Susan Ribeiro
October 2026 - It's The Journey
Original
About the Image(s)
This image was captured on a recent drive as we traveled north through New York - "upstate", as we say, coming from Long Island.
As we journeyed closer to our destination, the roads began to wind, the sun began to set, and on occasion the clouds kissed the mountain tops as we drove through the countryside. My husband was driving so I took out my camera and started to snap away. I was pleasantly surprised to see this image,
as I was pleased with the composition. Using Lightroom, I added a bit of contrast (+42) to the overall scene. I took down the highlight (-55), to add more detail to the sky, and I used masking to tone down the telephone pole and wires in the foreground. Oh, I also used "Super Resolution" (and honestly, I don't remember why, but I guess I must have thought it needed it. Still figuring this post-processing stuff out).
I do have a question for those who enter competitions (because I would like to start entering), if I use "Super Resolution", am I disqualifying myself because of AI? Or from the masking? As a newbie, I need help clarifying the rules (even though I read them, lol).
So, all comments about the photo and/or use of AI in competitions are greatly appreciated!
Also, any tips for a newbie starting to enter competitions would be appreciated. Where do I start? Thanks!
Canon R5, Canon RF24-105mm F4 L IS USM 77mm ISO 1250. F8. 1/400s
10 comments posted
Susan, I love the composition of this photo, the winding road and the single red car coming toward you with the lights on. Ten out of ten for composition.
Two improve the photo I would remove the dead branches on the right as they not adding to your photo. I would also dodge and burn the trees on both sides leading into the car and road to bring out more detail. Well done!
On Super Resolution I had to go read up as I have not used it before. I have been told I am not allowed to use it as it create pixels that are not yours and not in your photo. Very interested to hear what every one else has to say!
Posted: 10/05/2026 12:43:02
Two improve the photo I would remove the dead branches on the right as they not adding to your photo. I would also dodge and burn the trees on both sides leading into the car and road to bring out more detail. Well done!
On Super Resolution I had to go read up as I have not used it before. I have been told I am not allowed to use it as it create pixels that are not yours and not in your photo. Very interested to hear what every one else has to say!
Posted: 10/05/2026 12:43:02
Thank you for your thoughts and comments, Mariana. I appreciate them.
Hmm, dodging and burning.... in dark room days with film and paper, I get it, I can do it. Digitally, I have yet to attempt.
lol, I had to find the dead branches you were referring to. So interesting to "see" what other people see. Thanks for your suggestion. :) Posted: 10/05/2026 14:20:08
Hmm, dodging and burning.... in dark room days with film and paper, I get it, I can do it. Digitally, I have yet to attempt.
lol, I had to find the dead branches you were referring to. So interesting to "see" what other people see. Thanks for your suggestion. :) Posted: 10/05/2026 14:20:08
Hi Susan, when I look at this image, I'm asking: What should I be looking at? The oncoming headlights? The Woods/trees? The winding road? The little street sign that says there's a curve ahead? The telephone poles?
So my suggestion would be to remove a lot of stuff from this picture, which YES you are allowed to do in this kind of image -- a digital image that could go into Pictorial, Travel, Open, all sorts of places.
So here goes: I changed the sky. I darkend the light part of the forest which drew my eyes away from the curving road. I removed the telephone poles, lines, sign on the side of the road, branches on the left, and even the white line on the side (right) and just did a lot of clean-up. Then I re-cropped to get the idea of the curving road and car, which I think is what you would want the viewer to see.
I hope this isn't too much. I just loved playing with it. I still think it needs more clarity but I did this fast. And yes you can remove stuff. LOL Posted: 10/06/2026 01:26:23
So my suggestion would be to remove a lot of stuff from this picture, which YES you are allowed to do in this kind of image -- a digital image that could go into Pictorial, Travel, Open, all sorts of places.
So here goes: I changed the sky. I darkend the light part of the forest which drew my eyes away from the curving road. I removed the telephone poles, lines, sign on the side of the road, branches on the left, and even the white line on the side (right) and just did a lot of clean-up. Then I re-cropped to get the idea of the curving road and car, which I think is what you would want the viewer to see.
I hope this isn't too much. I just loved playing with it. I still think it needs more clarity but I did this fast. And yes you can remove stuff. LOL Posted: 10/06/2026 01:26:23
Wow, Donna! I appreciate your efforts and comments. Hmm, all your questions are good for me to think about. I guess, on a very elementary level, I subconsciously think about composition, first and foremost. When I examined the photo, after the composition, I felt like the sky was flat. I don't know how to change skies (yet). So, I did what I knew which was to try to pull some detail out of it. I like that change you made. The telephone wires I thought were a distraction as well, so I tried to tone those down.
