My landscapes need work...

Jul 1, 2009 at 10:01 AM
18 comments

Dry Falls #1

8 comments

Dry Falls #3

Dry Falls #2

2 comments

I was having a very hard time metering the scene in Dry Falls. The rocks were dark and the sky was SO light. I need a graduated neutral density filter. I know I can fix it in the computer (if I knew how) but I want to be able to do most of the work while taking the picture, not sitting at my computer desk.
Anyway, here are a few I monkeyed with on the computer. They are not great, my weak spot is the landscape shot. I chatted with my Friend ,J, who knows how to do a landscape well. He reminded me to use the rule of thirds while taking the shot. Make the three layers in the shot. Oh Yeah, I have tried so hard to find a focal point in a landscape shot, but my focal point is always something small, and it ends up looking like a big mess. I need bigger focal points, something the eye is drawn to. I think I did better than I have before, but the lighting is off. It is hard, but I am not complaining. It is also fun.
The sky was AMAZING that day. The clouds were fluffy against an incredibly blue sky. Overall the scene put me into a very relaxed state. I am not fond of the desert, but I have an appreciation for it. Okay I love it a little, not as much as green, but a little bit is nice.

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My To Do list today-
1. kitchen cleaned up and the cupboard where bugs were found scrubbed clean
2. a load of laundry
3. change sheets
4. bathroom and laundry room cleaned
5. cash in the ban so I can buy myself a macro lens (still does not seem real to me, I was prepared to wait a year for it!)

me relaxing

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I love these shots. That first one is just gorgeous with the sky reflected and all those clouds against the blue! I love the other two for the feeling they give of the area and the beauty of the scenery.

These are good, love the reflection shot also, but my favorite is you relaxing, that just says eastern washington! lol!

[this is good]

I made Dry Falls #1 my wall paper faster than you can say Dr-- Excellent work, my love.

LaidOutInLavender replied to Skyrat (Gina)’s comment:
Jul 1, 2009
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Thanks! the reflection came and went with the wind. As you can see with the shot of my feet, the wind kicked up and no reflections were possible...

LaidOutInLavender replied to Patti’s comment:
Jul 1, 2009
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Thanks Patti, the rocks were not comfy enough to stay there long, but it felt nice, the wind off the water cooling the air

LaidOutInLavender replied to DKN’s comment:
Jul 1, 2009
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Aw!! Thanks!!! The rocks and land are a little dark, had some troubles with lighting. I learned a lot on this trip!

[this is good]

These are absolutely stunning, Lavender! It's exciting to see this new perspective in your photography.

[this is good]

Well, you can't be good at everything right off the bat! ;) Oh darn, you'll just have to practice more....uh oh, more field trips! I don't know how you'll manage that. Hehehe

I was the macro queen until I started doing landscapes. Took me a few months to adjust really, I had to think quite differently, and of course there's the whole process of finding one's own style in there somewhere.

For one simple thing you could do to change your landscapes - meter the sky correctly, and then open it in photoshop and go to... ah heck, lemme just write it as an entry:

http://littleoddme.vox.com/library/post/just-playing.html

LaidOutInLavender replied to homebody’s comment:
Jul 1, 2009
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Thanks Homebody, It is very challenging for me. I think that I need to learn this even if this is not really my thing. I think it will teach me important things. You should see what Little odd Me did with it in photoshop, you can see all the rocks and everything!

LaidOutInLavender replied to Cap'n Stephel’s comment:
Jul 1, 2009
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Hahah! I am pushing myself to do shots I normally would not take, I feel there are lessons to learn in those shots. ;-)

LaidOutInLavender replied to Little Odd Me’s comment:
Jul 1, 2009
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VERY AWESOME tutorial LOM!!! I think I am going to have Mr.L sit with me this weekend at the computer. I need to make the leap from picassa to photoshop. THANKS SO MUCH!!!!

learning is good. :)

I just love the top one. The reflection in the odd-shaped lake is so cool and that blue is so blue.

And my gosh....your legs really are long!!!

[das ist gut]

Your auto-criticism makes you help to improve your skills Lav. And - as your great work shows - you know that, right? I enjoy your photos everytime you post anything.

realworld