Tried my hands on digital landscapes....for C&C

[IzzieK]

Do YOU think it looks better?

So much...well apart from the cloning bit...I'll have to work on it some more...Thanks again...

[Donald]

So much...well apart from the cloning bit...I'll have to work on it some more...Thanks again...

I personally didn't see anything wrong with the tree being there in that first one. And to try and remove something that large and complex is not an easy task.

[IzzieK]

I like both of these Izzie especially no.2. And I see nothing wrong with featuring two birds, it's what you saw and liked and has its own 'narrative' and they are nicely placed. Beautiful peaceful image that draws you in.

Yes. When we stay at that place, I make it a point to get up early to catch the rising sun. But that day, even though I saw that sun again, I decided to just make Bill his cup of coffee thinking he might want to access his iPad, but he watched me photographed from the safety of the beach chairs on the deck. I was pleased whenever he joins me in my endeavors and yet, get out of the feet really...Thank you so much for your nice comment. I feel I have accomplished something when I read praises like yours as well as the suggestions to improve my final image. Appreciate your dropping by.

[IzzieK]

I personally didn't see anything wrong with the tree being there in that first one. And to try and remove something that large and complex is not an easy task.

Agree. It was like pulling digital teeth. LOL. Thanks again.

[IzzieK]

Hi Izzie,

Two beautiful images. +1 to Donald's comments.
Would you mind posting the exif for the second shot?

Andre

Date Time Original	2015:10:17 06:48:17
Exposure Time	1/8000
F Number	f / 16
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO Speed Ratings	1600
Metering Mode	CenterWeightedAverage
Flash	Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Focal Length	150mm
White Balance	Manual white balance

Is this OK or your want some more ? Th EXIF is online itself using a viewer.

Thanks Andre...Appreciate your interest and your comments.

[IzzieK]

Hi Izzie, #2 makes me jealous! Don't think I would change a thing. #1 though... I agree with previous comments regarding the need to crop. I tend to favour pretty extreme crops so I would go for a letterbox taking out most of the dark area at the bottom (Donald's recommendation), but I'd also crop from the top quite a bit too, maybe as far down as the bird?. You should then be able to enhance the the vibrance of the image and emphasise the cloud and sky and maybe darken to move it to more of a silhouette.

Very nice captures though! Only been to Florida once a few years ago, and these make me want to re-visit

I am allergic to Florida...they have these little insects and was prepared for it that time around and they did not make a show! They knew I was coming... They probably smell that I was ready for them, you know...long shirts, long pants, socks, running shoes, the works...!!! Florida is beautiful but I love the oysters more, straight from that backyard...in that little dock down there, the owners put some ropes down the water earlier during the year so that when we come, they are prepared for us. If they are not big enough to eat, they just go to a fisher's place and get them for me. We only go once a year. Thank you for commenting and the suggestion. You have been a help to me so well in the past too so I appreciate your help and your comments now.

[IzzieK]

Beautiful shots Izzie. I especially like the 2nd shot and agree about cloning out the tree in the top right.

Thanks Kim for commenting and the suggestion...appreciate it very much.

[IzzieK]

Very nice Izzie. Try the crop Donald and Greg suggested on#1 when I open it in lytebox and run it down past the schreen some it makes an improvement.
#2 really nice aside from the branch.I am on the fence about the bird on the left. both nice though.

Thank you for commenting Mark. I do appreciate your suggestion. I had partly done it while online...and took advantage of Donald still being online. Got my feedback...all good ones too..including yours. Thank you.

[IzzieK]

Nice job, dear Izzie.

I love the colors in both images. Agree with other comments.

Glad you had a good time on your trip, and that Bill is actually "helping" you!

Marie

Thank you Marie and Nandakumar...We had a good flight to and from. Did'nt expect the airplane to pick us up from our airport but it was a good 5 hour flight with that engine, not much faster than our Swift but that was a good 8 seater, very flushed inside too. That was what I enjoyed most. The rest of the time, it was so windy. I wasn't really prepared for the weather condition so on my last day, I went out to go shopping for some decent clothes to warm me up. I only took a handful of photos as I got too involved in teaching the wife of Bill's best friend how to operate her camera, a D5100.

I am glad you are back...I was thinking of your for 4 days straight now and meant to write you but here you are...thank you for commenting on my images. Appreciate it very much.

[James G]

You have been a help to me so well in the past too so I appreciate your help and your comments now.

works both ways...

they have these little insects

so some macros on the way?

[IzzieK]

Hi Izzie, #1 is a nice image but #2 is "wow". I agree with Donald's idea for a crop on #1 as well as with the feedback to remove the bit of tree top right on #2. You did well on these

Thank you Rita..coming from a professional like you, I value your opinion very much too. I have uploaded my wonky quick edit. I need to do some more work on the first one...unfortunately. I do appreciate your comments and suggestion...

[IzzieK]

works both ways...



so some macros on the way?

