Nisqually at Low Tide

Your comments and suggestions are most welcomed.

David, The composition is fine, giving precedence to the foreground and minimizing the sky. Lot's of detail throughout, including the sky but overall it's awfully flat. Don't know what the answer to that one is except perhaps some advanced PS work. If one simply tries to increase the overall contrast the sky blows out. Looks like it may be worth that extra effort though, providing one has the skills to do it. (note: I'm not volunteering:) Best, LM.

Thanks Len for your feedback. The JPEG compression looks nothing like my TIFF file. It looks flat as you noted. I went in and bumped the contrast up a notch it still does not look as good as my original, but it's closer...

Lovely murky atmosphere - the dark stains in the mud are especially effective. Like the faint, solitary channel throught the mud up into the grass, and also how so many elements are leaning away from the center of the image - the trees and shrubs on each side of the frame. Not too bothered about it being flat, and I'd hate to lose any of the subtle grey textures in the sky. Best, Jeremy

David, I sometimes envy the 2x3 ratio photographer, particularly one with a serious wide angle lense, and this is one of those times. Jeremy has said it eloquently, as usual so there's not a lot left to say other than well done.

What Jeremy said... love the differences between the trees on either side.

 

Although, I almost find the top half of the photo a distraction to that wonderful mud. The channel provides a surprising amount of balance for something I didn't immediately notice and could be enough to hold a cropped image together. But who'd want to get rid of those distinctive treelines?

Jeremy, Jeff and Stephen thanks to you all for the strength of your words that so thoughtfully articulate what works in this image. This is murky and the almost scale-like textures in this mud do help create an atmosphere which is amplified in the 'attitude' of these bushes on the left. Thanks gentlemen...

David,the gentlemen already said it all... so my only addition is that I think a bit of more saturation to the grass between the fg. and bg. will add to enhance the good composition. Tried it myself,and sharpened it a bit more, what do you think? Pnina

Pnina, thanks for taking the time to work with my image. I like what you did. The grasses really came back to life with your boost. I tend to favor a slightly softer image, but that just me...

Thank you David, for me the sharpening boosted the glow of water in the mud, but again that is me... with all the nuances of taste I enjoy your work David. Pnina

Same here Pnina -- we all learn from seeing things through other's eyes. Thanks again for sharing your vision...

David, you show a low-contrast scene, and there is nothing to complain then, tones and contrast must be softer than in a sunlit scenery. You know that I love bold shots, but here I would really take care not to overdo PS curves. Maybe I would even go a step farther and work with a reduced color palette or a composite technique of sepia toned B&W and color. The composition is excellent, great dynamics from the warped trees and bushes, with the meandering lines in the mud - artistic use of the super wide perspective.

 

Cheers

 

Carsten

Beautiful solitary and quiet atmosphere to this. Just for discussion here is a version with more sky definition and more reflection from the mud to go with it. ...hmm.....not sure...

Thanks Carsten. I have never tried doing such a composite sounds interesting. I will give it a whirl...

 

Colin, thanks for giving this a go. Interesting that you were able to get more reflective light coming off this watery mud. I like it. Brings out these textures even more.

 

Thanks to both of you for sharing...