Leading lines

[cloudspirit]

I took this shot of a gorge near my house for section 5/leading lines. I ended up not using this one but I have looked it over again and there is something old world like that caught my eye, maybe coming from the lighting and some of the leaves softness.
Sure would like to get someone elses opinion.
Thanks Cheryl

[Snappers]

It's an interesting shot.
There seems to be a loss of detail towards the top of the picture.
Not sure about the Old World part.
I think I like it though:)

[coffee]

Hi Cheryl, I looked at your photo, and there are certainly lines in it, but are they leading lines? Leading line in a photo will normally "lead" your eye to the subject, something of interest, and/or into the photo. I'm a little confused as to what that may be in that shot. If anything, these lines lead you off the photo, not into it, and they don't apear to lead the eye to a subject. It's a unique perspective though.

[cloudspirit]

Thanks guys,
Yes I am curious about the bad lighting at the top, and would like to do the shot again and keep the sun on the water while correctly capturing the top. Any thoughts on how to tackle this while this is the only angle available. I suppose I could try and FIX it in PS but thats really not MY answer. Joeseph, I agree it is not leading lines which is why I did't submit it but i am more wondering if the shot would have other merits?
Thanks Cheryl

[coffee]

The first thing that comes to mind is to re-take this shot on a cloudy day. Perhaps very early or late in the day. It will be darker then, but use a tripod and set longer shutter speed.

I've never used one, but I know a CP circular polarizer will go a long way to cutting down the glare.

You can also take more than one exposure with a tripod, expose one for the water, the other for the darker objects, then stack them in PS to make one photo. I don't know what the term is for doing this, I'm an amateur in PS. :-)

As far as having merit, I think all photo may have merit. I never delete any of my photos, even the not so good ones. I've used photos from years past for project that I thought I would never use in a million years. So yes, I'm sure it has merit. You just don't know for what yet.

[Snappers]

Does this area have a sunrise sunset possibility?
If so, the redness coming through the top of the photo may look nice.

It is just a case of practice with different settings and exposures to get the final picture you want.

Before now, I have stood in the same spot just changing my settings to see what results I get. It can be interesting when you look at them on the computer later and is a great learning aid.:)

[coffee]

Yes certainly, everything Snappers said. I do this all the time.. if I'm unsure of the exposure, I will try several different setting and look at them on the computer and see. Might also be a good time to work on Bracketing.

[cloudspirit]

Great suggestions,
the sun would rise at the point of the top where lighting is bad
so if I play with the settings it will probably come out fine?
and I am not sure I follow how to use different readings/settings and then stacking but I am at levels changing only capabilities in PS( well maybe a few more) but to fix that I am taking a Digital Photo course this fall at college. Learn, learn, learn!

[cloudspirit]

Bracketing! for some reson that term SCARES me, what is it?
It is cloudy now so I think I'll go and shot this over using your imput. Guess I'll try Braketing also.
I'll come back with new shots.
Cheryl -
and thanks for your help. It is such a great addition to class learning to have people willing to get us over the stumps.

[Snappers]

Have a look here to see what Bracketing is all about
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bracketing

also here for a tutorial on bracketing
http://www.photoxels.com/tutorial_exposureBracketing.html

[jerryph]

Bracketing is simly a way to set your camera to automatically change exposure settings without you doing more than clicking the shutter a preset number of times.

As far as leading lines... roads, bridges, railroad tracks, windows, buildings, pipes an be easily used. The trick is that when you look at the picture you naturally start at one end and the eye is pulled into the distance.

Something like this:

Even though the tracks are off center, what do you find yourself doing? More than likely looking off into the distance seeing where the tracks end, right? Leading lines! :)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2217/2405858368_b74d5358bd.jpg

[kdhukate]

The PS term is HDR, taking shot one underexposed,one overexposed and one with for a gray scale and merge them as photomerge or HDR. The PS will process each details and granality to give the final pic.

[cloudspirit]

Thanks for the lesson, I did try some bracketing at home and can see it's usefulness.
I'll give it a shot next photo shoot. Love the RR tracks.
Cheryl

[cloudspirit]

This is my Leading Lines pic,