Afterglow On A Wetland

Captured this image of a sunsets afterglow over a Florida (Loxahatchee NWR) wetland in either late November or early December of 2000. Finally got around to keywording it, then decided to see what I could come up with in the editing program.

As with other images I've posted the first one is how it came out of the scanner. The scan is from the neg, film was Kodak Gold 400, and the camera was a Canon EOS620. Lens was probably a Vivitar 28 to 300

I like the balance of the un-cropped version, the foreground helps provide the setting. The colors in the edited version are maybe a little too strong for my taste. I like the composition.

Thanks J. As you pointed out the colors in the edited version are a little too strong. I should've toned down the saturation a little. Also after taking another look, I realized that it isn't the afterglow. The afterglow shot is a different image and a different place. In this one the sun is actually hidden behind that cloudbank.

Interesting! In both cases yours and

Interesting! In both cases (yours and J's) the preferred version is the unedited (except for resizing to post). Either way, thanks for the complements.

Interesting!

Well it's a lot like makeup. If you can tell it's been done, it's been overdone.;)

Well it's a lot like makeup. If you can tell it's been done, it's been overdone.;)

Which is sometimes absolutely necessary to advance the drama!!! ...

THE GOOD

THE BAD

AND THE UGLY

Well! Either way, the feeling I was going for was the sense of calm, quiet, etc., whatever, and I think I got that.

Which is sometimes absolutely necessary to advance the drama!!! ...

 

THE GOOD

 

THE BAD

 

AND THE UGLY

Alright Sam!

Either way, the feeling I was going for was the sense of calm, quiet, etc.,

While the second image is warmer in terms of color, it's not as calm or as quiet as the original. Perhaps warming up the first while preserving the sense of calm by not increasing the contrast or the energy of the highlights would get you closer to where you want to be. I also think the reeds providing a bit of a scrim in the original add to the calm because they diffuse the sense of clarity of subject. The sharper feel you went for in the second may be working against you as sharp edges and distinct masses don't necessarily provide calm or quiet.

While the second image is warmer in terms of color, it's not as calm or as quiet as the original. Perhaps warming up the first while preserving the sense of calm by not increasing the contrast or the energy of the highlights would get you closer to where you want to be. The sharper feel you went for in the second may be working against you as sharp edges and distinct masses don't necessarily provide calm or quiet.

Thankyou, and I'll keep that point about sharp edges and distinct masses in mind for future reference.