horizon makes it stronger than the other one u shared of this place (which i liked also)

[MarcusK]

Not to be redundant, but I don't see anything that could be done to this shot and improve it...

As for you feeling something off, could it be the centered rock? horizontally speaking, it feels too centered... but for once, it doesn't detract from the overall effect... and nothing can be done in post to change that... i tried

It just works... nice shot!

[GB1]

Thanks fellows. Its fun and inspirational when a photo of mine sparks a discussion. I think in order to grow (improve) photographers really need an analysis phase, see what's working and what's not, and why.

What I've thought about reading this is something I've actually said about movies, when a writer/director keeps coming up with prequels and new variations of a popular flick -- why not leave the original alone and move on to the next challenge? (I think of them milking Star Wars for all it's worth ..) That's probably where it's at with this shot: an unusual dreamy type capture. Do a print if you will, start thinking about the next project and how to make it better than this one.

That being said, I will play with the warmth and a pano and post it. Just been up to my eyes in other things this week.

Daq, I took this in Dec and am not sure if I used a polarizer or not, but I do know I used one on some shots. Seems like a double-edge sword with those things .. They can create wonderful contrast but you can also lose detail in the dark areas. I guess I prefer one when lighting is 'drab' and would otherwise produce a not-so-great image. The desert's ideal for them BTW.

Armando - A mermaid? Not a bad idea. This image may make a decent background for some type of fantasy collage.

There was a famous painter with a studio in Laguna Beach with dreamy paintings (usually always with a moon). I think he closed that outlet and I can't remember his name, but check these paintings out to see what I'd like to create in a photo (something similar, anyway):

http://carolom.files.wordpress.com/2...-beautiful.jpg
http://www.lifeplusvitamins.com/images/hawaii-moon.jpg

Liban, I may have a shot just as you describe. I'll take a look. Just been so swamped with other stuff lately that I hardly have time to review and PP my work from Dec (!) Yes, I agree, that very small tilt wasn't good.. this one looks better. Funny how a 1 degree tilt can make that much difference (!!!!)

Marc, YES! I think that centered rock sort of violates a law or two. Maybe that's the issue. But I think the tension works here... not sure why, but perhaps due to the other rocks balancing it all out.

Thanks again everyone!

G

[GB1]

Well, I tried a smaller pano version. Different .. not sure better. Attached.
G

[MarcusK]

Personally, I like the first one... and like i said, it's probably the center stone that's giving this nagging feeling... when it shouldn't,.... it works as is!