HDR of rock quarry, waterfall and bridge in a local state park! C&C welcome

[pab]

Here are a few shots I took yesterday. Not all of them are as heavy as others. Most were taken with 3 different exposures.

Sorry for the overload of photos, hopefully some are liked!





The thing I do not like about this photo is the dark blotch in the upper middle/right corner. I was using a neutralizer filter, and I
think that it was too dark. I should have spun it towards the bottom or taken it off all together.


I really liked the composition of this one, it felt like it was just melting over the rocks. It was nice to be able to post up on the large rocks
about 15 or 20 feet away over the water. I did not want to shoot it straight on, so I used this angle...



A creepy environment down there, the colors were all basically monotone looking and it was hard to capture the true colors as there was basically
no sunlight at the time of the shoot.



Though I normally do not capture still water, I really liked the reflection.






This one has no HDR processing to it, but still like it. Just a raw shot with a slight adjustment or two.

 

[MLeeK]

1 is a bit strong on the color. I think I'd crop a slight bit off the right and top. Beautiful.
2is really busy. The dark burn in the sky is really drawing the eye.
3. I love. I find myself tilting my head to the right a bit. I'd crop a bit of the left on this one to have your waterfall leading from top left to bottom right more.
4. I got nothing. Sorry. It's busy and I find myself wondering why?
5. I love the reflections on the left, but I am having a hard time loving the image. the trees are just too high frequency in this.
6. the framing is awkward and doesn't balance. I want to love it, but...
7. I like it without the HDR processing too! Still want to crop some off the left.

 

[pab]

Thanks for all the comments. I plan on going back to the drawing board and reprocessing them to to a less extensive amount of HDR. I think the busyness is coming from it. The original NEF files look a lot less busy, and the mirror effect is not so dramatic.

Thanks again!

 

[MLeeK]

Thanks for all the comments. I plan on going back to the drawing board and reprocessing them to to a less extensive amount of HDR. I think the busyness is coming from it. The original NEF files look a lot less busy, and the mirror effect is not so dramatic.

Thanks again!

I am not a big fan of poorly done HDR at all and these are definitely not bad or over done at all!
They're high frequency images and sharpening, definining and accentuating the trees is always going to result in really busy. Not sure how you'd fix that, but I'll keep an eye out to see how you do!

 

[HughGuessWho]

The processing looks good on all of them (#1 may be a little over the top on saturation), but compositionally, none really do anything for me. There is no real subject except for maybe #2 & #7.

I really kind of like # 2 for some reason. I think it is the best of the bunch. Leading lines are nice. I do think it needs a little more contrast, but that’s just my opinion.

Keep shootin’

View attachment 25774

 

[Steve5D]

If you could dial back the saturation in #1, that would be a damn impressive image...

 

[fractionofasecond]

These are just about in the middle between "cartoonish" and natural. They are gorgeous. Nice job! No. 1 is my favorite.

 

[pab]

Thank you folks.

Couple of side notes. This was my first time ever shooting waterfalls , or moving water for that matter. I have only done about 3 or 4 HDR photos previous to this and I only had this camera for a week. Been a hobby for a long time but never real serious.

If I email someone the photos I used would they mind re doing it?

I have the NEF and JPEG versions. Would really like to see what others can do with it. Thanks!

Eric

 

[pab]

I toned it down a tiny bit. Also did a little more cropping and removed some weird green orb in the middle of the original.

Is this easier on the eye?



Here is an EVEN more TONED down veriosn.









This one below is the ORIGINAL

 

[eswebster]

the saturation in 1 with a bit of darkening of the highlights and you have it i think. Solid shot.

 

[The Barbarian]

I like No. 2 best. Even though the water is spectacular in your other shots, I like the calm, introspective look of 2.

 

[8thsinner]

I like 2 and 3, and your repost i like the composition more on the second one.

Doing the right thing is bleeding for the cause

 

[pab]

I like No. 2 best. Even though the water is spectacular in your other shots, I like the calm, introspective look of 2.

Thanks!

I like 2 and 3, and your repost i like the composition more on the second one.

Doing the right thing is bleeding for the cause

I agree thank you for the critique



Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2

 

[kylesfreelance]

3 through 6 I like. Overall I love 3.

 

[amolitor]

The original #1 is a little hot on the processing, as has been noted, but I *do* like the way it emphasizes the similarity in shape and line between the moss above and the water flowing below.