What changed: I reduced the bright highlights a bit, did a tiny bit of color grading, and reduced the contrast a little with dehaze and moving the whites and blacks just slightly. I like this slightly softer version.
Added after receiving feedback from the community.
The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below.
Feedback Focus: Artistic / Expressive
About This Image
This was my first trip to Caddo Lake, Texas, and was a bucket list destination for me. We were very lucky to get to see the mist on the first morning of the workshop as it was bright and clear the other days. This was taken in a smaller reach of the lake within the state park.
Feedback Requested
I wanted this to feel calm, quiet and somewhat mysterious. Does it work with this photo or how could I improve?
Technical Details
Camera: OM-1MarkII
Lens: OM 40-150mm F4.0-5.6 R
Focal length: 140mm
Shutter speed: 1/200s
Aperture: f/8
ISO: 1250
Tripod/handheld: Tripod
Focus method: Auto
Filters: None
Conditions: Foggy mist
Hi Debbie, I understand this place was in your bucket list. Those trees are incredible and the place must be fantastic.
I love your image, and all the detail you captured in the tree’s trunk and moss. The still water brings the quietness and calm you are looking for.
No doubt, quiet and calm is coming out of the image. I’m not sure about the mysterious or I don’t feel it. Your image is plenty of detail and texture, this is probably why I don’t feel it.
Maybe less clarity and negative dehaze could bring this into your image.
Debbie, this shows off both the mist and the Cypress very well. I also like that you’ve focused on the trees on the left, letting the distant trees fade into the mist. As a theme specific comment (and food for thought), I think that reducing the contrast would better fit this week’s theme.
An outstanding photograph. Beautiful composition and a great use of the mist to create depth and a sense of mystery. That early morning light falling on the cypress trees is so delicious, that you not only can hear the silence but you can taste it too.
The mist and light is gorgeous and you have a lovely composition. You have chosen to bring out the detail with your processing, but can I , like others , suggest a less contrast, neg dehaze, and burning a few areas.
The focus becomes less crisp , but playing with the slides -10 or -15 for dehire and contrast produces a different interpretation for your wonderful capture.
Feels free to completely ignore my direction and suggestions - but I’ve gone for more mysterious..
Reminiscent of the Yes and Uriah Heep album covers of the late Seventies. (ancient history lesson over)
Caddo Lake is an awesome place, and the mist creates an extraordinary ambience. Good for you for finding it at least one day.
This is a terrific composition: layers, lines that draw the viewer in, and the colors of the leaves is excellent. I especially enjoy just the bit of reflection showing at the bottom, which gives the eye something to find down there.
I find the highlights a bit much, and would like to see them subdued a teeny bit. I think there some edge artifacts that could go away, as well as a few leaves on the water that capture too much attention. I pulled this into LR, did a bit of dodging and detail enhancement (using the Rethink toolkit), and removed a few things. Added some color grading that I think makes sense (could be out of bounds here). I feel like making the overall tone more golden, while pushing the midtone blues, is a positive change.
Teeny nits; please disregard, as it’s a matter of taste and preference. Your image is beautiful!
Oh this looks familiar. I loved my time in Caddo and you’ve shown why very nicely. The fog is to die for and we got it a lot, so it was magical. The rework looks more true to life given the conditions. I like the progressing arrangement of the trees, too. The barely-there reflection works well, too. Did you kayak or go by motor boat?
Wonderful image. For me the highlight are the dark tree trunks entering the blue water. I would crop off the sunny branches at the very top for that reason. I don’t know if this is the best crop but that’s the idea.
Holy cow, Debbie! This is wonderful. Your rework has worked a treat.
Beautiful colours and the softness of mist make the image hauntingly beautiful. I do like @Gary_Hook taming of those lighter edges between the trees on the right hand side.
Wonderful image Debbie, and a fun one in that (as evidenced by the suggestions so far) can be taken many different directions. My overall take is that I love the catch-lights in the trees, but their impact is dulled a bit by the brightness in other areas. Here’s yet another version, this one trying to keep those tree highlights but reducing some of the brightness overall. (I also rotated it slightly clockwise.)
