Coloured Sands

**AntZ** · 03-21-2009, 07:03 AM

This is an older shot, but I gave is a slightly different crop. I still struggled to with the foreground. I thought about cropping out the sand, but liked the bushes even less. Any thoughts?

I like the dramatic sky, but it there too much, such that the main cliff is too small in the pic?
The coloured sand cliffs are a tourist attraction the famous World Heritage Listed Fraser Island off the Queensland Coast. It is the largest sand Island in the world.

**casil403** · 03-21-2009, 08:34 AM

For me AntZ, I think there's a bit too much sky in this shot, but I love the sand cliffs and the colours.
I dunno if that is helpful or not, but I figured I'd share.

**Greg_Nuspel** · 03-21-2009, 10:18 AM

I agree with the too much sky, from the title I would say the sand is your focus but you have included 50% sky that doesn't convey the idea. The sand is wonderful and that is your subject so show it off and clear out the noise.

**Gem** · 03-21-2009, 12:41 PM

Yup, I'd say to cut down on the sky. Although, it really does add a touch of the dramatic.

**JAS_Photo** · 03-21-2009, 12:52 PM

Yes, if you cut the sky quite a bit, it completey changes the focus of the picture and your emphasis becomes more on the cliffs instead of your eyes roaming up and down.

**tirediron** · 03-21-2009, 01:29 PM

+1 with the above!

**Mad Aussie** · 03-21-2009, 02:58 PM

For me I think I'd crop it more landscape. Leave the sand in for sure. I know you'll lose some of that heavy, dramatic sky but you can get that back with some creative burning.

I'd look closely at the tone/curves as well. That might help lift those dead looking greens a little. This was a good candidate for an HDR or similar trreatment.

As a rule I usually shoot landscape shots as landscape instead of portrait for a few reasons. One is most of the photos are displayed on a monitor which is ... landscape. That makes the photo more impacting right away I think.
The other reason is there is usually more to see around the scene rather than top and bottom (always exceptions to the rule though of course) and lastly, if I take it landscape then I can usually crop it portrait later if I want but it's more difficult the other way due to not catching as much scene laterally with portrait.

**AntZ** · 03-21-2009, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by Mad Aussie

For me I think I'd crop it more landscape. Leave the sand in for sure.

I'd look closely at the tone/curves as well. That might help lift those dead looking greens a little. This was a good candidate for an HDR or similar trreatment.

As a rule I usually shoot landscape shots as landscape instead of portrait for a few reasons. One is most of the photos are displayed on a monitor which is ... landscape.

Thanks MA and others.
How is this?

I decided to crop out the foreground sand all together. I also lifted the greens in the bushes and they become more of a feature and less of a "dead" distraction. I think this is much better. Very happy that your feedback has resulted in a better photo for me.

The reason it was shot portrait to begin with was to capture a sign in the near forground for documentry purposes. I should also have shot the landscape too. Something to remember!