single photos Going On A Different Cruise (please enlarge)

During the rating yesterday this image has received a 3 and several 4

ratings. Would like to know why it is regarded being below average or

average.

I had quite a long look at this photo yesterday and I was not sure about my feelings. I was searching for words and could not find them. Of course the colours are sweet and almost everybody would like them if they were not too often created in photoshop.

You say that this photo is not altered. So you must have had a beautiful scene and you captured it very well. Often it is very difficult to get such images the way we have seen it.

The colors in the sky are darker than the corresponding colors in the reflection. Purists see this as a technical sin.

I guess the soft (and beautiful) tones in the foreground are from a long exposure shot: But then how come that the legs of the gate are so sharp? This way it looks like an extension of something high up above the clouds and as such it makes the photo surrealistic.

I hope this helps to understand that different people may have different appreciations of this picture.

And do not forget, there may still be some notorious 3 raters around. They play their game independently from the quality of the photos.

Karl

Excellent work! I think it will be nice to know if you have used any specific filter to achieve such eye catching work. But, any way excellent!

Personally I think this is a beautiful image and I am surprise that it receives below average grades. Even with the minor technical flaws mentioned in another comment, I think overall this is a great image.

Hi there.

I think Karl makes the best out of the photo. It's nothng else to add. I wouldn't go into details but I noticed that some anon raters are playing dirty game. I'm not offended with their ratings I just ignore them. So every one who think their work is above everage should do the same until admins will do some improvements for which I already gave some ideas. Until then all it's left is just to ignore those players.

By the way, I like the photo a lot. It's full of mood and pleasant to the eye.

All the best

VS (without any rate, but it would be 6)

Un bello trabajo de excelente luz, color , gran composición y suavidad del agua, Saludos Volker,...........10

Thanks a lot guys for leaving your thoughts - very extensive notes, hence very valuable. Appreciate your valuable time.

Karl: Lake Steinhude is a pretty shallow lake in Northwest Germany (deepest depth around 3 m, very often 50 cm(!) to 1 m only), which was formed in a crena produced by the retreating glaciers at the end of the last Ice Age (check it out at Wikipedia if you like). Sometimes, when their is virtually no wind around, its surface appears to be virtually "polished", no waves, which enables such beautiful shots / color reflections, hence explaining your question IMO. It is a long term exposure appr. 1 hour after sunset. I only amended the color rendition a bit, nothing else. The beautiful colors and sharpness are due to - in part - the pretty "magic" 85mm f/1,2L II lens (magic in combination with the 5D). Furthermore, if there are dark clouds at the horizon, they may appear lighter in their reflections due to further (diffuse) light sources that are reflected as well (i.e., the light of them adds) from other areas (but this is my temporary  explanation at the moment). Lights were not altered at all. I checked it out also while returning to this spot last Sunday, the same effect could be seen again, however, it was a bit windy, hence (tiny) waves could now be observed and I did not manage to reproduce this image here showing such an absolutely even / polished water surface.   

Grigoriy: I did not use any filter, everything is only due to the 85mm f/1,2L II lens (pretty "magic" IMO in combination with the 5D). It is not only a very good portrait lens as you can see, I think. It is more sharp and provides stunning colors rather than the 24-70mm f/2,8 which is already very good as well.

V S: I agree, maybe why not getting rid of the ratings at all? Have posted some thoughts on that at the other photo. Anyway, many thanks.

Julio: You've been an honest friend now for years  and I am very grateful for your valuable advice / critique as well as your support. Saludos!

A really beautiful shot with very nice lighting and colours, Volker!

Volker, dieses bild ist grossartig, shones farbe, licht und stimmung!! Best wishes . . . . john

Volker, the beauty of this immage leave me at a loss for words.  Outstanding, congratulations!  Frank

Volker,

  Breathtaking image with amazing colors & lighting.  My friend you would get a 7 from me.  Into my favorite's this one goes.  Take care, Patsy

What a fantastic capture. I like the composition a lot and the lighting is divine, you sure did an outstanding job here.

Congratulations

Alex

Very beautiful!!

Volker, this is really nice capture in all aspects, the colors, composition and technical performance are just perfect! My rating is 7 for sure!

best regards Sadegh

Very very nice!

Regards(Bobby).

A superb work of art you've produced here Volker! Love the soft colors, and wonderful atmosphere you've captured in this interesting composition. The dock appears to be floating on a layer of clouds. Unusual and excellent image. As for ratings I would ignore the low ratings. There is no rhyme nor reason to those ratings, and never a critique to accompany them. Practically everything I post gets a 3. Often within minutes of posting. I post mine for ratings for the increased exposure, and ignore the results. The critiques tell the real story!

All the best,
Neil

Dear Ruud, John, Frank, Patsy, Alex, Alberto, Sadegh, Bobby and Neil! I'm very grateful for your comments. Very helpful and motivating. Bw, Volker

Bellisima, con una atmosfera y tonos sensacionales asi como una luz y reflejos excelentes.

Un cordial saludo -Tolo.

I have visited this image quite a few times and always wondered how to offer constructive criticism, the truth is I can't, it is simply flawless. I really like the sharpness of the dock against the dreamy colours of the reflected light. I might have wished for more of the dock to be visible, but thats just a preference and not a criticism. The 85mm f1.2 certainly is a fantastic lens if it produces results like this.

Excellent work Volker 7 from me.

Best Regards

Alf