Scotland

[tsr]

I'm new to photography, have just bought a Sonly Alpha DSLR. What do you think of this shot? Suggestions.

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/DSC07395e.JPG

[RobertP]

Welcome to the forum!

The picture looks a little dark and would improve with some adjustments in a picture editor. Most software has an 'auto levels' function and whilst it does not always get it right it will look better afterwards and makes an easy starting point.

Main problem is that it looks out of focus. The reeds in the foreground nearest the camera look sharper than the rest of the picture so I'd guess the camera focussed on that.

Technical problems aside it is an interesting shot.... makes me wonder what they are looking for!

[oldgit]

:agree:

[tsr]

What about these other ones?
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/medium/DSC07361e2.JPG
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/DSC07470.JPG
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/medium/DSC07468e.JPG
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/medium/DSC07461e.JPG
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/medium/DSC07456.JPG

[tsr]

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/DSC07395e2.JPG
This is the adjustment after autolevels. Better? Can't do much about focus I suppose...

[RobertP]

There is a theme running through all those new shots - over exposed sky. Some areas in all the skies are burnt out to solid white. The focus is better though :)

You don't want to darken the whole scene, just the sky.
As a first step I'd suggest a polarising filter for the lens. Away from the middle of the day you can rotate the filter until the sky darkens a bit. It will also reduce water reflections. If you still find the sky burning out against dark land you may need to consider ND grad (neutral density gradient) filters which let you darken part of the scene whilst not darkening the rest.

Don't feel bad about these shots as extremes of light and dark are very difficult to get right even when you are more experienced.

[Cherishphotography]

Were any of these taken on the moray coast?