Nooooo, where did I go wrong ? :(

[480sparky]

Here's my 30-second edit:

Now, get me the .NEF file and I'll really make it better.

 

[goodguy]

Thank you all for the very informative feedback, good to know even a filter would be a "fix all" solution and also explains why some of the pictures I got were very nice and some look washed out.
Sun angle, time of day to shoot and dust in the air are all factors I didn't really think of.
In most of the time the sun was in front of me or very high in the sky, very strong and hard to work with.

I see this as yet one more experience I will take with me in my quest to continue to improve my photography.

 

[deeky]

In most of the time the sun was in front of me

This may be a big part of your problem. Did you use a lens hood? May be getting some diffraction/glare that makes things washed out.

 

[KmH]

You edit the sky separately from the land.
You can select the land, and save the selection. Using the Invert option you can then select all except the land, the sky.
I selected the sky and changed the Blending mode to Multiply.
Going back to the saved selection of the land I increased the exposure, the mid-tone contrast, and sharpened. The selection limits those edits to just the land.
I cropped some off the top, and added a narrow black border.

 

[vintagesnaps]

Seems like you might need to slow down and think about your camera settings as you go, and keep adjusting as needed, especially in challenging or less than ideal conditions. I guess being a longtime film photographer I compare it to film - it would be like shooting 50 rolls of film on a trip (and that's half of the total since there were two of you), which would be a lot of film! LOL even for a few days' of taking pictures.

When I learned photography seems like I learned to not shoot toward the sun if at all possible; and as mentioned the time of day wasn't the best and a lens hood and/or polarizer might have helped. If I'm trying to get a proper exposure in challenging outdoor lighting sometimes I'll lower the camera a little downward to meter then reframe the shot. As John (tirediron) said, the camera is recording light and sometimes you're pushing the limits of what a camera can do. If I'm in tricky lighting too I'll often take more than one shot changing the settings each time to try to get at least one that's exposed properly.

 

[Ilovemycam]

Seems like you might need to slow down and think about your camera settings as you go, and keep adjusting as needed, especially in challenging or less than ideal conditions. I guess being a longtime film photographer I compare it to film - it would be like shooting 50 rolls of film on a trip (and that's half of the total since there were two of you), which would be a lot of film! LOL even for a few days' of taking pictures.

When I learned photography seems like I learned to not shoot toward the sun if at all possible; and as mentioned the time of day wasn't the best and a lens hood and/or polarizer might have helped. If I'm trying to get a proper exposure in challenging outdoor lighting sometimes I'll lower the camera a little downward to meter then reframe the shot. As John (tirediron) said, the camera is recording light and sometimes you're pushing the limits of what a camera can do. If I'm in tricky lighting too I'll often take more than one shot changing the settings each time to try to get at least one that's exposed properly.

Absolutely! Their is a certain beauty and pride of craftsmanship with film. I don't understand the digital photogs that can't get the shot..it is practically breast fed to them. We had nothing back in the stone age. No auto focus, no on the fly ASA, no anti-shake, no metering, no instant review and live view.

When I shot this with a Nikon F, I chased him down the alley, had to focus, guess at the exposure and bring it home with one shot.

ArtSlant - Untitled #1 (Man in Alley)

OK, part of it was luck. But still, some of the digital photogs nowadays crap their pants if their AF is not working. They need the cam to do everything for them.

You digital photogs that don't get it. Go backwards and start with film. Learn it from the ground up. I'm no film fanatic. I shoot digital 95% of the time. I just shoot some SWC and Widelux for film every so often. But I am always glad I had a foundation in film. And while you are at it newbies...learn to print!

 

[AlexanderB]

I think I know where it did go wrong, here:
>With my wife (she on the G15) we took about 3500 pictures

If you take 3500 pictures from one trip either you are super human or you will not be pleased with your images.
My suggestion for a good image (take with a grain of salt):
1) learn when the light is the best on the place (time of year and day etc.)
2) go there and live for three days to understand the place
3) take your picture and enjoy!


​

 

[goodguy]

I think I know where it did go wrong, here:
>With my wife (she on the G15) we took about 3500 pictures

If you take 3500 pictures from one trip either you are super human or you will not be pleased with your images.
My suggestion for a good image (take with a grain of salt):
1) learn when the light is the best on the place (time of year and day etc.)
2) go there and live for three days to understand the place
3) take your picture and enjoy!


​

Don't get me wrong most of my pics are actually very nice but those that came out like the one I posted are a missed picture which frustrates me.
I think I have learned a lot from this post and will try to improve my photography buy applying it in my next trip.