More from Hardcastle Crags

Thought I posted this topic this afternoon, but the internet connection must have been interrupted, so here goes again. Can't remember how I introduced it except to say that it was inspired by Bill Ward, who I see has now posted another set on the same theme, so apologies if everyone has had enough after mine! I wouldn't pretend to compete with Bill's, but I would be grateful of any comments, as it's the first time I've made a serious attempt at this kind of photography. I think you'll find mine a lot less imaginative than Bill's, too! Anyway, here we go ...
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Very nice John... some lovely compositions here... particularly like number 2, which has lovely lines and a payoff with the leaves at the top of the frame... great use of a long (ish? can't quite tell which one) lens too...

Best

Number 6 for me.

Mike

Good to see inspiration being passed around the forum! 2, 3 and 8 for me stand out as perhaps representing the 'style' best. It's a good start. Perhaps they are a little over-exposed and a deeper toning would suit better ?

Thanks for the encouraging response! No. 9 looks best on my computer screen - the highlights from the sun finally coming out and shining through the trees stand out better than in the resized version, I think.

Bill, the one with the leaves was the Pentax 18-135mm, most of the others are with my old 55-300, which I dusted off after your first set. I used to use it a lot for local football matches and always found it sharp, if a bit slow and noisy to focus, but lately it's been in the cupboard.

Nigel, you should see how many were rejected precisely because they were massively over-exposed! That was the hardest part for me, trying to balance shutter speed and aperture, as I didn't want to use a high ISO. I take the point about tone - it would interesting to know if Bill's tonal depth is straight out of the camera or the result of pp.

I might take no 3 along to my U3A photography group this week and see what response it produces!

I don't wish to pick an individual favourite among these, I enjoy looking at them as a set as I think the series as a whole is beautiful and hangs well together,
David

Thank you, David!

Hi John

Re tonal depth, I tend to do 3 things: firstly for these kind of shots I tend to use a polariser, and (where it works) cut straight through to the (usually dark) riverbed beneath the surface, secondly I spot meter for the highlights in the water, and use that as my starting (mid) point for the exposure, thirdly I tend to push both the whites and the blacks in Lightroom to stretch the tones... obviously no right/wrong way with these kinds of things... just what I've been doing recently... no doubt I'll change my mind in a couple of months and try something else... hope that helps and best of luck with it...

Best

Thanks for taking the time to reply, Bill - that's a really useful insight into how your results are achieved. Apart from the effects of flowing water, I was also interested in trying to capture those highlights (eg in no. 9) where the sun through the trees created a lovely effect. It didn't last long enough to allow too many attempts though!

Thanks again.