Opinions?

[Ron Kruger]

I'm experimenting with various settings and techniques on some shots I'm trying to perfect, and was hoping members would give me their opinions on which of these three different approaches they like best?

[blackcloudbrew]

I'm partial to the first shot because the hunter is nicely lighted. To me that balances the shot with the sun flares (although in each of these the sun flares are all a bit too intense for my taste). I think the third image is the weakest of the three and it also has - too me - a distracting set of branches in the lower left-hand corner. The second image is almost a religious feeling image. That may or may not have been an intentional look to it.

Anyway, from a compositional standpoint, it's #1 for me. I feel part of that view. The hunter's rifle is slung and he's viewing the scene. The other two have me wondering, shouldn't he be fishing?

Hope that helps.

Earl

[Ron Kruger]

That helps a great deal, Tim. Thank you.

[spyglass]

Morning T-man,

 I would pick photo #2 as the composition is direct and simple. The sunburst works well with the silhouette by keeping the viewing eye on the hunters outline. I love the intensity of the sunburst reflect in photo #1 but the hunters illumination is unlikely due to the position of the sun and reflection. It gives the shot a stage or created look (hot spot on wooden gun stock). In photo #3 there is too much detail to distract my eye and the sunburst does not seem like a key feature but more of a hindrance preventing me from seeing the detail in the scene.

Spyglass

[Pacerr]

Sorry, Ron, I can't say I like that combination of shadow and lighting. The composition ideas are good and deserve development but the sun highlights are blown out and the shadow details are blocking up what I want to see in that setting. The contrast's just too much for that misty morning time of day too, IMO. Neither fish nor fowl, so to speak.

The flash highlights on the rifle stock give away the fill light which doesn't really provide enough fill to overcome the contrast with the background -- and couldn't adequately fill in the background at that distance anyway.

I'm also guessin' you're solo and remote on this and can't actually see the scene with the person present to finesse the placement of light and reflections. Gotta get Jake to help out there.

H2

[Ron Kruger]

Thanks Spy. I'm finding it very interesting what a powerful flash does for filling sunburst shots. Both one and two were all manual with flash. Three was ambiant light, AV mode, and camera metering. I'll give all the particulars, if anyone is interested.

[Ron Kruger]

Thanks Hank. Yes, they were all done with 12 sec. delay, and I was the most handsome model available. Your points are well taken, and when I can control the composition better, I'm thinking at this point I will position the model/models in a way that blocks the intensity of the sunburst, at least the one off the water. My main goal is to capture the light streaming through the fog, and I'm finding that fill-flash is the best way to light up the fog. However, I may be able to park my truck with the headlights on at the top of the hill (it is a boat access) overlooking this scene.

[Pacerr]

. . . position the model/models  [...]  park my truck with the headlights on at the top of the hill (it is a boat access)

Well, steal a cup flag from a golf course an' use it to mark the model's position until you can afford a REAL model.

An' make sure you set the parking brake, too! Remember, my tow strap's only 16' long. 

H2

[Ron Kruger]

I have a real beauty for a model, but she wasn't available this morning, so I decided to do some tests on this very tricky scene and work out some kinks before actual "showtime."
That tow strap sure saved me on that Current River gravelbar. I'm heading back there Wednesday, if your interested. Oh, bring your tow strap.

[tcom]

I do like the composition and light conditions on the first shot, but somehow the reflection of the sunburst on the water attracts the eyes away from the hunter.

The second shot works much better and the hunter's silhouette really stands out of the photo.

[Ron Kruger]

Thanks Dominique. I believe if I just have the model block the sunburst off the water, such as I inadvertently did in the second shot, this shot will work. When the real shot comes along, I'll probably used the techniques on both 1 and 2. Shot 3 is actually a shot anyone can do with simple camera settings.
Getting it all together when the fog is thick and the light is right is the hardest part. I'll have more fall colors in the scene during the next couple of weeks, too.

[Marko]

#2 for me, maybe portrait orientation.

Marko

[Ron Kruger]

Thanks Marko.