Swan Valley at Dawn

[danic]

Here is a series of photo's from my way to work. I've decided to capture the surrounding area where I live, as it's quite a visited place. I tried to blend the images with multiple exposures, but that didn't work out, so they are mostly adjusted using the curves function.









Comments welcome

[caleb]

shots 1 and 2 seem busy without a clear subject. Had the tractor in shot one but unobstructed by the columns, I would think it's fantastic.

Shot 3 and 4 have potential, the horizon chopping the photo in half isn't the best in these. In shot 3, I like the idea and think that if you're lucky enough to get a more interesting sky, and you get lower to put the treeline closer to the bottom third while keeping the post in the left third and filling most of the frame, it would be a very interesting shot.

In shot 4, Same thing about thirds, I think this is a spot to break out a longer lens and get a shot of the horse against fog. As this shot is taken, The fence here isn't an interesting subject and the horse is blocked and too small.

You need to get back out to that fence post in #3 before they repair it!

[GB1]

It does look like Australia, at least the non desert parts

I like # 1 the best. It is a tad scattered, but the subject is interesting.

#s 3 and 4 I am critical of, for to me they seem weak in that the fences are poorly lit, soft (did you use a tripod in this low light situation?), and, in the case of 4, get in the way of what might have been an interesting subject (horses). If you had taken 4 at a lower angle (or a higher one) instead of standing height and as a result the fence wouldn't be blocking the horizon, it might have been a lot better. Note that even if the fence hadn't been there that taking it from 5 feet high is probably too common (don't worry - you are not the only one. I do it all the time, contributing to the commonness ).

I personally like the lighting here, seems soft and makes me anticipate the new day.

# 3 I would crop off the bottom 1/3 or so. It also has some nice soothing light, though I agree it is busy.

Not sure what you could have done about the busy-ness issue, other than not take the shot. Seems like it would be like this from any angle.

G

[danic]

Cheers guys. I will be revisiting this place and trying to do more in the same type of light. They were all shot using a tripod. The ground is fairly uneven, making it hard to get a good setup with the tripod. The do seem fairly soft and tried to sharpen it up with PS, but it ddn't seem to work, so perhaps the camera was not focused correctly.

I'll try for some different angles and perhaps more dramatic sky as well. They are forecasting rain for the early part of this week.

Cheers.

[Wild Wassa]

Danic, G'day.

A bit of rain is forecast hey? ... the weather here is not Spring like at all, we currently have Winter with snow.

When you are photographing anything, simplify all of the elements.

First determine what is it that attracts you to the subject, then decide how can you best portray that feature to enhance the overall image ... and then what post processing can push the image even further by revisualizing your original idea.

Some subjects just aren't photogenic without a good deal of scouting for the best location, determining what camera functions, those creative camera controls which can be employed to further enhance that feature and setting up the shot and waiting for good lighting and ambience. The ambience could be simplifying your colour by desaturating the colours, using only the cool hues or warm hues only. Placing important colours against neutral backgrounds, bringing more of the open woodlands or grasslands to the fore, adding to the open perspective by extending you depth of field to 2 weeks at f/64.0

Already the shots that you have taken are describing the next images to explore. Where is the Squatter? Where's his daughter? Get the horse in the shot ... hand feed the nag beside the fence.

Very rarely do we take good shots ... as frequently as we make them happen. Getting to chat to the Squtter's daughter can have advantages as well.

Good start Danic, in 6 months, the selection might be awesome not just timeless.

Warren.