Dream Lake Sunrise

[Phil Ginn]

http://www.ourphotographicjourneys.com/Forums/_MG_9466.jpg

I know this is a very common shot that many people have taken but Jo and I were eager to enjoy and photograph Dream Lake ourselves during our fall trip to Colorado. The experience was certainly worth all the work to reach the lake.

We did use a polarizer for the shot and tried hard to adjust it so we could see the objects below the surface of the water. It worked fairly well but not as well as I have seen in other’s images. Does anyone have any suggestions on using this technique or is the amount of clarity just dependent on the specific location?

The image is a combined bracketed shot that was taken at 15mm, 1 and 4 seconds, f18, ISO400. We would appreciate your thoughts on improvements. Thanks Jo and Phil

[Robert Amoruso]

Phil,

I think you did a good job framing the FG and where you chose to cut/not cut grass, rocks and branches. I like the diagonal branch. If the tree on the left top was not too tall, I would not have cut the top there. I like the you cut the left side of the frame at the truck of the pine tree. Right side crop just right with the LR rock cut as you did.

Exposure looks good and I like how the golden reflection is broken up by the rocks. Also the diagonal logs on the center rocks are good leading line and strong compositionally.

[Jared Lloyd]

Personally, I think you did a fantastic job at Dream Lake. You are right to note that so many photographers have come before you here, however I believe that this representation of the lake is one of the best I have seen. Beautiful light and I love the grass in the foreground.
Jared
www.JaredLloydphoto.com (http://www.JaredLloydphoto.com)
www.JaredLloydphoto.wordpress.com (http://www.JaredLloydphoto.wordpress.com)

[Roman Kurywczak]

Hey Phil and Jo,
I may have wanted a bit more of the top of the tree.....but at 15mm already.....pointing up a bit was an option.....but may have cut too much off the bottom FG and cropping off the left......would then clip the rock....which I like the seperation on.....so for me......this works all around and the blend of 2 exposures is very nicely done. Not sure you could have brought out more detail in the water as it looks pretty dark already and you have quite a bit of detail in there already. Maybe a 3rd exposure???? but not sure it would add that much more to this lovely image and may start competing with the reflection.

[Robert Amoruso]

Good point Roman on the 15mm lens used. I did not even think to look at the focal length when I mentioned the tree top being cut. :)