Christopher's River

[Matt Kneale]

Matt Kneale Photography 2007
Camera: Nikon D80
Focal Length: 18mm
Aperture: F/7.1
Shutter Speed: 1/200 sec.
ISO: 100
Edited in Adobe Photoshop CS3 and shot in JPEG format

Second piece from my trip to Scotland. This shot was taken in Oban, a fishing town in the Argyll region. The name of this photograph comes from one of my favourite bands, Biffy Clyro. The title just seemed to fit well to the piece. The editing process involved curves and levels, as well as a slight increase in saturation.

Hope you like it
Matt

[Pops]

Re: Christopher's River

I'm not sure about the horizon being placed at the halfway point and would be tempted to crop off a portion from the top. There doesn't seem to be a definate point of focus but it is a nice tranquil scene.
I do like the rich colours of the foreground and the cloud formation just above the horizon.
I'm sure others more knowledgable with landscapes will see it differently

[Guest]

Re: Christopher's River

I agree with Pops about the horizon being midway. This breaks one of the accepted rules. Either make the sky the dominant feature or the foreground but don't give them both equal space. Also that strong blue hue on the edges of the distant hills seems all wrong to me as it spoils the recession. A bit more work in Photoshop and it would make a better picture.

[Stephen]

Re: Christopher's River

I agree with Pops about the horizon being midway. This breaks one of the accepted rules. Either make the sky the dominant feature or the foreground but don't give them both equal space. Also that strong blue hue on the edges of the distant hills seems all wrong to me as it spoils the recession. A bit more work in Photoshop and it would make a better picture.

I agree with you Dennis, essentially though the first step is to get the composition right in the viewfinder, and think how whilst looking through it, you can add something to the scene that the 3:2 format plus lens offers over what the all seeing field of vision doesn't.

Looking at the scene now I may have felt inclined to have a much lower camera position to emphasise the foreground. This might naturally lend itself to having the horizon in the top third whilst maintaining the dramatic sky in the distance.

[Matt Kneale]

Re: Christopher's River

Thanks everyone for your feedback
I'm seeing that the general consensus is that the horizon being in the middle of the piece was a bad idea, and that by lowering the camera I could have produced a better shot?

Thanks again,
Matt

[Stephen]

Re: Christopher's River

Thanks everyone for your feedback
I'm seeing that the general consensus is that the horizon being in the middle of the piece was a bad idea, and that by lowering the camera I could have produced a better shot?

Thanks again,
Matt

Thats about the size of it, though in fairness there is loads of potential in those rock pools which would make an ineresting foreground, reduce the amount of sea and yet still keep the dramatic cloud formation

[Tinka]

Re: Christopher's River

Hi Matt,
A super image with much potential, I have read the other comments, and would only add that I would also be tempted to try to produce a psudo pano from the image (I'm into panos at the moment). If you have any more images a genuine pano my be possible, Isn't it strange that in the middle of what we call summer many people are posting stormy and moody images normally taken later in the year.

[Matt Kneale]

Re: Christopher's River

It's funny you should mention that, Tinka, as I did actually make a panorama at the time. I'll post it below:

[coupekid]

Re: Christopher's River

It's funny you should mention that, Tinka, as I did actually make a panorama at the time. I'll post it below:

Very nice Matt, the only thing I would like to see is the flag pole straightened.

With it being so far on the left, its a little obvious.

(would be nice to see this posted a little larger as well)

[Tinka]

Re: Christopher's River

A lovely Pano Matt, it somehow emphasises the drama, the bleakness and at the same time the peacefulness of the area, yup straighten the flagpole. do I spy one or maybe two people on the far right?

[Matt Kneale]

Re: Christopher's River

Yes you do! There is a little boy who was playing there, he was slowly leaving shot but I was in a rush and took it quickly whilst he was there.