Witta Priester  


Fish Hatchery Walk by Witta Priester

November 2021 - Fish Hatchery Walk

November 2021 - Witta Priester

Original

About the Image(s)

There’s a DNR fish hatchery about a mile from our house and we walk around there quite often. The two half-mile trails have ever-changing woods- and river-views, as well as salmon to watch in the spawning season. This month, the leaves of the big-leaf maples turned yellow and carpeted some of the paths.

This photo was taken with a Lumix FZ1000ii, (25-400 mm) camera -- my “walk-about" camera.

I loved the way the dappled sunlight lit up the scene. I flipped the original photo horizontally (not shown) and did some processing in both LR and photoshop. My objective was to emphasize the path — selectively darkening and lightening, sharpening and reducing clarity, in various areas. Also a vignette was added. In addition, I tried to add a little color contrast between the warms and the cools.

Now I'm wondering whether the final photo looks over-processed?
Also, would a warmer tonal range be a plus or a minus?


This round’s discussion is now closed!
7 comments posted




Linda M Medine   Linda M Medine
Witta, This is a beautiful image. I love the colors. I get a very peaceful and good feeling viewing this image. I wish I would be there now walking this trail with my camera. I have a small suggestion. I would flip the image to have the trail open on the left and I would lighten the dark green limbs to not block me for going into the image.   Posted: 11/07/2021 15:49:44
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Thanks Linda. Flipping an image ought to be part of my routine "development" process. I definitely like what you've suggested.   Posted: 11/14/2021 16:50:52



Denise McKay   Denise McKay
What a beautiful, peaceful place this appears to be. I love how you captured the light coming through the trees and falling on the trail. One can imagine walking out of a shaded woodland into that wonderful light.

I have made a slight edit as a suggestion, to really emphasize the light. I took the image into Lightroom and used a radial mask to decrease the exposure around the outer parts of the image, leaving the path where the light is falling unedited. I think that helps to emphasize walking out of the shade and into the light. Just my take, but I think you've got a wonderful composition.   Posted: 11/08/2021 07:07:35
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I like that thought a lot. Thanks Denise!   Posted: 11/14/2021 16:48:49



Connie Reinhart   Connie Reinhart
Foredt paths always look peacful and inviting. But getting a good image of one is sometimes difficult. Yes, your final image looks a little over-processed to my eye. It looks as if the path were almost buried in leaves. It's interesting that Linda lightened the edges to emphasize the path, and Denise darkened the edges to do the same thing. And they both look good.   Posted: 11/15/2021 14:34:34



Michael Moore   Michael Moore
You have really captured the fall mood in this image and I certainly don't think it looks over processed. In addition to the good suggestions you have already received I wonder if it might not simplify the scene to crop in tighter on the right hand side to remove the large tree.   Posted: 11/17/2021 12:19:28



Mary Hinsen   Mary Hinsen
Hi Witta, your image is peaceful and invites me along the trail. I love the way the light emphasises the path, and it is interesting how suggestions of lightening and darkening can have the same effect - but with subtle changes in mood.
It reminds me that there is never one set way to achieve an end-point, and it is so important to take the time to experiment.   Posted: 11/23/2021 16:42:51