Big Sur C&C

spacefuzz · Dec 19, 2011

So it was a beautiful morning at McWay Falls and I was the only photographer there. The light was stunning, but I feel like the photo is lacking. Any thoughts on how to fix it?

Single RAW file processed twice with .9 GND and 1.8 ND filter, 3 sec at f/5.0 18 mm. D7000.

spacefuzz · Dec 20, 2011

anyone?

Robin Usagani · Dec 20, 2011

Nice.. I think buckster posted the same photo like a few months ago.

I would maybe play with the saturation of aqua, blue and orange maybe.

Buckster · Dec 20, 2011

Well, it's really a personal preference thing, but I'd punch up the saturation and contrast in the sky and its reflected area in the water - basically the top half of the photo, minus the trees.

It's a great spot. Here's one I shot there:

bazooka · Dec 20, 2011

Looks like a really nice place. I like your processing. I haven't been there, but your composition makes me want to see more at the bottom of the screen. It seems incomplete to me.

I don't see any negative affect on the image, but might I ask why you shot at f/5 when you could have take off the .9 filter and shot at f/14 or so for the same exposure but possibly sharper image?

spacefuzz · Dec 20, 2011

Thanks everyone. I will bump the saturation a bit. Was trying to walk a fine line and keep the colors sort of pastel while still making things pop.

I shot at f/5 because I was shooting lots of different shutter speeds, was doing 30-100 second exposures before this. Without the GND the sky was blown, and my ND is the screw on type so was hard to remove.

Compositionally I guess I should have switched over to my 10mm lens and gone a bit wider.

Bolthead · Dec 20, 2011

Buckster said:
Well, it's really a personal preference thing, but I'd punch up the saturation and contrast in the sky and its reflected area in the water - basically the top half of the photo, minus the trees.

It's a great spot. Here's one I shot there:

Super Shot, the Palm in the upper right really makes it pop.

GooniesNeverSayDie11 · Dec 20, 2011

Great shot. Although my only gripe is that there are a billion shots from this same spot all over the net. Its just like that one lookout in Yosemite that everyone posts pictures from.