Reflections

[gillybro]

Hi everyone,

I am still learning about composition and would like some comments. I have adjusted some exposure using lightroom 2. How can I make these great photos?

http://www.proudphotography.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Reflections_at_Epcot.jpg

http://www.proudphotography.com/gallery/data/35/medium/ghostly_photo.jpg

[eyerkish]

Hi everyone,

I am still learning about composition and would like some comments. I have adjusted some exposure using lightroom 2. How can I make these great photos?

http://www.proudphotography.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Reflections_at_Epcot.jpg

http://www.proudphotography.com/gallery/data/35/medium/ghostly_photo.jpg

Hi Gil,

I don't know that I would be able to help you get "great" shots, but I'd be happy to offer a couple of thoughts. There appears to be a lot going on in both of the photos, which is something I tend to struggle with. One suggestion I would offer is to keep it simple. For example, with the first image, select one thing you want to be the focus of your image and concentrate on that. If it were me, I may focus on the tree and position myself to capture it in a portrait frame versus a landscape. I may place the tree to the left third of the frame (rule of thirds) and compliment it with the water. I may also take a look at that path on the other side of the little pond and see if that path leads (leading lines) to an interesting place and if so, I may make that the focus of the shot. The nice part is you get to have lots of fun while you practice. I hope this helps, good luck!

[Kaye]

Hi Gillybro,

I also agree with most of Eddie's comments.
Perhaps this shot may have been taken late afternoon, (judging on the reflection of the lights in the water), but I still feel it needs more exposure.

Here is my quick edit - cropped a little to eliminate "clutter". Perhaps a little too much exposure/saturation, but just to give an idea.

4394

[coffee]

Gave it a quick go. I tried to give it a more panoramic look. I added to the canvas, copied and free transformed the entire image by flipping it. Then spent some time cloning in changes. It was a fun image, thanks for posting it. Adjusted some technical issues, added a slight Orton Affect. It was done fast so I know there are mistakes, but my favorite part of this edit is the foreground changes.

[gillybro]

Thanks, Eddie, Kaye, and Joseph for your inputs. I have much to learn and Joseph, I would love to know how all those manipulations are done. I have CS4 and Lightroom 2 so it would be nice to know how to use them. I can get layers to work and masking and clone stamp, but you have done really nice things to the photo. Epcot was such a beautiful place with so many landscapes to shoot I didn't want to miss a thing. I wanted to see it all in pictures when I got back home. Thanks again, everyone.

[DoctorJazz]

Hi gillybro,

Really enjoyed reading this thread and seeing how others answer your question....
Thanks for "asking out loud"....
Keep taking the pics.....you will have them to come back to as you learn the ins
and outs of CS4 and LR2....I am doing the same along with the course and finding it very fun.

Good luck to you. Look forward to seeing more posts.