Acadia Lighthouse

I like it Mark! Nice, even distribution of HDR processing and color. Lots of drama and good composition too. Well done!

The subject matter and composition are well chosen, but the processing seems a bit too surreal for my particular taste. 

Best Regards 

Alf 

Agree with Alf. The choices are nice except the post processing. I bet this would actually be a nicer shot if the post processing was toned down a bit. gorgeous shot with great composition though. Would be interested in seeing what the original looks like.

If there was no so much contrast it would be perfect!

Best regards, Mark!

PDE

Thanks for the comments. 

Going too far with post processing has been a dilemma for me. Did Ansel Adams go too far or over process with the black skies in his photographs? Am I trying to get the look of a photograph or create emotion in a scene? I guess this will be debated for ever.

"I may not know art, but I know it when I see it".   Ha Ha

Mark,  This is surreal to me too, but the final judgment is yours.  The composition and scene are great.  You may want to look at Harold Davis' tutorials on PN about HDR processing.  He offers some good advice about how to manually process HDRs for a more realistic look.  He also has a good book, Creative HDR Photos.   I hope you find this helpful.  Larry

Thanks to all. I checked out Harold Davis' website and his photo's are fantastic! After all the comments, I will have to concede that this image is over processed for most people. I took this image about four years ago and have toned things down on later photo's. Trey Ratcliff also has a great tutorial on HDR that I have been using to get more realistic images.

I agree with Alf and Jennifer.  Good composition, marred only by the processing.

Mark

An in your face shot which I really like. It's different and has caused some debate, so  it is having an impact. There are so  many ways in which we see the world and so many variations on how we can communicate our visions to others. Best wishes William

Thanks for your input, William.

For me, photography as an art form seems to be following a similar pattern as the impressionist period art movement. Now, just as in the late 1800's, the unconventional expression through different techniques can be disturbing to some. However, I do value the comments posted because I don't necessarily believe I have the answer, but I am exploring possibilities and am trying to develop my own individual style. I fear that if I don't continue to this, I will lose my passion for photography.

Mark, I'm struck by your statement that you're looking for your own individual style by using a computer rather than a camera, and that if you didn't do so you might loose your interest in photography.  You're really exploring software and a style for using that software.

Hi not normally a debater but I thought some of the comments were interesting. Keep in mind that I know next to nothing about post processing. I don't even own Photoshop. I just experiment with some things I can do with Picasa or with my point and shoot canon. I have no problem at all with strongly Photoshopped images. I have seen some amazing surreal images on this site. That said, I notice that the theory with some people is if a little saturation is good a lot is better. If a little HDR is good a lot is better. For me that really isn't the case. I think you both hit the nail on the head and sort of missed the point with the comments about evoking emotion. Not every image will evoke emotion with every individual. I know that many of the images I have taken and like, and evoke emotion for me, may just look like bad photo's to others. However every good image, weather post processed or not, should evoke emotion. for me the key whether "just a pretty picture" or a more post processed picture is to convey the emotion you feel, to the viewer. If you can do that you have succeeded. The "just a pretty picture" is where some go wrong. They may take a photo that is technically perfect and of beautiful scenery but void of emotion. Very rarely can post processing fix that. In fact over processing or bad processing can actually take away from the emotion of an image in some cases. On the other hand they may take a photo that isn't as technically perfect as some on this site, but succeeds highly in evoking emotion. Naturally, I would love it if my photos succeed on both levels, but if not I'd rather they succeed at the latter then the former. A good example of that is actually one of your other photos "Forest Sunlight". It is not as technically perfect as some of the giants on this site (Not an insult as there are some phenomenal photographers on this site, not to mention it is better then anything I have done in my opinion) but I think it definitely conveys the emotion you were trying to convey.  I really loved that photo. I think it was very well done very good choices. Judging from the few photos I looked at it you have good instincts.  Keep at. If you love it don't stop. Have fun and enjoy the journey.