Would like some critique of my landscapes. I feel like there is something off.

[HeidiMartinezPhotography]

Hello forum. I am a very inexperienced landscape photographer and feel like there is just something missing from my images. I am not sure if it the lighting from taking them during harsh sunlight or my post editing it letting them down. any advice from more seasoned photographers would be awesome and greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

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[IzzieK]

Heidi...first of all, I like to advise you that you need to put a space between your images so it is easier to look at them without the top one flowing from one to the other. Then if you are submitting a few images like this for critique and it is your first time, just upload one, not too many. And number each images so it is not hard for old folks like me to scroll up and down just to comment or critique on your images.

Now, for my observation -- #1 here has a green tinge all over. Easily fixed in pp. You need to clone out that yellow thing holding some wires on the left hand side of your image.

#2 is a good shot but it need either a human element or a bench or something. There is no real subject in this shot. My eyes goes to the little post, maybe because it is in the right position of framing and it is a different bunch than the trees. Intend or aim for a focus point of interest...

#3 and #4 are good compositions. I like them very much... In #3 I would rather not see the sky at all so one can concentrate on the peaceful scenery of sitting down on that bench and enjoying a book or something. My best favourite is #4 -- I like that one but without the caricature at the right hand side of the frame. Good job here.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Heidi,

(As a moderator) I have edited your post (as an "introductory bonus" ) to separate and number the images, because; as Izzie says, this makes life so much easier for everyone to comment on them.

I checked the EXIF on one of them and saw you'd used LR 6.7 with a lot of masks and dabs of adjustment, this informs my response below.

I was going to blame 'the light' for the slightly too dark foreground in #1, but now suspect you may have applied a gradient to the foreground lower left corner to reduce the impact of (otherwise) too bright grass - but I think you went a little too far in the amount of adjustment.

I suspect this may also be the case in several others (e.g. top and bottom edges of #2), so my immediate advice is just be a bit more subtle when applying gradient, radius or brush adjustments.

I don't know if you have PS (Photoshop) too, or if you're averse to cloning things out, but if these were mine, I would look to remove the guy wire (and o/h line) on left of #1, the disconnected branches of tree at right edge of #3 and that pink bunny rabbit on right of #5.

It also struck me that #1, #2, #4 and #5 might benefit from some distant human figures - they all look a bit 'sterile' to me - it looks like a nice park, but no-one is using it.
Obviously needs to be the 'right sort' of human though no gaudy bold colours in their clothing ideally.

I hope those thoughts are helpful and welcome to the CiC forums from me, Dave

PS
I have only now read Izzie's critique and note we concur on some thoughts, but that she also voiced a few things I didn't mention, these are also worth listening to.

[Manfred M]

Hi Heidi - welcome to CiC.

Landscapes are often considered to be the most challenging photographic genre, as the photographer is stuck with what is in front of him or her. Changing the lighting or rearranging the scene or applying makeup that are often available in other genres are unavailable when shooting a landscape, yet the photographer still has to create a scene that grabs the viewer's attention and gets the to spend time exploring the image.

1. Lighting - most landscape photographers shoot at morning or evening "magic hour", a short period just after the sun rises or the sun sets. Blue hour - the short period just before sunrise and just after sunset is also an excellent time to shoot. The light is soft, diffuse and very interesting and lights the landscapes beautifully. The middle of the day, when you appear to have taken these shots is when the sun is high in the sky, the light is harsh, the shadows are hard and the scene tends to generally be uninteresting. Note - landscape photographers tend to use tripods.

2. Izzie points out the lack of a subject in your shots, and while the point is quite valid, not every landscape shot has a subject, but it will have a point of interest (or points of interest) that lead the viewer's eyes through the image. Techniques like leading lines, "S-curves", using bright areas or areas of contrast are all techniques that photographers use to engage their subject's visual systems.

3. Look for interesting scenery. Not every scene that looks good to us when we are out there looking at it in 3D translates into a 2D image. The water and hills you have in these shots do look like you have something to work with though.

4. Learn post processing - every good landscape photographer I know tweaks their images in post. I've reworked your #3 (which I feel is your strongest image). A bit of cloning out unwanted elements, a bit of sharpening, a bit more contrast and a tiny crop at the bottom of the shot give me this:




You might want to study the work of some well known landscape photographers to see what visual techniques they use when crafting their images. Google Ansel Adams; he is the one photographer that most landscape photographers turn to when studying that genre. If you are looking for a more modern photographer, have a look for the work of Elia Locardi. Both Adams and Locardi did a lot of post-processing work. Adams in the traditional B&W darkroom and Locardi in Photoshop.

[madcrow]

If you stick with this forum you will get great advice and learn so much I like I did. As for your images I like them. Enjoy what you are doing.

[HeidiMartinezPhotography]

Heidi...first of all, I like to advise you that you need to put a space between your images so it is easier to look at them without the top one flowing from one to the other. Then if you are submitting a few images like this for critique and it is your first time, just upload one, not too many. And number each images so it is not hard for old folks like me to scroll up and down just to comment or critique on your images.

Now, for my observation -- #1 here has a green tinge all over. Easily fixed in pp. You need to clone out that yellow thing holding some wires on the left hand side of your image.

#2 is a good shot but it need either a human element or a bench or something. There is no real subject in this shot. My eyes goes to the little post, maybe because it is in the right position of framing and it is a different bunch than the trees. Intend or aim for a focus point of interest...

