Through the Fog

[Brownbear]

Some images captured on a recent foggy morning...

I would be most appreciative of feedback on the 1st image as it is very different for me. I like the shapes (heart) and isolation but it does strike me as being a little strange and that may be its only merit.


#1
f/8 SS 1/80 ISO 320 Focal length 95 mm




Swans

f4 SS 1/320 to 1/500 ISO 180-400 Focal length 300 mm

All exposed as far to the right as possible without clipping. While processing I didn't add any contrast, nor did I extend the black point to its full range as I wanted to keep the misty feel. The white balances are a little different simply because as usual I'm not sure which works best? (warmer, grey fog, or a hint of blue from the sky)



#2



#3



#4




Thank you.

[Mike Buckley]

When I think of your initial forays into this style of imagery, it's remarkable to see the immense progress you have made as seen in these images.

I don't think any particular choice of white balance works the best; that's only a matter of what you want the image to be. Once you've got your vision down, you'll know how you want them to appear. If you present more than one at a time, the presentation value will be enhanced if the same white balance is used.

My favorite is the second image but that's mostly because I happen to like that particular style. The first one works fine for me though I'd prefer more negative space on the right side. If you didn't capture more of it, it could easily be added by increasing the "canvas" size and filling the increased space with the background tones.

[flashback]

I like #1 the most, minimalistic and it reminds me of a Japanese water color. You could see how it looks in B&W but as it is it is very good and something I can see in an art gallery. I agree with Mike about adding a bit more canvas to the RHS.

[Brownbear]

Thank you Mike... As always appreciated.

I think I prefer the 1st swan for the whiter whites, followed by the 2nd perhaps a bit whiter. I've been driving my honey-do up the wall with WB questions (which one he prefers), eventually I'll find it, hopefully before retirement age.

I think I cropped off of the right hand side in the first image... I will check and post either the uncropped version or give extending the canvas a try. I also photographed just one side than the other... Just something that caught my eye.

[Brownbear]

Hi Jack,

Thank you for sharing. I'm still not sure about this one but I will look up Japanese water colours to see what they look like. And yes, I will find the uncropped version or extend the canvas if I didn't crop it.

I like #1 the most, minimalistic and it reminds me of a Japanese water color. You could see how it looks in B&W but as it is it is very good and something I can see in an art gallery. I agree with Mike about adding a bit more canvas to the RHS.

[flashback]

Christina, try here

[Brownbear]

Thank you Jack! Some of those images are especially beautiful, and well suite for fog.

Mike and Jack... I would like to ask how much space I should add, and why? I have another shot with more space on the right but I just realized that I don't understand why more negative space would be beneficial.

Thank you.

[Mike Buckley]

More negative space would help balance the space on the left and eliminate the feeling that the branch on the right is a bit cramped. That branch is "pointing" to the right but it currently has no space to point toward.

I would guess that about half as much space on the right as exists on the left would provide a good balance. Using the same amount of space on both sides might work but my guess is that doing so will make the scene appear static.

[flashback]

Christina, while I can't give you a textbook answer, for me as it is now the branch (and reflection) are so close as to want to connect to the edge of the image. I would add about the same amount as already exists from branch to edge of image. It's really about it 'feeling right', the gestalt, as it were.

[purplehaze]

Oh, I particularly like #1, Christina. If you had more on the bottom, and a fraction more on the right, I would be tempted to give it a 90 degree clockwise rotation.

[NorthernFocus]

Hey, Christina. I'll stick to comments on the WB as abstract to me is... well, abstract.

As Mike mentioned, within reason you should tweak WB to present your own vision for a given image. As a viewer I will say of the three choices the only one that is objectionable to me as a viewer is the second swan, image no.3. The water appears very brown in that one. Most of us associate brown water with dirty water. So, as a photographer, even if that was the true color of the water as I remembered it, I'd likely change it.