The insects are called noseeums. In short I can't see them, just feel them bite me stupid. Not a chance will I photograph those gnat! while it is sucking the blood off me. Besides an image will be proof enough that I saw them. Thanks James...

[Mike Buckley]

Both very nice. Great comments have already been made so I'll mention a couple that haven't been discussed yet.

Though it has already been pointed out that the first image is not a silhouette, the important issue is that it is a very nice photo regardless of whether you use correct terminology to describe it.

Tried to find the black points on both so I gave up because the colours changes to something which was not the true scene when I took these very early in the morning...

I don't understand what you mean by "finding" the black point. The histograms of both images clearly display that the dynamic range of the scene, at least as you post-processed the image, exceeds the ability of the sensor to capture it. So, your post-processing already includes the blackest black point.

I like this one even though two is not a good number for objects in a shot...

That's one of the many "rules" that I would really like to convince you to ignore. A couple of thoughts about this image that debunk it:

• You're right in my opinion that the image looks great with just two birds.
• For those who feel compelled to make the argument that three would be better, there are indeed three objects in the sky -- the two birds and the sun.
• I love diagonals because of the way they strengthen an image. The imaginary diagonal line between the two birds does that for this image. If there had been three birds, my guess is that the impact of the imaginary diagonal would have been far less.

[mknittle]

I agree with Donald about the tree in the first image. however you did a nice job of removing it. When you are the one doing the cloning you always see things other people wouldn't notice. At least I do.

[FootLoose]

I love the 2nd shot, Izzie, and as Mike has pointed out, there are three objects in the sky. The rule of odds doesn't require all objects to be of the same kind.

[Rita]

Thank you Rita..coming from a professional like you, I value your opinion very much too. I have uploaded my wonky quick edit. I need to do some more work on the first one...unfortunately. I do appreciate your comments and suggestion...

You just have one thing wrong with your reply, I am far from being a professional

[Rebel]

Very nice shots Izzie, I wouldn't have cropped the tree out from the first one though.

[Round Tuit]

Date Time Original	2015:10:17 06:48:17
Exposure Time	1/8000
F Number	f / 16
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO Speed Ratings	1600
Metering Mode	CenterWeightedAverage
Flash	Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Focal Length	150mm
White Balance	Manual white balance

Is this OK or your want some more ? Th EXIF is online itself using a viewer.

Thanks Andre...Appreciate your interest and your comments.

Thank you Izzie. I was interested in the exposure time, aperture and ISO.
The reason that I asked is because every time that I tried to shoot the sun I end up with mostly huge flares! One more question: Why did you select such high ISO? (Not that it hurt you photo)
My exif viewer doesn't seem to detect the info on your shots.

Andre

[IzzieK]

Thanks for the boost, Mike...and for clarifying the 3 objects rule...

As for the black/white point, I always try to do the black/white points after getting the shot from ACR...just to know if there would be any correction in the right direction as to the overall picture (remember everyone's comments on my Budweiser's master trip a few posts back where almost everyone said I need to find my black/white point). Since then it had became a habit for me to do so. This images, I have decided to abandoned it because the blue wasn't the kind of blue I experienced and saw those many mornings I have been there. Not that I took that many shots, I didn't. I just chose that particular morning.

Both very nice. Great comments have already been made so I'll mention a couple that haven't been discussed yet.

Though it has already been pointed out that the first image is not a silhouette, the important issue is that it is a very nice photo regardless of whether you use correct terminology to describe it.

I don't understand what you mean by "finding" the black point. The histograms of both images clearly display that the dynamic range of the scene, at least as you post-processed the image, exceeds the ability of the sensor to capture it. So, your post-processing already includes the blackest black point.

That's one of the many "rules" that I would really like to convince you to ignore. A couple of thoughts about this image that debunk it:

• You're right in my opinion that the image looks great with just two birds.
• For those who feel compelled to make the argument that three would be better, there are indeed three objects in the sky -- the two birds and the sun.
• I love diagonals because of the way they strengthen an image. The imaginary diagonal line between the two birds does that for this image. If there had been three birds, my guess is that the impact of the imaginary diagonal would have been far less.

Thanks again, Mike...really nice to read your thoughts on these ones. 'Appreciate them as usual. After all the corrections I did, based on my conversation with Donald, I am leaving that tree on the first image and just removing the bird and part of the bottom. And on #2, just the tree silhouette at the top. If I make another joke with the owner of the house, I just might get to sell both of these to them. If not, no sweat, the honor will just be great the same. I am not good at selling...

[IzzieK]

I agree with Donald about the tree in the first image. however you did a nice job of removing it. When you are the one doing the cloning you always see things other people wouldn't notice. At least I do.

I am very poor at seeing all these distracting things until I pressed Submit...then I thought I would like to come back and edit it before someone sees my mistakes but then I was caught once pressing the Submit button in the middle of my upload...thanks for passing by, Mark...do appreciate it very much.