Kathrin: What a nice find and the curved edge of the ice is so much more interesting than if it was a straight line. I also like where you placed the edge in the frame and the transition from warm to cool. Nicely seen and superbly captured. >=))>
Hi Kathrin,
I really like this. Bill hit on the compositional elements that make it so nice. The colors feel very natural and the processing is perfect.
Regarding your question, I think a fast shutter speed worked here. A longer exposure might have revealed movement in the water? To me, slow shutter is good when you want to show movement, but here, stillness is the key.
Does it show noise when pixel peeping? If not, then I think you chose wisely.
Very lovely!! The curved line is a great feature dividing the two “subjects”. I think it would be interesting to focus stack – one on the trees and one on the ice – and then bring out a little more detail in the ice.
How is noise removal in Darktable? That I’ve read about it sounds very interesting.
Dear Kathrin, thanks for sharing this image, which I like. I think the exposure time works well, because it allows you to retain a detailed and sharp texture in the canopies and clouds reflected in the water, which, in turn, contrasts with the texture of the ice in the top of the image. To my eyes, the curves and the contrast of textures work very well together.
I like the curved dividing line very well and the reflections in the water contrast beautifully with the rough texture of the ice. The only thing I’d probably change (and it’s probably just the engineer in me) is to crop from the bottom to make the two halves symmetrical and create a kind of rectangular yin-yang.
Kathrin, this is a very attractive image you’ve captured and well seen. I love water reflections anywhere I find them. I think you chose a good composition with the flowing line of ice framing the landscape and sky. The treeline almost mimics the curve of the ice, with the blue sky and colorful clouds providing a nice balance, A slower shutter speed may have shown movement in the clouds if you wanted it. Nice work!
Hi Kathrin,
I am a little late to the discussion, but I have to say that this is a wonderful wintertime scene. I love the combination of warm and cool tones here as well as the diagonal placement of the edge of the ice as it seperates the two halves rather nicely. My only suggestion would be to do a focus stack; if the opportunity presents itself again; to get the ice sharp as well as the reflection. Something I try to remember; but don’t always; is to shoot varying SS of a scene and see which I like best when I get home. Very nicely done.
Hi Marylynne,
I definitely find it appealing to capture movement with longer exposure times. I also took another look at the details in this image. It probably wouldn’t be suitable for the treetops if they were too blurry. That means shorter exposure times are probably better for this picture.
Darktable can sometimes do a good job of denoising. It always depends. I usually use Topaz, though. I haven’t denoised this particular image yet. I’ll upload a denoised image so you can see the difference.
I’m late here, but am really enjoying this Kathrin. The wedge formed by the blue sky and ice sets off the rest of the reflection nicely.
Interesting that the second two versions changed in their color levels from the original. I wonder if that was something in the noise reduction? Saving as png instead of jpg?
In this case, it’s hard to say for sure. I always run Topaz Denoise first, then Darktable. So I started from scratch and probably adjusted the settings slightly differently.
