[delb0y]

The aim here was to get a nice picturesque "English" canal scene. The location is the Oxford Canal at Cropredy. I took the photograph on a Fuji XPro with a 35mm prime lens at f/8, 1/125th of a second shutter speed and ISO 200. I did try a black and white conversion (mono is always my preference) but it didn't really read as I'd hoped. This colour version would have been much nicer taken in the morning or evening - here the light doesn't really help much, but c'est la vie. I'd gone to see a friend not take a photograph, but when I saw the scene as I crossed the bridge I thought it well worth a go despite the light. Post processing is just a little cropping, a bit of levels work in Photoshop, and the cloning out of some telephone wires.

My own view is that there is too much tree - but I like the bottom left hand corner, with the ripples in the water and the two ducks, and I can't crop from the right as I'd lose the bridge and the lock gates... so the crop is what it is. But open to suggestions.



Weeping Willow at Cropredy

[Jocko]

You could crop some of the treeless area on the left, but that's about it. Superb image.

[Browser Mike]

I would be delighted with a shot like this. As for the trees, I like them as they are. My feeling is that they lead the eye across the shot, past the barge, to rest on the bridge.
I also think that they add texture and atmosphere.
Regards, Mike.

[caveman]

Lovely shot, I would like to see a b/w version just out of interest.

[delb0y]

Lovely shot, I would like to see a b/w version just out of interest.

Here's a quick and dirty B&W version courtesy of Silver Efex:

   

[Jocko]

You were right, Derek. Doesn't quite pay off.

[MrB]

As you think there is too much tree (and I agree), perhaps consider cropping to 16:9 to remove some tree from the top. In the following edit, the shadows have been brightened to see the ducks better. The colours look a bit flat (due to the lighting), so the saturation has been increased (except for the greens):

   

Cheers.
Philip

[Jocko]

Nice edit, Philip. I didn't even notice it was ducks in the original (hence my cropping comment).

[delb0y]

Hi Philip

Yes a good idea and a good crop. I tried a few recrops (didn't save them, so the one below is a very quick re-go) and the best I found was to cut my losses and lose the ducks (as Jocko's experiences attests they're not very noticeable anyway) and much of the left hand area and this has the benefit of bringing the narrowboat slightly left, reducing the tree volume, and also increasing the visibility of the lock gates beyond the bridge.

   

Colourwise - yes, I like what you did. I'm really wary of bright saturated colours at the moment. I feel like I've come to rely on too much PP recently and I'm trying to keep my edits as minimal as possible. But they do pop better in your edit.

Many thanks
Derek

[Jocko]

Derek. Good crop, though I would not have gone quite so close to the bow of the barge, myself.

[delb0y]

Derek. Good crop, though I would not have gone quite so close to the bow of the barge, myself.

Me neither, Jocko - I was rushing!