Welcome to a new episode of Your Picture in Focus ! Today we're looking at five great photos that you submitted. Before we start discussing the photos, I'd like to address a few points that have come up in recent episodes. Some of you have complained that your photos haven't been shown yet, and I understand this frustration. There are a large number of submissions, which means not every photo will make it into the videos right away. However, I will do my best to feature every photo in an upcoming episode. Thank you for your understanding and patience!
Now, let's get to the photos we'll be discussing today. There are some interesting techniques, compositions, and editing styles that we'll explore together.
1. Silvio's photo from the west beach
Silvio took this photo on the west beach of Fischland Island with a Canon 80D and a Sigma 10-20mm lens. He shot at an aperture of 16, an exposure time of 30 seconds, and an ISO of 100. The image was captured with an ND and a GND filter, which helps smooth the movement in the water with the long exposure time.
The color scheme and composition are particularly noteworthy. Silvio has used a classic composition here, which appears very balanced: Two-thirds of the image is filled with sand and water, while the last third shows the sky illuminated by the sunset. However, the image could be further improved by removing the watermark at the bottom, as it distracts the viewer's eye from the actual scene.
Suggestion for improvement:
I brightened the image a bit and removed the watermark. Additionally, the image could appear even more vibrant and contrasty with a CPL filter and additional foreground composition.
2. Martin's photo from Switzerland
Martin's photo, taken with a Sony A71 and a Tamron 17-28mm lens, shows a beautiful landscape in Switzerland. Although no EXIF data is available, we can assume the image was shot with a CPL filter, as the reflections in the water are significantly reduced. I particularly like the aperture ring, which is clean and clear. The composition is also well-executed, with the platform in the foreground adding structure to the image.
Suggestion for improvement:
The contrast and colors in the image could be further intensified through further processing in Lightroom or Photoshop to make the image appear more vibrant.
3. Karl's photo from Aburg
Karl's photo was taken with a Sony A92 and a 24-70mm lens. He shot at an aperture of 13 and an exposure time of 1/125 of a second. The image is unedited, and Karl wanted to know how to enhance its color. A CPL filter would have helped in this case, intensifying the colors in the sky and minimizing the reflections in the water.
Suggestion for improvement:
I edited the image in Lightroom to enhance the sky and contrast. A RAW file could also help further optimize the editing.
4. Ralf's photo of the monkey
Ralf's photo was taken with a Sony A74 and a 70-300mm lens. The background of the image is somewhat busy, which distracts the eye from the main subject. Nevertheless, the monkey's expression is captured excellently, and the animal's gaze, which isn't directly into the camera, is particularly captivating.
Suggestion for improvement:
A portrait format could help to push the background more into the background and put the monkey more in focus.
5. Mike's photo on the banks of the Elbe
Mike shot this photo with a Canon 6D Mark II and a 24-105mm lens. Using an aperture of 16 and a 30-second exposure time, he attempted to capture the lights of the bridge and the reflection in the water. However, the long exposure time resulted in image noise, which is not uncommon at an ISO of 800.
Suggestion for improvement:
I denoised the image and adjusted the exposure slightly to brighten the dark areas and make the image more vibrant overall. A deeper perspective would also have helped bring out the foreground better.
Conclusion
As you can see, photography isn't just about equipment, but also about technical understanding and a creative eye. Often, it's small adjustments in image editing or composition that turn a good photo into a great one. I hope this analysis has been helpful, and I look forward to seeing more of your great images in the next episodes.
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