The One! or The Two!

[MarcusK]

Ok so here i was driving home after work, and guess what.. the sky had some clouds.... knowing the sun was setting fast, and i couldn't get to a good location in time... I had to stop and take this series of shots... posted here are 2 images....both of which i would like critiqued.... oh.... and I am ashamed to say it, but i did.... the biggest newbie mistake ever.. I forgot to check the ISO settings and thus shot them at 3200... All critique is welcome..

Thanks in advance!
Marc

[MB1]

I like them both. I think your use of "Landscape" orientation for the 2 tree image and "Portrait" for the 1 tree image is correct making choosing between the 2 moot.

Although I can't tell what a print would look like the use of 3200 ISO doesn't harm the images on my monitor.

[MarcusK]

Thanks.. I realize now that the title was misleading as i was not asking but rather naming the images.... the first being called "The One" and hence the other one called "The Two"...

not as good as i had hoped.....

Marc

[GB1]

The single tree is a bit mundane. But an interior designer once told me that twos don't work, to go for an odd number instead. I think I agree with this advice in the second shot here: it seems to create a situation where I don't know whether to look to the right or to the left. The background sky's clouds are OK but the blues are disappointing. Perhaps you can run it through some PP and see if you can bring them out (since the rest of the shot is pretty much silhouetted, the color shift shouldnt be that noticable on the other objects).

GB

[Has He Lost His Mind?]

I like the first one more.

[J-Dogg Productions]

i like your second shot more the way the suns coming over the hill makes for a cool effect the clouds look good too

jay

[deliriumsfrogs]

It's very hard for me to choose here.. I think these are both quite beautiful. I think, though, if I really had to pick, I'd choose the single tree. The light hitting the tree is breathtaking. In the second shot, it's still hitting that one tree in such a magical way, but the tree on the left isn't receiving the same---it's absolutely nothing you did..just nature.
Actually, now that I really look at it, I sort of like how the light is favouring the one tree.. the smaller tree, too. The bigger tree is sort of "standofish" and too important to stand next to the little guy...and for that, he gets the BAD LIGHT!
ok.. i think i need to stop giving these trees personalities...
But, really, it's only because the photograph has given them these personalites--great job!

[gahspidy]

Marc, I can see the noise from the 3200 iso, but considering such a high iso the noise is not too bad. I have done that a few times as well. . . I am more interested immediately by the second. Somehow, the exposure and lighting creates a certain atmosphere that i find more interesting than in the first shot. However, I would like to only one tree in the second shot, the left one. As was stated already, there is something a bit unsettling about having two subjects to divide attention. Both shots are very nice, but I like the second and would liie it better with one.

[MarcusK]

Thank you all for your comments...

GB - The light was a bit too much for me to miss, specially here in Dubai, where lately the sky has been devoid.... that being said, i tried many more angles that i guess i can upload to the gallery or maybe one of them here, with 3 trees (or was it more? )


For the Colours i will do some PP, the only thing i did here, was adjust the levels, using the eyedroppers of the Levels dialogue box(Set White- Black and then Grey)

Gary - I'll crop it and give it a shot...I'll post the fixed versions and see if it works..

Delirium - One of the things i love about arts in general is the possibility of doing something and GIVING it a meaning later on...and not just have a meaning and take the image... So go ahead...that was a beautiful description..

Thanks again for all your comments..

Marc

[Seb]

Ok so here i was driving home after work, and guess what.. the sky had some clouds.... knowing the sun was setting fast, and i couldn't get to a good location in time... I had to stop and take this series of shots... posted here are 2 images....both of which i would like critiqued.... oh.... and I am ashamed to say it, but i did.... the biggest newbie mistake ever.. I forgot to check the ISO settings and thus shot them at 3200... All critique is welcome..

Thanks in advance!
Marc

I think that the lighting and the exposure are great in both shots. Now, the sky is a little more interesting in the second picture but I prefer the first one for its composition. It's classical and well executed.

In the second one, I would tend to agree with GB1 that two don't work (as well...) but my main concern is the way the hedge in the foreground is framed. I wouldn't be concerned about it if it covered the entire width of the frame but I can't help being distracted by the "gap" on the left side.

As for the noise, you might be in trouble if you want to print these but it's hardly noticeable for web displaying. I can see some noise texture in the sky but that's not even an issue as far as I am concerned. In the end, it simply looks more analog...

Seb

[MarcusK]

Thank you Seb, much apprecaited (I don't have issues with grain, i am not afraid of it i really think it is quite an addition, but that's me, and i need to remember that clients do have a problem with grain)

Ok...so in this post, i am posting 2 re-edits...1st image, is an adjustment of color only... did not go into too much, but i think that should do it...

For the second image, I tried keeping just one and got a lower crop of the first, so i kept part of the 2nd tree.... i have mixed feelings about it.... C&C appreciated thanks!
Marc

[MarcusK]

And here is one of the other shots i took with more trees the first is untouched but for size... the second, size - level - colors....

I am posting these here, so as not to post a new thread, as i this is still the critique of the same subject!

Marc

[MarcusK]

sorry but i had to!

[mwitt]

sorry but i had to!

The noise from the 3200 ISO is much more present in this last photo...at least it is on my monitor

but i love the sun in all of the photos...very nice

[Ronnoco]

sorry but i had to!

Actually number 13 works well with the "symbolism". The sky however needs some work.
I would try to selectively get rid of the noise in the blue areas and consider using a software skylight or polarizing filter.

Ronnoco

[MarcusK]

Actually number 13 works well with the "symbolism". The sky however needs some work.
I would try to selectively get rid of the noise in the blue areas and consider using a software skylight or polarizing filter.

Ronnoco

Ronnoco - Thanks.. Will give them a shot tomorrow...

mwitt - Yes since it is a crop of the original, when resizing grain becomes more apparent!

Marc

[Greg McCary]

I like the first one with the silouette of the single tree standing against the clouds. It is a very classic look and you even got a very interesting shaped tree. I like also how you framed it in portrait, nice work.
Greg