#3 and #4 are good compositions. I like them very much... In #3 I would rather not see the sky at all so one can concentrate on the peaceful scenery of sitting down on that bench and enjoying a book or something. My best favourite is #4 -- I like that one but without the caricature at the right hand side of the frame. Good job here.

Thank you so much for your reply. Now that you point out that green tinge, that is all I see so I will definitely be fixing that in lightroom. I have just downloaded photoshop so I will definitely take your advice and attempt to clone out that yellow thing with wires and that pink bunny. Again, so helpful! Thank You!!

[HeidiMartinezPhotography]

Firstly thank you so much for helping me make the post easier for others to see. I will make sure I number images in the future. I did apply gradients as a type to vignetting and I agree, it does look too dark. I will lighten them up a bit for sure. Also, I have just discovered photoshop so I will definitely be cloning out (or attempting to lol) some of those unwanted things. Some people or a human element really would have added some life to these. Thank you so much for your help and I feel very welcomed into the forum!

[HeidiMartinezPhotography]

Wow I cannot believe what a difference the sharpening and added contrast has done to that image. It looks so much better. I will be trying this myself tonight! I do need to gain some post processing experience for sure. You are correct that I am shooting these middle of the day. Nest time we travel out, I will try scouting the area and then try some early morning shots. Also thank you for the photographer references. I have never heard of Elia Locardi before and after a quick google search, I see that he is very inspiring. Again thank you so much for your help!

[Radu Dinu Cordeanu]

In my opinion to simplify is the key.I think You tried to show to much in a single picture.Photoshop is very,very important-just Adobe Elements,not too much.
]
here I used rectangular marque and move tools then clone stamp and gaussian blur.
And here

the same tools plus levels on the tree.Of course I did not pay too much attention to the details of these two pictures and You will find many not finished parts.
As I said before is an opinion only,thank You

[cichlid]

...
I checked the EXIF on one of them and saw you'd used LR 6.7 with a lot of masks and dabs of adjustment, this informs my response below.

Hi Dave, sorry if this is off topic.
How did you get so much information from the EXIF of the image? I saved the image and opened it in the latest Photoshop and check the File Info. I did not see such detail.
Thanks,
Erik

[cichlid]

Hi Heidi,

You will receive much help from the forum.
I wanted to comment that I see and understand what you mean with regards to your images.
I believe some could use some different post-production treatment and others a slightly different approach in the composition.

I think what is important in regards to landscape images is the practice of "pre-visualization" made famous by Ansel Adams. Scout locations, analyze what you like about it and how you'd want to best portray the scene: at sunrise or set, overcast day or partly clouded...

From what I see and understand of landscape work, you've got the basics. You've placed your foreground anchor and have good focus. Maybe just watch the horizon and not to have it in the middle too often unless if helps the image.

Great efforts. Keep it up.

Erik

[Cantab]

Heidi, I have nothing to add to what others have said, except welcome to CiC! It's a great forum.

[Manfred M]

Hi Dave, sorry if this is off topic.
How did you get so much information from the EXIF of the image? I saved the image and opened it in the latest Photoshop and check the File Info. I did not see such detail.
Thanks,
Erik

There are some fairly good browser plug-ins that give you this data. The one I currently use is "Exif Viewer" for Firefox. I use FireFox because it is the only web browser that supports colour management well. You can't get the metadata for all hosting services and saving the file sometimes seems to strip out some of the data.

[Wavelength]

Full of blues and greens; they are very soothing to eyes; your images are very nice
I would just suggest some points; in#3, there are four distinct horizontal segments; it is better to restrict it two 2 or three; i thing here the foreground grass land is not much important
In #5, the image would be better the bifurcated path in the foreground. Only the other path moving away can lead the viewers eyes into the image

Welcome to CiC

[HeidiMartinezPhotography]

In my opinion to simplify is the key.I think You tried to show to much in a single picture.Photoshop is very,very important-just Adobe Elements,not too much.
]
here I used rectangular marque and move tools then clone stamp and gaussian blur.
And here

the same tools plus levels on the tree.Of course I did not pay too much attention to the details of these two pictures and You will find many not finished parts.
As I said before is an opinion only,thank You

I LOVE how you blurred the background!! And that was with gaussian blur!! I have only ever used it for skin. I should be experimenting more for sure!! I like it. I have noticed people using that effect where everything is black and white and only one thing is color and it is so over done now. I like this a lot more to be honest.

[HeidiMartinezPhotography]

Hi Heidi,

You will receive much help from the forum.
I wanted to comment that I see and understand what you mean with regards to your images.
I believe some could use some different post-production treatment and others a slightly different approach in the composition.

I think what is important in regards to landscape images is the practice of "pre-visualization" made famous by Ansel Adams. Scout locations, analyze what you like about it and how you'd want to best portray the scene: at sunrise or set, overcast day or partly clouded...

From what I see and understand of landscape work, you've got the basics. You've placed your foreground anchor and have good focus. Maybe just watch the horizon and not to have it in the middle too often unless if helps the image.

Great efforts. Keep it up.

Erik

I feel very welcomed here that is for sure!! I do need to be more patient with my shots. Scouting an area first before just snapping away is a good piece of advice and I will try to remember that when I am starting to feel rushed.

[IzzieK]

I feel very welcomed here that is for sure!!

Don't forget other members also post their own images for consideration and comments. Join in with others just as we joined with you. We also like to hear good things about our images but an honest critique is where you learn most...just have a thicker skin.