Few pics from Gulf Station (old historic farm)

[mudder]

G'day all,
Just uploaded a few pics from my play at Gulf Station earlier today... Went at the wrong time for good light but couldn't be choosy today due to the iffy weather, just after noon (I think)...

If you're like me and have a fetish(?) for old historic farms etc, get out there and have a sticky... Very friendly caretakers I chatted with for a while, and they seem really photographer friendly... They occasionally get groups (gaggles?) of 'em and were interested in a group booking etc... Had to brag about the D70 forum of course! All within a short drive to the wineries too

Anyway, have a sticky if you're into that sort of thing, blown highlights and all... Oh, also took a couple of shots of hay bales in an adjoining farm, was fun... Damn those electric fences have a kick tho...

Any advice (good or bad, no need to be gentle, skin's thickened up now) re: composition would be very much appreciated as I think that's where I struggle...

http://www.pixspot.com/thumbnails.php?album=41

Cheers,
Mudder

[Onyx]

 LOL @ electric fence comment.

'Looking past the shed to the old farm house' image - if you shot raw, use a lower contrast tone curve and see if the shady bit in the shed is more visible. Run a contrast mask on it too. Since it takes up nearly a third of the frame, it should be important enough to highlight its details and not remain in the dark.

'From a time long ago' interesting use of foreground object to lead the eyes into the image. And everything is spectacularly sharp. The 'Hay buddy' one too. I like!!

[mudder]

'Looking past the shed to the old farm house' image - if you shot raw, use a lower contrast tone curve and see if the shady bit in the shed is more visible. Run a contrast mask on it too. Since it takes up nearly a third of the frame, it should be important enough to highlight its details and not remain in the dark.

G'day,
Thanks for the tips, that was my first go at using a loaded curve (Digital_AGFA_Optima, the way the D70 can have prefixed comments is very handy!)... Did shoot raw, but shoulda thought of using a lower contrast setting as the sun was very strong just then. Rats, I usually forget something...

Thanks for the advice,
Cheers,
Mudder

[Killakoala]

Good to see your composition has most definately improved since you started posting on the forum, although you did have the skill even then.

I am not too keen on the windmill and tank one though, it seems like there's a bit missing at the bottom. My mind thinks, 'I wonder what's missing'.

The others are excellent and are certainly well done.

Congrats. Keep it up....
Steve

[Matt. K]

Just had a look at your pics and gotta say you have a strong sense of composition. Maybe it comes natural to you but it is a valuable skill and indicates that you will become a skilled photographer. The colours of your images are way over-saturated and it will take you awhile to become sensitive to colours and maybe gain some high level computer processing skills with your imagery. That's a simple, but neccessary learning curve. It might simply mean that your computer monitor is showing flat colours and you are over compensating in your post processing. It may be a good idea if you photograph something of a known colour...like a Coca Cola can and then process it and post it on this site so that we can get some idea if you are seeing what we are seeing?

The art of fine tuning digital imagery is a very new one and we all are on a massive learning curve...so in that respect, welcome to the forum of learners.

[gstark]

I agree with Matt regarding the apparent over-saturation of the colours. Have you had a chance to calibrate your monitor?

Have a look too at the exposure on the windmill shot. What's happenning here is that the camera's seeing this vast expanse of sky, and is metering based upon that. In fact, you're trying to shoot (I believe) the windmill, and the metering system basically doesn't even see it. +1-2 stops exposure compensation is needed for such a strongly backlit situation.

[mudder]

G'day,
Thanks for the tips guys... I'll have to try calibrating my monitor... The idea about the coke can is a bewdy, ta...

Cheers,
Mudder