Echo Lake NH on a cloudy fall morning

[DanK]

Just took a few days to go to the Franconia Notch area in NH. Hit the peak leaf season about perfectly. One day was very heavily overcast. Took this one that morning. No increase in saturation, only a very slight (+7) boost in vibrance. The rest was mostly playing with various aspects of luminance. I haven't had a lot of experience editing photos with this kind of lighting, so C&C most welcome.

[chauncey]

It's very nice...might have been better if no rippling would have been present...good PP though.

[DanK]

Thanks. I actually like the rippling--gives it a vaguely impressionist appearance.

[IzzieK]

Very artistic on its approach really...like a painting on the reflection...

[rubyb]

Neat shot, and I think the rippling is a nice addition. With these reflection shots I often try adding a graduated ND filter with increased contrast- adds some detai, darkens the water and enhances the color within the reflection- I sometimes like the effect and sometimes not- just hit or miss but you might want to see if you like the effect. Too much of it and it just defies a natural look.

[DanK]

Thanks, all. Ruby, did you mean darkening the water? I had actually given some thought to darkening the trees a bit.

[terrib]

Dan, I love the colors in this. From your comments, it seems you met your objective which is what counts. I think it is very nice as a "vaguely impressionistic" piece. But it actually makes me a bit dizzy so I can't enjoy it for long!

[wtlwdwgn]

Very nice image. Plenty of saturation with the overcast sky. If you have a graduated neutral density filter in your software you can try a minus half stop from the bottom to the top and see how you like it. I like the ripple effect too. If you want an impressionist image you could crop the top of the image and just leave the rippled lake. Just my $.0.02.

[Wavelength]

I am very happy about the top half, but the pattern looks photoshopic
Regards

[Mike Buckley]

I actually like the rippling--gives it a vaguely impressionist appearance.

Agreed.

[rubyb]

Ruby, did you mean darkening the water? I had actually given some thought to darkening the trees a bit.

I did. Doesn't always work, doesn't always look natural, but occasionally looks very cool.

[TonyW]

I find the rippling a bit disconcerting. I agree with Nandakumar that it looks photoshopish, especially as it suddenly starts away from the bank.

[DanK]

I find the rippling a bit disconcerting. I agree with Nandakumar that it looks photoshopish, especially as it suddenly starts away from the bank.

It may look photoshopish, but it is entirely natural. I did nothing but the global adjustments I noted in the first posting: only a very slight boost in vibrance, and changes to various aspects of luminance, e.g., a curves adjustment. I'm not sure what caused the curvature in this particular shot.

[kdoc856]

I think it's gorgeous. Love the rippling effect. I'd also have a go at the ND filter that Steve and Ruby are suggesting- I do that a lot with water shots and often like the outcome. Really nice image. I love this time of year!

[DanK]

Thanks, all. I added a very slight grad filter on the bottom edge, as several of you suggested. I also added a smaller but equally dark one on the top, which is where I had thought of one, to tone down the trees a bit. See what you think. I think it is better.

[BrianA61]

I like the colors and the reflection. But, to me, it looks a little out of balance with not enough of the trees showing and too much of the reflection. I would not crop the top off as much. That is, if this image is cropped.