Hey there!
Thanks for submitting your image.
Here is the EXIF data for the image: Tree Meadow
Contrast: Normal
Custom Rendered: Normal process
Date Time Digitized: 2012-08-06 1:34:50 AM
Date Time Original: 2012-08-06 1:34:50 AM
Digital Zoom Ratio: 1
Exposure Bias Value: -0.333
Exposure Mode: Manual exposure
Exposure Program: Manual
Exposure Time: 1/160
Flash: Flash did not fire
FNumber: 5.6
Focal Length: 190
Focal Length In 35mm Film: 285
Gain Control: High gain up
ISO Speed Ratings: 1100
Light Source: Fine weather
Max Aperture Value: 5
Metering Mode: Spot
Pixel X Dimension: 3,872
Pixel Y Dimension: 2,592
Saturation: Normal
Scene Capture Type: Portrait
Sensing Method: One-chip color area sensor
Sharpness: Normal
Subject Distance Range: unknown
Sub-second Time: 50
Sub-second Time Digitized: 50
Sub-second Time Original: 50
User Comment:
White Balance: Manual white balance
Flash Compensation: -0.333
Image Number: 3,080
Lens ID: 809,275,918
Lens Model: AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED
Serial Number: 3674227
There are a few things worth noting about this image. First there is a great deal to like about the image. It’s quite lovely. Here is what really works in this image: It has great colour. The overall greenish look of the image is quite please and that’s great. The image also has a nice soft light feeling to it. This is also excellent. What’s more the image is well composed and nicely balanced. Including water in a landscape photography is great as well. So you’ve done very well here! Nice!
Here are a few things that you could do to improve the image.
First you could have eliminated the foreground clutter of sticks as they add nothing to the image and are a bit distracting. Next you could have planted your camera on a tripod, shot a longer exposure with a slower shutter speed and higher f-stop like f-22. In other words, maximize your depth of field to ensure the image is sharp throughout.
Of course to do this you’d want to be at the lowest ISO you can like 100 and you may need a neutral density filter to get away with longer exposures.
Take special note here of the grain/noise that is added given that you shot this at what looks like ISO 1100. This is only relevant if the image is going to be displayed in a larger format or if prints are to be made.
Also one more thing here would be to play with the reflections. Whenever you can take special note of the interplay of light, your subject matter, and reflections. It never hurts to play around a little and see what you get.
I’m not sure if I have bugged you about this yet but I’m really against watermarking images. Just leave your contact info in the ITPC metadata of the image. You can do this using adobe lightroom.
Overall you’ve done a nice job here. With landscapes it takes patience, the right light, and the right technique to create something worthwhile. You’ve done well here but to take it to the next level you need to keep practicing!
See you on the next assignment. 🙂