Emerald Lake

[Rachel Hollander]

This aptly named lake is located in Yoho National Park, British Columbia, Canada. A short drive from the Lake Louise and Banff areas.

Canon 7D
16-35 @ 17mm
1/50
f9.0
ISO 100
HH, CP and 2 stop GND, slight crop from lhs, s/h, levels and sharpened in CS5.

C&C welcome and appreciated. Thanks,

Rachel

[Roger Clark]

Hi Rachel,

Beautiful scene, nicely composed, sharp, nice clouds and great light. But to me it looks over processed. I see a halo above the trees to the distant mountain. The mountain seems to lack contrast in the shadows. I suggest going back before the shadow/highlight step and deleting that step. Instead select areas that need dodging or burning, and use the refine edge tool. Then use curves to lighten or darken that area. Use the refine edge tool to tune the edge of the selection so you do not get halos. The curves tool will give more natural tonality (of course if done nicely).

Roger

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Roger. Here's a repost with just a curves adjustment and a little LCE.

Please let me know what you think.

Thanks again,
Rachel

[Dave Mills]

Hi Rachel, I like Rogers suggestions and now there is more contrast in the mountains however, the trees on the left and clouds have been affected. The clouds and left trees lack the detail of the OP. Not sure how you made your changes but often it's a good practice to work on sections and not the whole...

[dankearl]

Rachel , the water is beautiful and I like both versions.
I would just crop the left side and take the tree out.

[Jay Gould]

Rachael, I definitely agree with Dan regarding removing of the dark trees on the LHS. The do not add and they do not really frame. If you want them to be a part of the story they need to be lightened.

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Dave, Dan and Jay. Hopefully third time's the charm. I looked at cropping out the tree on the left but really didn't like the image as much without it. One of the things that drew me to the scene at the time was the sloping meadow which was just a sliver running up the opposite shore. If I crop out the trees on the left I feel I lose that sliver effect.


Thanks again for all the suggestions, much appreciated.

TFS,
Rachel

[Dave Mills]

Hi Rachel, The final repost is well handled!

[Roger Clark]

Rachel,

Great job! Third time is a charm. i really like the repost. Well done.

Roger

[Jay Gould]

BINGO!!

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Dave, Roger and Jay.

[Robert Amoruso]

I agree, third time got it.

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Robert, much appreciated.

[Judy Howle]

Beautiful image and the 3rd post is excellent!

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Judy.