Flat result (1 images)

Took a few snaps yesterday with my new Compact and the results seem a bit flat - think this is a photographer problem and would like help to understand why. The shot is at about 20mm at 4.5 - I know it would be better if I had bent the knees but it is the flatness not the composition that is worrying me. If you can help many thanks,

Original
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Thordell/Wildlife/Duck-1.jpg[/IMG]

Jackie,

That looks to be most likely a timing issue - it's the light. By the looks of the shadow (what there is of it) under the closer duck, it was overcast and drab, somewhat grey? That's what you're seeing in the pic. One of the main ingredients for good quality pics is good quality light.

The levels are very good on the image - fairly much fills [0-255] with a slight peak at 255 due to the white border. So pulling in levels would lose info.
I tried giving it a bit more punch 2 ways. LCE and applying an 'S' curve in curves. The curves one seemed to work best. LCE was a bit more subtle. Curves was more dramatic.

What tool are you using (GIMP/PSE/Paint.net/CS{3-5})? Then I/we/someone can tell you how to repeat the action.

C

Flat, two dimensional image? One word :


Backlight


(ok that's the short version).

Long version - its not your fault, just not a good time to take a picture : overcast day, no shadows, no source to the light at all, no seperation of the subject from the background. Result, flat image. You'll get the same effect if you swamp a subject with Soft Light - its fashionable, particularly in Film and for Fashion, but dreadful.

Thank your it is good to get at response, I use CS3 - did try about 30% soft light that improved the 'feel' of the image but changed the colour tones.

It is not that I wish to save this image but I would like to learn how to overcome the problem. As suggested it was overcast and although bright the overall light was grey.

I wouldn't say there was anything wrong with that?
Two ducks with flat lighting, probably better than
contrasty side lighting. At least the Daylight looks
to be of a good colour temperature.

There is nothing wrong with it if you like pictures that look flat.

G

thats helpfull.
Jackie i think if you would of got down lower it would have more impact.

Agree pentaxanne, the composition is pants was just clicking around with a new compact camera (X90) and although I am pleased with the results in general I wondered if there was something I could have done to improve the rather flat result.

If you thought my comment wasn't helpful, allow me to be of service to you.

The word "helpful" has one L before the P, and one L at the end.

And it's "would have", not "would of".

Hope you found that helpful.

G

Oh sticks and stones george,
im sorry my keyboard is knackerd,(but what ever pleases the blinkered)what if i had Dyslexia, shame on you,
Its people like you that ruin sites like this.
bbfg.

hi jackie, what about cloning the top duck out and colour popping the other duck, (something way out there)..

Sorry Pentaxanne, think I have misled you (hope that is the correct number of S's)

I am not worried about rescuing the shot I am happy to bin it but I wondered how I could avoid taking flat shots in the future. Wondered if it was because I used the lens at the wide end or if I should have used a higher f number.

Realise that better light would have solved the problem but you can't always choose the time you take a shot and it would be nice to have a idea as to how I could improve the shot in such conditions.

Pentaxanne - meet George.

A little recalcitrant at times, but very helpful when he puts his mind to it.

My guess is that his gout is playing up at the moment. I'm sure normal service will be resumed soon.

open in photoshop.. click layer-duplicate layer.
set blend mode of top layer to multiply.
adjust opacity of top layer.
that will punch it up a notch.