OT: Need input on Photo

Hey guys,
Went out doing some photography today; looking for possible candidates for entry to the Napa Mustard Festival Photo contest.

Just wanted to get some input on what you guys think of this shot




Any input welcome.

Thanks,
PC

 

First....awesome capture. Well done. However for me, there is too much sky in this shot doing nothing. If the sky was doing something out of the ordinary, such as a wicked red/purple, with unusual cloud formation, then sure...lots of sky is good, however I feel the focus for me went to the sky, when it should be on the excellent lines of the valley below.

Did you shoot it RAW? I prefer shots with a horizon, in a horizontal layout and I used a very light blue from the sky, as the border, which makes the sky pop, just a little more.

Something like this....

 

Nice shot but I'm with Powder on this one, unless it is used for a poster and the space is needed. other wise great color and lines.

 

I was wondering exactly the same thing...too much sky, that is. Interestingly enough, I came up with a horizontal image almost exactly like the one Powder has shown as another concept of the original capture. Though I like the aspect ratio Powder has done, it's a bit more "pano" than mine was, and...it works.

Yes, it was shot in Canon RAW on my 1D MkII.

Many thanks,
PC

 

Powder has a good eye.

 

+1 It's a great shot.

 

I shoot a IDMarkII also. Awesome camera. Good for you that its RAW, as you have the option to interpolate, and crop, and still come out with a fairly high res image.

 

rule of thirds...1/3 sky, 2/3 landscape

 

I have to go with the consensus here. Powder took a good shot and edited it into a great shot.

 

Yes, indeed.:smile:

 

I won't comment on the "shot" since there are no crosshairs

 

Ok Noz, fire up (pun intended) the Photoshop and put some crosshairs on there to demonstrate what the hell it is your selling here.......

 

Yeah, Noz, I'd like to see, too...

 

aww nothing went boom for you? i kind of would like a nice curvy road, instead of rows of mustard. just my .02 other than that very nice clarity.

 

more cowbell. definitely needs more cowbell.


GREAT SHOT. I cant take photos worth a damn. and my camera is huge. like 80's style.

ps. norcalboy, your new avatar is ok with me.

 

I am coughing with laughter... I gotta have more cowbell!

I couldn't cut the mustard with photoshop.

I like the shot, but after the last set of mustard fields I think the picture was not on the mark. If you were there at dawn or dusk or a day where dark thunderstorm clouds were about to snuff the bright sunlight on the yellow mustard or where the sky might have the colors to make the yellow fields seem painted. Puma's comments about the judges wanting to see the same thing in a different light is likely driving my comments more than they should. The rolling hills were much more interesting than the flat fields of mustard. I preferred the full posts of the portrait (vice landscape) added some more interest as they switched from the main focus to texture in the background. By cutting the post above the ground I don't think the mustard (on the ground between the posts) is given the attention it could have. Maybe just crop at the mowed grass edge? This would make the mustard work across the image as its foundation.

I am definitely *not* a photographer, but am able to make snippy comments... hopefully this falls in the "constructive" feedback bin. Why do I felt like I should have a pencil thin mustache and beret to write this? Maybe just a Margaritta

 

I like the shot without all the sky, but the cropped version also cropped out the bottom of the posts. I like the bottom of the posts in the foreground, like in the orig. shot just without all the sky.

 

I'm with Eddie. I think the landscape layout is key for this shot and all the character of the shot is in the posts and hills. I'd keep the entire forground and hills, 1/3 sky and I'd push some contrast in the sky to pop the clouds.

All in all this is a really good shot. It's the fun of digital to have the capability to make the necessary tweaks afterwards to make it great.

 

Thanks for all the helpful input, everyone. I will work up some concepts in the next day or so.

 

don't forget the crosshairs so you hit what you are aiming for ;-)