[Nicks Pics]

I like the first and second swan best, for position. All of them have great IQ. To me WB affects the appearance of the time of day. I find that when the sun is low, morning or evening, the temp of the light is warmer, when it is high, or after it goes behind the horizon, it is cooler. I usually try to make the WB give the the appearance of the time of day it was at the time. Also, when colors appear to "clear-up" I often take that as an indication that the WB might be about right. (unless there specifically should be a colored glow, such as at sunset). For me that happens in the last image, so I like the WB in that one best. By colors "clear up" I mean that there is not one universal tint over everything, which makes an image look muddy. There is a slight universal orange tint to #2, and a little to #1, as they appear to me,

[Brownbear]

Janis... Thank you. I just finished the edits so when I revisit this image on my own time I will look at adding space to the bottom. The rotation certainly gives the image a very unusual look.

Dan... Thank you for sharing. Brown water, will be gone in the final version.

Here are the edits with space added. (this shot was crooked hence cropped just a little) I used the rectangular selector tool to select the water with the ripples near the top, and copied and pasted that portion of the water, and used the same process from the far left of the image to extend the canvas on the bottom side.

1B



2B (black and white neophyte gave it a try for Jack)



Other... After viewing Jack's link for Japanese watercolours. I tried to create a water colour from an image photographed in dense fog that was headed to the trash (hard to see anything). In Lightroom I played with the saturation and luminosity of the reds,greens, and oranges. Then in Photoshop I added a soft light layer and painted some of the trees (barely visible with a brush set at 10% opacity) Something to think about for foggy images even if I've botched this one badly.

[flashback]

I think this edit works much better Christina, with the extra room on the RHS.
There is something warmer in the color version (1B) but maybe try and and a bit of contrast or pull the mid tones down a bit in 1B?
Your last shot, the fog, on full size is simply amazing. This is a gorgeous photo, I think you definitely got what I meant by a Japanese water color. Have this printed out (large) on canvas and hang it prominently, this is a major image. Ok I'm gushing but seriously, I love this image. Strong work!

[Shadowman]

Nice series, I like the first as it is just a series of shapes and tones, you have to really look to have the actuality register in the brain.

[Brownbear]

Thank you Nick. I appreciate your sharing your preference for positions (helpful to me to learn from) and your thoughts on WB. I do the same as you but because it was very foggy (sunrise) the WB throws me for a loop... Grey but also blue sky reflecting on the water. I will review the tints in a few days after my eyes have recuperated from viewing all the different WB's I tried.

I like the first and second swan best, for position. All of them have great IQ. To me WB affects the appearance of the time of day. I find that when the sun is low, morning or evening, the temp of the light is warmer, when it is high, or after it goes behind the horizon, it is cooler. I usually try to make the WB give the the appearance of the time of day it was at the time. Also, when colors appear to "clear-up" I often take that as an indication that the WB might be about right. (unless there specifically should be a colored glow, such as at sunset). For me that happens in the last image, so I like the WB in that one best. By colors "clear up" I mean that there is not one universal tint over everything, which makes an image look muddy. There is a slight universal orange tint to #2, and a little to #1, as they appear to me,

[Mike Buckley]

I think this edit works much better Christina, with the extra room on the RHS....Your last shot, the fog, on full size is simply amazing.

Ditto to all of that!

[Brownbear]

Thank you Jack. You and Mike advising me on this particular image was very helpful. It's different for me so something to learn from. I'm post processed out, but I will note your suggestions for contrast and midtones and give it a try.

With respect to the watercolour try... Thank you so much. Again totally foreign to me but I'm delighted that you love it. Truly, I'm not sure what I think of it yet.

I think this edit works much better Christina, with the extra room on the RHS.
There is something warmer in the color version (1B) but maybe try and and a bit of contrast or pull the mid tones down a bit in 1B?
Your last shot, the fog, on full size is simply amazing. This is a gorgeous photo, I think you definitely got what I meant by a Japanese water color. Have this printed out (large) on canvas and hang it prominently, this is a major image. Ok I'm gushing but seriously, I love this image. Strong work!

[Brownbear]

Nice series, I like the first as it is just a series of shapes and tones, you have to really look to have the actuality register in the brain.

Thank you John. Truly appreciated and an image to learn from (for me)

[Brownbear]

Ditto to all of that!

Wonderful to know. Thank you for your help and advice, as always, truly appreciated.