Evening at LaSalle

[joebranko]

Taken early evening at LaSalle Park on the Hamilton Harbour Bay. The light was quite beautiful from the setting sun behind me, reflecting off the water of the bay and lighting up the sky in the east.
I am reading Bob DiNatale's Optimal Digital Exposure, (https://luminous-landscape.com/the-o...ital-exposure/) , and am trying his approach to ETTR. Thanks to Allan ( Polar01) for sharing this info with me.
In the past I would have exposed to the left and lightened if necessary in Lightroom. This exposure was to the right using 3 shots, at 2/3, 1 1/3, and 2 stops( not sure if I got the optimal exposure ) but this is my first try.

[deetheturk]

Nice Joe, love the muted colours!

[Shadowman]

Nice shot.

[bnnrcn]

It is a nice shot , but if it was mine I would clone the three birds in the FG and leave only the two swans. And then I would crop some of the water

[joebranko]

It is a nice shot , but if it was mine I would clone the three birds in the FG and leave only the two swans. And then I would crop some of the water

Yes, I thought of that then decided to leave them. I will try that and see how it looks.



Is this better? My original shot had several Canada Geese in the foreground and I have been removing them sequentially.

[TonyW]

I think I would prefer the original version. It would have been nicer with a bit more detail visible in the road/bridge but it's nice all the same.

[Brownbear]

+1 to David's comment.

I especially adore the muted colours, and I prefer the crop with just the two swans because they add a sense of story to the image (A swan couple in love gliding into the sunset) whereas the dark ducks didn't contribute to that romantic mood.

[joebranko]

Nice Joe, love the muted colours!

Thanks David.

[joebranko]

+1 to David's comment.

I especially adore the muted colours, and I prefer the crop with just the two swans because they add a sense of story to the image (A swan couple in love gliding into the sunset) whereas the dark ducks didn't contribute to that romantic mood.

Thanks Christina. Really appreciate your comments.

[FootLoose]

Nice colours, Joe. I think the 2nd version works better, too. Less activity in the foreground with the ducks removed, and that complements the soft colours and low light.

[Wavelength]

Nice image; i too like the cropped version for its better focusing on the pair of swan; a small clockwise rotation is needed i feel

[IzzieK]

I prefer the edit without the crop but just leaving the swans to form the story that Christina have in mind...come to think of it...(+1 to her thoughts of that drama). I love the muted colours too. Overall, beautiful scene punctuated by the birds...

[bnnrcn]

Hi again Joe IMO removing the other birds worked fine . But although I suggested cropping the water in the FG I think the composition needs that water as the bridge (?) looks centered and the composition looks less energetic in the second version. So, would it be possible for you to upload an uncropped version without the three birds as Isabel suggests, if you are not tired of editing the image?

[joebranko]

Hi again Joe IMO removing the other birds worked fine . But although I suggested cropping the water in the FG I think the composition needs that water as the bridge (?) looks centered and the composition looks less energetic in the second version. So, would it be possible for you to upload an uncropped version without the three birds as Isabel suggests, if you are not tired of editing the image?

No problem. I have removed the ducks and have not done any cropping. The removal this time around has left some ghosts and rough spots which I don't think will affect the point you are making, so here goes:

[IzzieK]

Better!!! It goes with the story that Christina concocted with her imaginative mind...very nice indeed.

[bnnrcn]

This one looks better Joe The blue tones in the FG go very well with the pink tones and add to the scene, also the swans' move is more noticeable in the frame. I would even try to crop about 1/3 of the sky to see how it works but it is difficult to say without seeing. I'm in a hurry and I have to log off that's why I can't download your image and try the crop myself. If you want to give it a go , please try and see.

No problem. I have removed the ducks and have not done any cropping. The removal this time around has left some ghosts and rough spots which I don't think will affect the point you are making, so here goes:

[joebranko]

This one looks better Joe The blue tones in the FG go very well with the pink tones and add to the scene, also the swans' move is more noticeable in the frame. I would even try to crop about 1/3 of the sky to see how it works but it is difficult to say without seeing. I'm in a hurry and I have to log off that's why I can't download your image and try the crop myself. If you want to give it a go , please try and see.

I agree that loosing some sky would help. I also don't like the square format, so will try 16:10 aspect and see how that looks. I did not like the blue in the foreground because it seemed blotchy from all the cloning I had done, but that must not be as obvious to everyone else , as there gave not been any adverse comments.........shh! ��. I will try that later when I am at my computer. Thanks for all your input. It has been very helpful.

[joebranko]

Better!!! It goes with the story that Christina concocted with her imaginative mind...very nice indeed.

Thanks Izzie. I always appreciate your comments. I hope Christina still likes it too!

[Brownbear]

Hi Joe,

I like the crop, the beautiful light and soft muted colours. And the square crop but I can tell that something has been cloned out, ie; the water looks funny to me, even at this small size.

Personally I avoid cloning (unless it's something small and wee that is easily done) because I can't do it well, and it takes too much time, and also because in nature images it is often not permitted and/or I feel funny about it, unless the image is an obvious artistic rendition. Therefore, most times for me it's easier to just do a re-shoot. Perhaps if I could do it well I'd change my mind.

Anyhow I'm still working on improving my landscape scenery images but if this were my shot I'd crop it like this (3 x2 ratio) to just eliminate the ducks, or if you wish more water leave the uppermost duck in the image... He could be a lonely bachelor dreaming about finding a mate and sailing into the sunset with her one night.





PS My suggested crops are frequently way off base. I lightened the shadows on the bridge a and the swans, just a wee bit.

[joebranko]

Hi Joe,

I like the crop, the beautiful light and soft muted colours. And the square crop but I can tell that something has been cloned out, ie; the water looks funny to me, even at this small size.

Personally I avoid cloning (unless it's something small and wee that is easily done) because I can't do it well, and it takes too much time, and also because in nature images it is often not permitted and/or I feel funny about it, unless the image is an obvious artistic rendition. Therefore, most times for me it's easier to just do a re-shoot. Perhaps if I could do it well I'd change my mind.

Anyhow I'm still working on improving my landscape scenery images but if this were my shot I'd crop it like this (3 x2 ratio) to just eliminate the ducks, or if you wish more water leave the uppermost duck in the image... He could be a lonely bachelor dreaming about finding a mate and sailing into the sunset with her one night.





PS My suggested crops are frequently way off base. I lightened the shadows on the bridge a and the swans, just a wee bit.

Thanks Christina;
I always have trouble deciding what to keep and what to cut. I too have a lot of trouble cloning things out because I am rubbish at it. However leaving some clear water in the foreground creates the impression that they have travelled some distance together. I like that concept. On the other hand I take your point about cropping rather than cloning. It is much clearer andcleaner. I don't know which image is better. Beauty, after all, 'is in the eye of the beholder'.