Grooming at sunset

[Helen Kolb]

Trying to photography small horses in a very big desert somewhat overreached my abilities - Dave I gave up on the wide-angle, really hard to photograph with it! Have started "work flow" tutorials and now don't want to submit anything as now realise how much needs doing. This is an intimidating website, such a lot to take in! Ah well, nothing ventured nothing gained and have to post..... (hope photo is attached properly, keep getting error code?)

[Manfred M]

Helen - I've corrected the link so that your image displays here.

[Shadowman]

Nicely captured. I'm sure the feeling of intimidation will diminish if you keep posting images such as this. Oops, added a bit more intimidation with that comment.

[Ziggy]

I like the shot Helen. Very nice sunset glow.

I think I would clone out the rope(?) above the horses head.

[Donald]

Exposure is perfect. Just holds on to a bit of detail in the body of the horse and on the land.

And I hope the comments you receive on here lessen the feeling of intimidation. It is a steep learning curve, but when you can produce images of this quality then it shows you're committed to learning. And that learning has to happen one step at a time. Don't try to learn it all at once. You'll just get overwhelmed.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Helen,

We're all very friendly here and only offer constructive ideas to help.

That's a good subject and (as Donald noted), exposure - so that's the hard parts sorted.

I have one suggestion for you with regard to 'next time' (you take a photograph) - and that is to watch what's happening in the background.

Here there are a couple of unfortunately placed trees, directly behind both horse and the 'groomer'.

I accept that if you couldn't ask the pair to move over a little, given where the sun was, you had no option but to shoot from this position.

Once you have more skills in Post Processing, you might even consider cloning out the bits of tree we can see either side of the chap, but as you have only just started, we'll leave that idea for now. yes, there is much to learn, but I hope we can assist you take that journey one step at a time.

I do hope you continue to post pictures, if they are as good as this, you should make good progress.

All the best, Dave

[Geoff F]

One part of a distant tree, behind the man, certainly looks to be in an unfortunate position so I would clone that bit out.

I did also wonder about the rope; particularly with it being at an angle.

Otherwise, everything looks very good.

[Helen Kolb]

Exposure is perfect. Just holds on to a bit of detail in the body of the horse and on the land.

And I hope the comments you receive on here lessen the feeling of intimidation. It is a steep learning curve, but when you can produce images of this quality then it shows you're committed to learning. And that learning has to happen one step at a time. Don't try to learn it all at once. You'll just get overwhelmed.

Thank you Donald - when I look at the shots you are producing I despair (just a little), but then that new camera you have really is fabulous. Most helpful comments, thanks

[Helen Kolb]

Helen - I've corrected the link so that your image displays here.

Many Thanks - can't work out what I'm doing wrong. Will read the instruction more slowly next time

[Helen Kolb]

One part of a distant tree, behind the man, certainly looks to be in an unfortunate position so I would clone that bit out.

I did also wonder about the rope; particularly with it being at an angle.

Otherwise, everything looks very good.

Thanks Geoff - I'm a little intimidated with Photoshop at present, but plugging away at the tutorials. Hk

[Helen Kolb]

Once you have more skills in Post Processing, you might even consider cloning out the bits of tree we can see either side of the chap, but as you have only just started, we'll leave that idea for now. yes, there is much to learn, but I hope we can assist you take that journey one step at a time.

Many thanks Dave, you are most encouraging indeed. I gave up on that wide-angle lens I mentioned by the way - no idea how to use it in such huge landscapes. Lots to learn indeed and a little rattled by Photoshop at the moment :l

[Helen Kolb]

I like the shot Helen. Very nice sunset glow.

I think I would clone out the rope(?) above the horses head.

Yes Ziggy, it is a piece of baling twine, the bane of my life! Once I've mastered some Photoshop skills I'll get rid of it for sure. Thanks for the comments, so welcome.

[jcuknz]

The first thing I noticed and only thing that bothered me about the shot is that the horizon is sloping down to the left ... only about 1.5 degrees though perhaps 1.4 would be better if your editor can do such precise things like my Paint Shop Pro.
Having corrected that I wonder if a crop off both sides would help ... often bigger is better and I suspect people stick with recognized formats instead of cropping for the subject matter ... it is often the subject of threads on the web as people try to fit images to paper sizes and do not realise that just because the paper is made a certain way doesn't mean we have to follow suit.



Here you have both figures on the thirds, left and right and with the horse looking left I left a little bit more space behind the man than the horse. The bits of tree/bush add to the outback feeling and without them it could be anywhere. My tuppence worth

Altogether a good shot to start posting with, nicely seen and captured.

EDIT yes 1.4 right rotation does it

[Helen Kolb]

The first thing I noticed and only thing that bothered me about the shot is that the horizon is sloping down to the left ... only about 1.5 degrees though perhaps 1.4 would be better if your editor can do such precise things like my Paint Shop Pro.
Having corrected that I wonder if a crop off both sides would help ... often bigger is better and I suspect people stick with recognized formats instead of cropping for the subject matter ... it is often the subject of threads on the web as people try to fit images to paper sizes and do not realise that just because the paper is made a certain way doesn't mean we have to follow suit.



Here you have both figures on the thirds, left and right and with the horse looking left I left a little bit more space behind the man than the horse. The bits of tree/bush add to the outback feeling and without them it could be anywhere. My tuppence worth

Altogether a good shot to start posting with, nicely seen and captured.

EDIT yes 1.4 right rotation does it

Thanks John, took a screen shot of your helpful comments to go back to when I understand what you are talking about Does one straighten a horizon for ascetic value even if it is not straight in reality? Helen

[IzzieK]

The answer to your question is--sometimes, yes...when you have such limited amount of foreground and it is noticeable even just a bit. There are instances when you do not have to because it adds to the scene.

Helen this is a beautiful rendition of your subject...apart from what has already been mentioned by others, the trees behind the groomer, etc.

What I can advise you is to experiment on a single subject, a single topic like this horse...take several from different angles till you see what is needed to make your image stronger. I will also advise you to go look at other members' post and the advises that others gives about an image. It is added knowledge to your armour of tips and and techniques to do so if you get to do the kind of image that a poster did, apart from the inspiration that you get from those posts.

And while you are there, comment or ask questions, make friends...as Dave already mentioned, we are quite a friendly lot here. The more you asked the more you learn. Active participation is the key.

Keep doing what you are doing...it is very inspiring ...

[jcuknz]

Since I never manage to hold my camera exactly level this is a regular part of my editing process It becomes an "interesting' question often in land[sea]scape where you have a receding coastline. I was suprised nobody picked up on it before me as it is often a early crit of photos. I think it is a 'rule' for which one needs a strong reason not to follow.
Even after the adjustment the tie-rope still was not vertical which added doubts to my mind.
More important IMO was the crop and one does not have to show 'everything' which is frequently an excuse for not cropping. I do not think you have shown a small horse in a large landscape but rather got a good shot of grooming.