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Loughinisland
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Hi Chef,
Once upon a time not so long ago i probably would have taken a picture like this – and processed it much the same. I took dreadful pictures (and still do!) – and hoped that they could be improved with HDR, Orton effect – dark vignette and many other effects etc etc – but if the initial image is awful – it don’t matter what you try to do it – it will be still awful….worse even.
Two things strike me on this submission – it looks like a ‘grey’ photo – not a B&W and secondly i don’t think it’s a great ‘composition’. The cut off gravestone bothers me lots. No simple ‘rule of thirds’ seem to have been applied – but i’m sure there is a good shot here at this location and i’m 100% certain you will get it. The horizon is even on the centre line.
I think the smaller stone in front perhaps would have made a better ‘foreground’ interest – and if you shot from a worms eye view upwards – and included more of the sky. Something is intruding on the top left corner which draws my eye towards it.
Perhaps step back a few yards – and include the full headstone? Maybe a wider angle lens?
I still am an admirer and user of HDR – but perhaps this subject in this light doesn’t do the technique justice.
I’d be more inclined to go a high contrast B&W from a single exposure with an ND Grad attached.
A new piece of software just released is Nik’s Silver eFex Pro2 – well worh checking out the 30 day trial.
http://www.niksoftware.com/silverefexpro/usa/entry.phpAll just my humble opinion of course. Hope you have a great week.
bren
Thanks for taking the time to critique Brendan. It’s a very tight spot just here, the headstone is chopped to keep out a worse one intruding higher up on the right (it’s hilly as well as tight). The worm’s eye view could be useful, I’ll try that next time I’m down there. I haven’t used Grads in years, I find Photomatix less hassle, but I have been thinking about dusting off the Cokin kit and giving it a fresh go. The thing on top left is a Yew tree. Maybe a square crop might help.
Alex.
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