River Hebden

[NorthStone]

Here's one I took of the River Hebden, Hardcastle Crags, West Yorkshire. Your thoughts are welcome.

[Marko]

Feels a hint too dark overall to my eye - but i dig the comp here.

[DanStar]

Beautiful image and location. Love what you have done with the water. A little added brightness or exposure would help. I also think there is too much mass on the left side of the image. I think I might have cropped with a little more on the right side to balance it out a bit. Nevertheless, a nicely done image.

[NorthStone]

Thanks for your comments. As always they're warmly received.

@ Marko - I'll try lightening it up. It really came about from playing around with layering. Two identical layers but the back one set on a high gaussian blur and the front one maintaining sharpening so combined giving a sharp and soft dreamy effect. It suits the subject here but the effect works less well in other conditions.

@ DanStar - Thanks for your points. Hardcastle Crags is amazing and I think went on the right day. The water's exactly how I wanted it. I think it was a 1/4 sec exposure. As I said to Marko, the point re: lighting is something I'll consider. I disagree with you on the mass, that's just my viewpoint, I like the oomph of it.

[Mad Aussie]

I agree the levels need a lift. My eye wants to see more sharpness in those autumn leaves and the moss on that rock too.

I'd have cloned out that bright patch to the left of the shot as well.

I do like the comp. Possibly, as Dan suggests, I would have set the left frame to where that bright patch is to exclude it and see a bit more river. I'm guessing you wanted that foreground rock for interest though.

[NorthStone]

Thanks for your critique M-A. Great suggestions. I see what you mean about the bright spot. That bit of background water is a bit of a distraction. I do like the rocks in the pic.

One thing I'm concerned about as I edit on various computers are the screen settings. Can you recommend an authorative source for ensure they're all synched up. The bar at the bottom is useful but maybe there's something else that would get it spot on.

Regards,
NorthStone

[Mad Aussie]

I think only a proper screen calibrator would be able to ensure all screens are showing the images the same/similar to your eye.