I think, for me, I am still adjusting to the idea of changing the "reality" of what was captured in the image. To me, if your eye is wandering around the image, it is doing what it is supposed to do. I think the curve sign adds to the story. I titled the image, "It's the Journey". There are curves on the road of life. I don't want to remove the curve sign. I can understand maybe toning down the telephone poles and wires more, but I struggle with the idea of removing them all together. They were there. I don't want to lose the sunlight on the trees either. The sun was setting. Ultimately, the image is just a point of view of traveling down the road, and the image was captured at the "perfect" moment, and the car being red was a bonus. One might call it luck, but it was a photoshoot driving on a road, trying to capture a well-balanced composition. The sign indicates "watch out, curves ahead!" What do I want the viewer to see? I guess I want them to travel down that road and around the curve into the unknown. Posted: 10/06/2026 03:26:12
I think, for me, I am still adjusting to the idea of changing the "reality" of what was captured in the image. To me, if your eye is wandering around the image, it is doing what it is supposed to do. I think the curve sign adds to the story. I titled the image, "It's the Journey". There are curves on the road of life. I don't want to remove the curve sign. I can understand maybe toning down the telephone poles and wires more, but I struggle with the idea of removing them all together. They were there. I don't want to lose the sunlight on the trees either. The sun was setting. Ultimately, the image is just a point of view of traveling down the road, and the image was captured at the "perfect" moment, and the car being red was a bonus. One might call it luck, but it was a photoshoot driving on a road, trying to capture a well-balanced composition. The sign indicates "watch out, curves ahead!" What do I want the viewer to see? I guess I want them to travel down that road and around the curve into the unknown. Posted: 10/06/2026 03:26:12
Hi susan, I appreciate your point of view. I've been in many competitions in my camera club for probably 25 years and I can hear the judges' voices and what they might say to an image such as the one you presented. I presented similar images and they said well there's telephone lines in the sky and there's this and there's that and there's that and those are all distracting. So that's what I was aiming at when I gave you my ideas. If you want to take pictures that you're not going to edit, yes composition of course is crucial but you also have to look for things that might be distracting and take away from the beauty that you want people to see. It's only a suggestion. It's your picture and you get to do whatever you want with it , that's the creative spirit that we all need to have! LOL. Posted: 10/08/2026 22:46:35
I appreciate you, Donna! lol. I appreciate the perspective that you have, as we are all at a different point of the journey. I really have no idea what to expect! (and I am not used to editing my images and I am still learning how to do things.)
So, all, please do still tell me what you would do and offer your suggestions!
Not that I will necessarily make the changes, but I find all the comments to be valid points because it is your perspective as the viewer, and I am learning how to respond :)
I appreciate each one of you, and your comments! Posted: 10/09/2026 00:15:52
So, all, please do still tell me what you would do and offer your suggestions!
Not that I will necessarily make the changes, but I find all the comments to be valid points because it is your perspective as the viewer, and I am learning how to respond :)
I appreciate each one of you, and your comments! Posted: 10/09/2026 00:15:52
Sounds like you learned a lot Susan. At this point in everybody's digital like, the rules change from competition to competition. Some are good with doing anything and some can't change anything.Your subject was the curvy road and approaching curve. PSA competitions are among the most strict and Photo Journalism or Photo travel they don't want you to change anything. As you become more experienced, you'll form an opinion of "Who Are You shooting For?". You can vary the answer but you could be a generalist and shoot everything with the knowledge of which goes where, ie: Hobby, $$$$ extra income, camera club or unknown future use. Posted: 10/07/2026 02:00:45
Hey Bob- Thank you for your response. There is a lot to learn. Would you mind elaborating on your last sentence, please? Posted: 10/07/2026 03:57:22
Set a goal or goals as to what you would like to achieve with your photography and shoot those types of images. While having a full time job in sales, I wanted to earn money to buy better equipment, so I shot weddings for 10 years and learned that required many weekends to work.And customers during COVID's and everyone having a camera in their pocket. If you already have a job then work photography part-time where you have expertise with subjects that others don't, or put all your efforts into the full-time job and shoot photos strictly for your own enjoyment and find a way to sell them. Virtually has a photo centric idea on what they would like to see. Hope that helps a little Posted: 10/08/2026 20:29:36
Thanks, Bob! I appreciate your comments! Right now, I think I am doing it for my own enjoyment. Well, I always have, but it seems like I was doing it as documenting - raising kids, vacations, flowers in the garden, family events. But with technology always changing, I'm learning new things. I joined clubs which I have never done. I'm sharing photos which I've only done on FB with friends. So, this is all new to me. It's fun and exciting. I figure if I have fun with it, anything else that comes of it, is bonus. Like meeting new people, entering competitions, just having fun. I very much want to improve my photography and learn more of the post-processing, so I do very much appreciate the comments others give on my photos. It makes me see others perspectives. Think about a new way of doing something, or just learning how to do something new. I appreciate the conversation! (and in truth, it would be nice to sell a photo!)
So, I guess it opens the conversation, who do you all create for? Ultimately, for yourself, but do you create for a specific group? Posted: 10/08/2026 22:54:24
So, I guess it opens the conversation, who do you all create for? Ultimately, for yourself, but do you create for a specific group? Posted: 10/08/2026 22:54:24