B&W conversion Landscape. C&C

[wlou]

I tried this reflection at the lake, playing with LR 5 and the colours sliders. Your opinion would be appreciated as I am just starting with this pp and the colours sliders. I am not sure about the sky, is it distracting?

[Geoff F]

To me, you have two options here. As it is now or a square crop losing the trees above the tops of what looks like young birch, or something similar. That probably concentrates more on the reflection; but both alternatives have their attractions.

[Donald]

I am not sure about the sky, is it distracting?

Louise

Rather than asking this question and, instead, following the line of thought that Geoff introduced, another and maybe more useful question to ask might be - What does all that is above the tops of the young birch, contribute to the picture?

Is what is there (those other trees in the background and the sky) important to the image that you were trying to make?

My own view (and you don't have to agree with it) is that those trees and the sky are drawing attention away from what we should be made to concentrate on - those silver trees and their reflection in the water. Do that and, in my opinion, you have a superb image.

I did something along the same lines a few months ago. You can see it here. I would love to have had the chance to photograph at your location. You have made an excellent job the of B & W conversion.

[Manfred M]

I am not sure about the sky, is it distracting?

I'm with Donald on this one; the sky adds nothing and pulls the viewer's eyes away from the heart of the image. I would go for a very agressive crop of the sky and the tops of the trees. I would also look at cropping the bottom as well so that the image is a bit more assymetrical (rule of thirds).

[wlou]

Donald, how is this square version?

[mknittle]

Donald, how is this square version?

much better.

[Mike Buckley]

Mark,

You've got a winner in the making. Your second crop is a huge improvement for me for the reasons already explained by the others. Try adding a little more space above the tops of the bright trees, as they seem to feel a little cramped.

[wlou]

Mark,

You've got a winner in the making. Your second crop is a huge improvement for me for the reasons already explained by the others. Try adding a little more space above the tops of the bright trees, as they seem to feel a little cramped.

Nice comment Mike, I may just do that as soon as you call me Louise.

[mknittle]

[Mike Buckley]

Nice comment Mike, I may just do that as soon as you call me Louise.

Ouch! You nailed me, Louise.

Apologies also to Mark even though his response wasn't quite so clever.

[wlou]

No problem Mike. The left side may need some work too, will see tomorrow.

[Donald]

Donald, how is this square version?

Nice. Very nice. I think that's a very different and much more powerful image than the first version. What do you think, yourself?

Interesting suggestion from Mike. If you kept the square crop, but effectively slid it up a bit so that you take in more at the top and cut a bit from the bottom. Worth having a look at. Even though I'm pretty confident about my crop at the time I capture the photograph (i.e. I compose with the final image very much in mind, but at the processing stage I will still move the planned crop up and down just slightly to make sure I've got the right (for me) final composition.

However, I like what you've done. With Mike's suggestion and keeping the 1:1 ratio, you might lose too much of the reflection. Another idea would be to go to a 4:5 ratio crop (but I do like 1:1 images) and you could both preserve all of the reflection and add a bit more in at the top.

[wlou]

How is this crop?

[Donald]

How is this crop?

That, for me, is IT! Brilliant. Works like a gem.

The fact that you've put the shoreline on half-way emphasises the mirror nature of the image. You've also lifted it a bit in processing so that it's got more, albeit subtle, impact. The white's are brighter.

I think you now have an image of which you should be very proud.

[Mike Buckley]

The most recent version is so much nicer than the others. It's no longer a winner in the making. Instead, it's a winner already made.

[Downrigger]

Anywhichway it is a very nice image and lovely in monochrome. I am quite certain I like the first square crop better - something off-putting to me about splitting the image in two with the shoreline. And I like the inclusion of the darker tones in the first square crop too, which seem to be lost in the second.
But clearly for any two points, there's another in between and there are infinite solutions, but the main things is to start with something good, and quite definitely, you have.

[wlou]

Donald what a great comment, very up-lifting. It comes at a time when I could not see any more the image, just what can I do to improve it. I kept seeing imperfections. Someone said:what is the beauty you see in the photo ? For me it was the reflection, the tones, the light, the lines. Thanks again.

[wlou]

Mike thank you so much, Mark as well many thanks. Ha, to crop or not to crop:that is the question!

[mknittle]

I read an article where the author said "how I judge my photographs is would I hang it on my wall"

Louise, I would hang that on my wall.

[wlou]

Printing it! Great idea! Thank you mark with a small "m".. I think it is going to be a great project: how big should I have it made, what paper, like a painting or in a frame? Oh,la,la, here we go again,could be fun. Maybe I should find a companion
print for it. If someone has advice on the subject please let me know.