River Bend - Critique

[Mike Buckley]

I'm coming very late to the party, so I'll add just a few new thoughts: The image is beautifully composed. The comments in the thread are highly instructive on several levels, especially when taken in totality rather than only individually on their own. My hunch is that Susan is in the part of the learning curve that all of us go through when we don't yet fully know how we want an image to appear. That will come given enough time and experience.

[Mike Buckley]

only wish I could trespass to get some more angles on this spot!

Show the owner your beautiful photo and ask for access to the property in return for providing your favorite photos.

[Rainforest]

Chris I don't work in PS but why not try - I'll give this a go, thanks again!

[Rainforest]

Thanks for your comments Mike. There was plenty for me digest in the post. I'm getting pretty clear about how I want an image to look and feel - the hump is completely grasping how to get there with my current skill set. Onward! The forum is really great.

[Rainforest]

Show the owner your beautiful photo and ask for access to the property in return for providing your favorite photos.

This is the least sociable person I have ever met and she is adamant about trespass...and isn't shy with a gun :-( I don't think there is one person in our whole community who has had a positive interaction with her BUT perhaps a photo just might provide a crack in...that is if her doberman doesn't kill me getting it to her. Yikes.

[Tronhard]

In that case take a trip up to Canada - we're probably a bit more laid back, and with no second amendment equivalent we aren't keen on people brandishing guns!

Even IF someone has an issue with you being on their property they are likely to say so politely, then apologise profusely...

This is the least sociable person I have ever met and she is adamant about trespass...and isn't shy with a gun :-( I don't think there is one person in our whole community who has had a positive interaction with her BUT perhaps a photo just might provide a crack in...that is if her doberman doesn't kill me getting it to her. Yikes.

[Rainforest]

In that case take a trip up to Canada - we're probably a bit more laid back, and with no second amendment equivalent we aren't keen on people brandishing guns!

Even IF someone has an issue with you being on their property they are likely to say so politely, then apologise profusely...

Wouldn't that be wonderful and civil! We thought about Canada long hard several years back- sounds good again about now.

[Tronhard]

We will always welcome our neighbours from south of the border.

We have been getting a lot of interest in migration to Canada (and NZ for that matter) from the US. Even if it is just for a visit, you are MOST welcome!

Wouldn't that be wonderful and civil! We thought about Canada long hard several years back- sounds good again about now.

[Rainforest]

I'm finally posting my final edit on this - hope at least a few of you see it as so many folks were helpful.
I decided to use ProContrast in Color Effects Pro to correct the color cast but I'm not exactly sure that I did.
I liked the new contrast adjustments except for the some of the saturation on the bank so selectively toned that down as well as bringing down the highlights on the water on the front edge of the image.
I like both the original and this one but this one better and will likely tweak it a bit more just to see where it takes me.
THANK YOU again for the guidance. ~S.

[Donald]

I like both the original and this one but this one better and will likely tweak it a bit more just to see where it takes me.

What all of this shows is your willingness and ability to learn. That, I believe, is the single most important factor in getting your photography to where you want it to be. You should take great encouragement from the fact that you have been able to take on board what others have said, thought about it critically and then used that in a way that works for you.

With that attitude it's obvious that your technical skills and aesthetic abilities will just continue to grow and develop.

[Rainforest]

Thanks a bunch Donald.

[Cantab]

Susan, your "final" edit (and indeed the original version) is an image that you can truly be proud of. It is a wonderful photo.

And I'll echo Trev's comments, visitors from south of the border are always welcome up here (as long as they don't try bringing a gun across the border, in which case a trip to jail is a possible outcome!)

[Rainforest]

Susan, your "final" edit (and indeed the original version) is an image that you can truly be proud of. It is a wonderful photo.

And I'll echo Trev's comments, visitors from south of the border are always welcome up here (as long as they don't try bringing a gun across the border, in which case a trip to jail is a possible outcome!)

Thanks Bruce. You live in some beautiful country. No gun toting mama here.