Practicing in the park

[Tucson T4R]

Having read so many threads recently on improving our photography skills I decided I better get out there and practice a bit of what I have been reading. I went to a local park this morning here in Tucson called Agua Caliente Park and spent some time practicing shooting the landscape.

Here's what I ended up with. Suggestions for improving these are welcome.

1.

2.

3.

I liked this one because of their reflections in the water.
4.

 

[Street Wolf]

Very cool.

 

[nbleak21]

The reflections seem quite un-natural... given how busy the reflection point is (palm trees, brush, sand, etc) you may find that using a gradient filter (pre or post) will give a little bit more depth.

It also seems like you're blowing out a lot of the natural colors, with either highlights and shadows adjustments (or maybe some form of HDR?)

I'd also try burning the mountains a little bit, as you've got true blacks in the palm trees, but not in the shadows of the mountains.

The actual "reflections" of the shots, you captured quite well, and have the technique/ aperture/shutter speed down well.

I like the reflections of the turtles as well, quite humourous!

 

[Tucson T4R]

The reflections seem quite un-natural... given how busy the reflection point is (palm trees, brush, sand, etc) you may find that using a gradient filter (pre or post) will give a little bit more depth.

It also seems like you're blowing out a lot of the natural colors, with either highlights and shadows adjustments (or maybe some form of HDR?)

I'd also try burning the mountains a little bit, as you've got true blacks in the palm trees, but not in the shadows of the mountains.

The actual "reflections" of the shots, you captured quite well, and have the technique/ aperture/shutter speed down well.

I like the reflections of the turtles as well, quite humourous!

Thanks for the feedback. Not HDR but I may have pushed it too much in PP with lightroom. I went back and looked and I did use the Fill Light a bit which is probably what your seeing. I'll try backing that off and burning the mountains a tad.

 

[mountainclimber8]

Brad-

I don't think you need anymore practice.

Looking good.

 

[bobcat charlie]

I'll trade you my pictures for yours!

 

[Tucson T4R]

You guys are funny. :sombrero:

I'm finding there are things that can be done in PP to improve the shot but bottom line, if I had taken the shot earlier in the day by about 2 hours in better natural light they wouldn't need much PP tweaking.

More practice is in order here. :elkgrin:

 

[Tucson T4R]

Wow, I just noticed the dragon fly by the left turtle's nose! You can see it in the reflection too. It's much more visible in the full size image.

Bizarre how you catch these things randomly. I never saw the dragon fly while I was shooting.

 

[Wander]

Nice Brad! I'm am always amazed by how much better images are on my Mac than my PC at work.

How about some image info like lens, f, shutter, etc.?

Do you get any alpen light on those hills at sunset or day break? That would be a cool shot against the water.

 

[Tucson T4R]

Nice Brad! I'm am always amazed by how much better images are on my Mac than my PC at work.

How about some image info like lens, f, shutter, etc.?

Do you get any alpen light on those hills at sunset or day break? That would be a cool shot against the water.

Yep, Sunrise or Sunset would be much better. :sombrero:

Notice how the mountains jump out when I switch from the 10-22 wide angle to the 17-55 lens.

Here ya go for the details.

Lens Canon 10-22
Date Taken 2010-06-04 08:03:59
Camera Canon EOS 50D
Exposure Time 0.0025s (1/400)
Aperture f/8
ISO 200
Focal Length 13mm (20.8mm in 35mm)
Photo Dimensions 4000 x 1390
File Name Agua Caliente Park-1.jpg
File Size 3.79 MB
Flash flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Metering pattern
Exposure Program manual
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Exposure Mode manual
White Balance auto
Subject Distance 4294967295

Lens Canon 10-22
Date Taken 2010-06-04 08:06:50
Camera Canon EOS 50D
Exposure Time 0.005s (1/200)
Aperture f/8
ISO 200
Focal Length 22mm (35.2mm in 35mm)
Photo Dimensions 4000 x 2274
File Name Agua Caliente Park-5.jpg
File Size 3.99 MB
Flash flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Metering pattern
Exposure Program manual
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Exposure Mode manual
White Balance auto
Subject Distance 4294967295
Color Space unknown

Lens Canon 17-55 2.8 IS
Date Taken 2010-06-04 08:13:02
Camera Canon EOS 50D
Exposure Time 0.0769s (1/13)
Aperture f/18
ISO 200
Focal Length 43mm (68.8mm in 35mm)
Photo Dimensions 4000 x 2667
File Name Agua Caliente Park-9.jpg
File Size 5.70 MB
Flash flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Metering pattern
Exposure Program manual
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Exposure Mode manual
White Balance auto
Subject Distance 922/100
Color Space unknown

 

[Wander]

Yeah the detail and clarity of the moutains is much more pronounced with the 17-55 lens. I'm guessing these were all shot with a tripod so the IS shouldn't make a big difference (unless it was windy?)

 

[Tucson T4R]

Yeah the detail and clarity of the moutains is much more pronounced with the 17-55 lens. I'm guessing these were all shot with a tripod so the IS shouldn't make a big difference (unless it was windy?)

Right, shot off a tripod with the IS turned off.

Wide angle lenses sure can turn a mountain into a mole hill.

 

[tiresmokindad]

Having read so many threads recently on improving our photography skills I decided I better get out there and practice a bit of what I have been reading. I went to a local park this morning here in Tucson called Agua Caliente Park and spent some time practicing shooting the landscape.

Here's what I ended up with. Suggestions for improving these are welcome.

1.

2.

3.

I liked this one because of their reflections in the water.
4.

Nice turtle! Also the river that reflects the environment. :coffeedrink: I love to sight seeing in that place.

 

[99wj]

Thanks for the feedback. Not HDR but I may have pushed it too much in PP with lightroom. I went back and looked and I did use the Fill Light a bit which is probably what your seeing. I'll try backing that off and burning the mountains a tad.

yeah fill light is very dangerous, i usually never go over 30points if i can avoid it, anymore and it just puts fake light in, also it turns shadows a funky blue that you wont see onscreen but when it goes to print, you will see it.

 

[Tim A]

Good shots Brad! I like nbleak21's gradient filter suggestion. There's no replacement for nailing the exposure "in-camera" and gradient filters are very helpful when photographing landscapes.