Xmas at lanzarote

[PHILLCORNISH]

[Stephen]

Re: Xmas at lanzarote

Hi Phill, Christmas in Lanzarote sounds like a good idea, bet it was a lot warmer and sunnier than here, well by the look of this photo it certainly was It looks like a pretty volcanic and arid landscape though.

So far as the photo is concerned though, I simply see it as a nice view. I suspect the scene presented itself and you photographed it, probably the camera did all the work What I don't see in the shot is much input in terms of composition or creativity. You have not tried to make it interesting or dynamic in any way that is going to make me as the viewer look at it for long. Now don't misunderstand me, I'm not saying we don't all take this kind of shot, but ultimately it is not saying much and is not much more than a record of the scene you saw.

I suppose often you might include a family member in the foreground, to give some human interest and as a record to say look where we have been. I can imagine though you wouldn't want to show such a shot here, so you need to find something else to add some interest. I'm not sure what it would be, but often some foreground interest, like a rock, a tree or other vegetation just adds to the scene, or perhaps something to lead the eye would help. It seems to me though that there is little to do this and even the road does little and could be even a distraction.

So there you go you asked for honesty, so there is little point in back patting if its not justified

[PHILLCORNISH]

Re: Xmas at lanzarote

Thanks Stephen for your honest reply. You have given me help and guidance on how I can improve my landscapes.

[coupekid]

Re: Xmas at lanzarote

I have read what Stephen has said, and would agree. I would also add that the horizon looks like it is sloping slightly down to the right as well.

That said, it is still a very pleasant view, and the blood red in the forground looks stunning. Maybe more focus to the forground could be considered next time. I also think that the balance between sky and land is a little out, and would warrant a little more of the sky. A polarising filter would have added more punch to the sky also.

Hope that helps

[ash]

Re: Xmas at lanzarote

Hi Phil, call me the devil if you will! hey that rymes, anyway I think its boring, it feels like the angle is all wrong, if this was the only point to take the pic then get closer to the ground and get some foreground interest into the shot, but use a small aperture (big f number) to get everything in focus, ohh and a tripod will also help.
cheers
Ash.

[PHILLCORNISH]

Re: Xmas at lanzarote

Thanks guys for all your comments. Just to let you all know that I agree with what as been said, I decided before posting this photo what I thought may be wrong with it. Now I know I am on the same wavelength as you guys and this as made me more confident now that I can look at my own photos and see where I am going wrong.

For the record and in my defence when I was there I was amazed by the baron landscape and the different layers of colours in the rocks. It is this that I tried to capture in this photo, I thought that including the blood red rocks in foreground was a good thing, I did try to straighten the horizon but this did not make it look any better.

I did think it was a good photo but has been said before it is no more than a record of some think I have seen and is of only a value to me. I will stop crying now, pick myself up off the floor and try again.

[Ian]

Re: Xmas at lanzarote

Thanks guys for all your comments. Just to let you all know that I agree with what as been said, I decided before posting this photo what I thought may be wrong with it. Now I know I am on the same wavelength as you guys and this as made me more confident now that I can look at my own photos and see where I am going wrong.

For the record and in my defence when I was there I was amazed by the baron landscape and the different layers of colours in the rocks. It is this that I tried to capture in this photo, I thought that including the blood red rocks in foreground was a good thing, I did try to straighten the horizon but this did not make it look any better.

I did think it was a good photo but has been said before it is no more than a record of some think I have seen and is of only a value to me. I will stop crying now, pick myself up off the floor and try again.

I've said this many times; photographers need to regain the objectivity of someone who hasn't been to the place that they photographed. I believe that having been there will often make you less critical of the picture and you may be surprised at how critical others can be.

I'm sure it was great to be there and the picture reinforces your memory of the scene, but it is a pretty ordinary shot. One thing I noticed is that the sky is rather cyan.

But don't be put off and well done for seeking the critique given!

Ian

[coupekid]

Re: Xmas at lanzarote

Just one other thing Phil, when posting images, I would advise to show them at the larger scale, it allows people to see more detail:

[Autumn]

Re: Xmas at lanzarote

For the record and in my defence when I was there I was amazed by the baron landscape and the different layers of colours in the rocks. It is this that I tried to capture in this photo, I thought that including the blood red rocks in foreground was a good thing, I did try to straighten the horizon but this did not make it look any better.

I did think it was a good photo but has been said before it is no more than a record of some think I have seen and is of only a value to me. I will stop crying now, pick myself up off the floor and try again.

Hi Phil,

We went for an 11 day cruise around the Hawaiian Islands in November. I was expecting to bring back some spectacular photographs, but we went to many craters and baron landscapes; we also arose at 2.30 to take a 2 hour trip to see the sun rise over the Haleakala crater. A fantastic experience but my photographs don't quite come off. They are fine for me and my husband, but a crater is a crater albeit still still a burning crater and my pics still seem a big bland and don't really have the AH! factor.