Mohawk Trail with the Fam (S and A in bottom right corner)

My wife and daughter in the corner revealed the size of the scene.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Sky is not attractive or needed here. Field and tree line sort of lead the eye from left to right out of the picture. Cropping sky out would improve composition, but the light or the exposure doesn't really pop.

Blank sky detracts.

Great points. Thank you. I'm still learning... sometimes i am able to get the pop i want in a photo, and sometimes i am not. Is there a technique to do it consistently, or is this where photoshop comes into play? There's still something about this picture that i really love. But I receive your points wholeheartedly.

 

Cheers.

The secret to getting your photos to "pop" is partially experience, but mostly lighting. Photoshop has something to do with it for digitally showcasing your photo, but mostly its the light present when you snap your shutter. Outdoor exposures are going to be better if the angle of the sun is very low or if it is just before sunrise or after sunset. Next time the sun is setting, don't look at the sunset. Look instead at what the last rays of sunlight are striking. Usually the scenery will be turning golden. Shooting mid-day, you want a misty day and keep the sky and water out of your shots as those will be grey. A circular-polarizer filter will help cut reflections and give your photos a little more pop. Good Luck. John.