South Dakota Fall Colors With A Little Snow

[Kathy O]

A couple of photo's from our recent South Dakota Vacation. It was starting to get dark and was snowing lightly along with a little rain, (I did manage to capture the snow in the second photo). I had never shot in these conditions so this was a first for me. Please feel free to comment.

[flashback]

Hi Kathy,
I much prefer #1, the snow in #2 is a bit distracting plus, #1 is a better view.
A few thoughts, I would suggest cloning out that plant in the lower right (it creates an inner, black rectangle) and perhaps playing with levels a bit to try and make the aspen pop a bit more. Also, it would have been nice if you had the tops of those aspen as well. But overall I do like the pic, I think the composition is very nice.

[Kathy O]

Hi Kathy,
I much prefer #1, the snow in #2 is a bit distracting plus, #1 is a better view.
A few thoughts, I would suggest cloning out that plant in the lower right (it creates an inner, black rectangle) and perhaps playing with levels a bit to try and make the aspen pop a bit more. Also, it would have been nice if you had the tops of those aspen as well. But overall I do like the pic, I think the composition is very nice.

Thank you Jack for taking the time to look at my photos and making a post. I appreciate your advice and compliments very much!

Kathy

[GeorgeM]

I'm for #1 as well. Nice work!

[Kathy O]

Thank you Jack for taking the time to look at my photos and making a post. I appreciate your advice and compliments very much!

Kathy

Here is a different version of photo #1, Let me know what you think.

[zen]

Nice shots, Kathy.

Version #2 of image #1 is the better of the two. The brighter colors contrast with one another better and convey the season better and more brightly. Version #1 is a bit dull.

As to image #2, I like the idea, but the snow flakes need to show movement, to show that they are falling snow, rather than white dots on the image. Perhaps a slower shutter with an ND filter . . .

Thanks for sharing.

Zen

[flashback]

Kathy,
I like what you did in #3, much more vibrant colors and, as zen said, it conveys the season better.
Now...can you do whatever you did to #3 to #1? I still like that one best. The lightly dusted conifers on the mountain really adds (IMHO) to the gestalt of the image. Just clone out that black rectangle bottom right and maybe try and clone some leaves to the aspen tops, shorten them to allow for some sky above them and pop the colors.

[kdoc856]

I think the 2nd version of #1 is just super. You've managed to include the tops of the aspens without introducing gray sky, and I quite like your saturation level. I am not currently on a good or calibrated monitor, but wonder if you raised the exposure 1/3 to 1/2 EV you might get the aspens to pop a little more. Or perhaps some selective dodging .

[Kathy O]

Nice shots, Kathy.

Version #2 of image #1 is the better of the two. The brighter colors contrast with one another better and convey the season better and more brightly. Version #1 is a bit dull.

As to image #2, I like the idea, but the snow flakes need to show movement, to show that they are falling snow, rather than white dots on the image. Perhaps a slower shutter with an ND filter . . .

Thanks for sharing.

Zen

Thanks for the tip on the snow!!

[GeorgeM]

Here is a different version of photo #1, Let me know what you think.

Looks great!

[Kathy O]

Looks great!

Thank you George!

[ajsmith]

I like the second version of #1. The colors are just beautiful.

[ShaneS]

With I see shots like this Kathy I really miss the seasons! I agree with others that version 2 of #1 is a great capture of the autumn colors.

[AB26]

It is sooo beautiful!

No 2 is my favourite because it gives a better perspective on the tall trees. The white forming on the tops of the pines tell me how cold it is and justifies the snow flakes in the image.