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How can I improve The Waterfall photo

Just looking to see if anyone votes around here.

Created On: 06/12/2012 12:33 PM

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 06/12/2012 12:33 PM
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Gary Harris
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Just trying to get some feedback, all I ever get are skips. If the photos are bad then vote bad, if they are good then vote good. Who cares as long as the photos are rated. At least then someone has an idea to what they need to do in the future. Also just like the How can I improve this photo? Look at all the people trying to get votes on there work only to get, well skipped over again. Like the number 1 post on there now, it has 37 views and no comments. All the photos on here are like that, hundreds of views with one or two comments. Bullcrap!
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 06/12/2012 03:24 PM
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Mark Hendrickson
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Gary,
Looks like the link to your photo is not working.
You might try changing your attitude if you would like to get others opinions on your work.
Just my humble opinion....
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 06/13/2012 10:02 AM
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Mark Hendrickson
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Gary - Supposing it is one of these, not sure which photo you are refering to.


Waterfall in the Woods



Rushing Water

Edited: 06/13/2012 at 10:10 AM by Mark Hendrickson
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 06/13/2012 01:31 PM
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Chris Edwards
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Gary, there are a limited number of people that are frequent contributors to this site that can actual offer help that is relevant and sound. Usually the one or two people that first comment on a photo in the "Help" forum hit on the points that need to be made. The photo may continue to receive views after those initial critiques but viewers have nothing to add. The photos may also be viewed by members with nothing to offer for help. You have to remember that there are far more people looking for help than there are those that can offer it.

As for the "Waterfall In The Woods" photo, here is what I see.
The composition is nice. There is a foreground element that helps add depth to the photo. The log running vertically through the shot provides a nice leading line to the water fall and the photo ends before running into too much sky.
From a technical standpoint the exposure is off in both directions, over and under, in different parts of the photo. The sky is blownout and the foregeound is hot. The waterfall itself is a little dark. Looking at the EXIF date shows the camera selected ISO 400 and f/3.4 to make the photo. I can only guess at the shutter speed as it is not displayed. For a scene with that much dynamic range you either need to change the composition before recording the image or plan on some serious editing to bring things back together as far as exposure is concerned. Shooting at a different time of day or on an overcast day when the lighting is a little more even might yield a better photo. I believe your Coolpix gives you the opportunity to take control of ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed. If so, I would start learning how they all effect exposure and how to take control. The book "Understanding Exposure" is a great reference for this.
Keep shooting and reading through the forums. There's good information to be had if you're patient and persistent.

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 06/13/2012 09:30 PM
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Gary Harris
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Mark it was the top one you posted there.
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 06/13/2012 09:34 PM
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Gary Harris
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Thanks Chris. What you said was a little bit what I was thinking, There was to much sun, yet not enough. It was deep in the woods and down in a hole, so some areas where very shaded and some caused the blow out. My question is how do you and exposure in both directions?
Thanks, Gary Harris
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 06/14/2012 11:23 AM
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Chris Edwards
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In a single image, sometimes it's not possible. The human eye sees a range of light across roughly 22 stops of light in photographic terms. That is that it can capture detail in light through dark area across a very large spectrum. A camera sensor generally will only capture detail across 5 stops of light. So picture that 5 stops of light as a block that you can slide in between the far dark end and far light end. You have to stop that block in the area you want to capture. If you want the detail in the dark areas you expose for those areas and blow out the light. If you want the light areas, you expose for those and loose the darks.
Another option is to bracket exposures and combine them in PS or an HDR program if you want to capture a larger dynamic range in one photo. You can lighten dark areas and darken light areas in a photo to some extent to try and even out the exposure or bring back detail but the more you push it the worse it's going to look.
If that all sounds a little confusing I really can't say enough how learning about exposure will help your photography. I hope you stick around a while and spend some time here in the forums. I've learned a lot in the time I've been here.

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"Not living the good life but living a good life" - CE

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