Blue Ridge Parkway Shot; CC?

[pthrift]

Went with the MRS onto the parkway last weekend; and this was by far my favorite shot. Now I'd like to bring myself back to reality and have it picked apart so I know what I've done wrong and what to do better next time.




Reflections in the water by patrick.thrift, on Flickr

 

[markv20]

Overall I like it. the only things I see are the colors seem a little dull and it seems a tad underexposed.

 

[Johnboy2978]

Not a bad shot of Mabry Mill. I usually go there at least once in each fall and spring, but I didn't make it to either this year. What part of Va are you from?

 

[kundalini]

I think you could warm up the WB and get a better feel for the autumn colors.

I just got back yesterday from my annual trip to the BRP and will start editing photos today, I think. This was my shot of Mabry Mill last year.
http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...-mill-mile-marker-176-blue-ridge-parkway.html

 

[Heitz]

Maybe increase the shadow protection?

 

[Chodie]

You've got a solid composition and interesting subject. You captured a great photo and one that is better than most people will ever take but from a professional pov, you should try to photograph during the golden hour if you really want to give your photograph the best colors.

As you have it now, the front wall is blown out and a lot of the nice details are lost. If you try looking at it for more than a couple seconds your eyes will try to pull away from the brightness to focus on something else -not a good trait for the subject of your photo.

Kundalini did a nice job capturing the mill with the right atmospheric conditions.You did a lot right and had it all set nicely, I'd just try another time of day... But when coordinating with the MRS that could tough.

 

[pthrift]

Overall I like it. the only things I see are the colors seem a little dull and it seems a tad underexposed.

I agree...the colors looked better in photoshop; and still do. IDK what happened when it went to flickr.

Not a bad shot of Mabry Mill. I usually go there at least once in each fall and spring, but I didn't make it to either this year. What part of Va are you from?

I'm from Danville, right on the VA/NC line.... roughly an hour south of Lynchburg.

I think you could warm up the WB and get a better feel for the autumn colors.

I just got back yesterday from my annual trip to the BRP and will start editing photos today, I think. This was my shot of Mabry Mill last year.
http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...-mill-mile-marker-176-blue-ridge-parkway.html

Man, way to steal my thunder, lol. Seriously, your shot puts mine to shame. I tried bringing the WB to a warmer tone, I wound up blowing out the highlights worse than they already are. But the tree with the red leaves sure looked better

You've got a solid composition and interesting subject. You captured a great photo and one that is better than most people will ever take but from a professional pov, you should try to photograph during the golden hour if you really want to give your photograph the best colors.

As you have it now, the front wall is blown out and a lot of the nice details are lost. If you try looking at it for more than a couple seconds your eyes will try to pull away from the brightness to focus on something else -not a good trait for the subject of your photo.

Kundalini did a nice job capturing the mill with the right atmospheric conditions.You did a lot right and had it all set nicely, I'd just try another time of day... But when coordinating with the MRS that could tough.

Golden hour: yea, I was hoping to stall a little longer. We got there a little before I thought we would. I anticipated us arriving at around 5-5:30pm. Instead we got there at 4. I managed to stick around for an hour, but that's as long as she was willing to stop at one place, plus we were en route to Roanoke to eat dinner.



@Heitz--Shadow protection? care to elaborate a little farther or have a link? I don't understand the term.... :/ thanks in advance

 

[clanthar]

Overall I like it. the only things I see are the colors seem a little dull and it seems a tad underexposed.

I agree...the colors looked better in photoshop; and still do. IDK what happened when it went to flickr.

Nothing happened when the photo went to Flickr. You saved your photo using the Adobe RGB color space. When you look at the Photo in Photoshop you see it as you edited it. When I look at your photo on the web using Firefox I likewise see it as you edited it since Firefox correctly processes your photo's ICC profile. However a lot of people out there view the Internet using non-photo compliant browsers like IE and Chrome which both fail to process photos correctly.

To lessen the harm that IE and Chrome do to all photos when they display them you should save your photo using the sRGB color space. sRGB will be a closer match to your photo displayed untagged (IE, Chrome).

Any chance you shot the original and have a RAW file?

Joe

 

[pthrift]

Overall I like it. the only things I see are the colors seem a little dull and it seems a tad underexposed.

I agree...the colors looked better in photoshop; and still do. IDK what happened when it went to flickr.

Nothing happened when the photo went to Flickr. You saved your photo using the Adobe RGB color space. When you look at the Photo in Photoshop you see it as you edited it. When I look at your photo on the web using Firefox I likewise see it as you edited it since Firefox correctly processes your photo's ICC profile. However a lot of people out there view the Internet using non-photo compliant browsers like IE and Chrome which both fail to process photos correctly.To lessen the harm that IE and Chrome do to all photos when they display them you should save your photo using the sRGB color space. sRGB will be a closer match to your photo displayed untagged (IE, Chrome).Any chance you shot the original and have a RAW file?Joe

Yup; I shot it in raw, and still have the original file...

 

[clanthar]

Yup; I shot it in raw, and still have the original file...

If you have an original RAW file I think you could manage a better edit that doesn't clip the highlights and that opens the shadows a little more -- happy to help if you like.

Joe

 

[pthrift]

Yup; I shot it in raw, and still have the original file...

If you have an original RAW file I think you could manage a better edit that doesn't clip the highlights and that opens the shadows a little more -- happy to help if you like.Joe

I would love some help; from anywhere I can get it

 

[kundalini]

Man, way to steal my thunder, lol. Seriously, your shot puts mine to shame. I tried bringing the WB to a warmer tone, I wound up blowing out the highlights worse than they already are. But the tree with the red leaves sure looked better

Sorry, wasn't my intention.

Golden hour: yea, I was hoping to stall a little longer. We got there a little before I thought we would. I anticipated us arriving at around 5-5:30pm. Instead we got there at 4. I managed to stick around for an hour, but that's as long as she was willing to stop at one place, plus we were en route to Roanoke to eat dinner.

I guess I was a bit more fortunate with my timing there. We had just finished off the day with about 10-12 miles of hiking. As I was driving south to our cabin rental, I saw the light and immediately thought of the mill as we were staying near the next exit at Meadows of Dan. The parking lot was full and a whole horde of visitors were milling about the place. I sat up my tripod on the grassy knoll and waited........ with a bottle of wine, some grapes along with cheese and crackers. It took quite a while to frame a few shots without people in the frame. I then did quick three shots bracketed and HDR merged in CS5. This was my first HDR and was pleased with the result. Since you're less than two hours drive from the mill. I would try several more attempts, especially a snow covered winter scene.