Hi WD
Some Sunday afternoon tea & blueberry scone thoughts below.
It seems like you would like to take it a step up from the ordinary snap shot type of
photo, at least some of the time.
What you call "busy" can also be clutter, which sometimes comes from inexperience at
composing shots, and is also caused by just being emotional caught up in a shot.
There is a major difference from a snap shot, and a beautiful art piece that you
hang in you living room or sell at a show.
Many people come upon a scene that may overwhelm them emotionally, and then
immediately take the shot not caring about the time of day, composition, quality
of light, or looking for an unique perspective/angle, which is fine for a large majority
of people, but if you want something better, theses are some of the things you will
have to incorporate into your repertoire.
Take for instance the "Tunnel View" in Yosemite, how many million folks take a photo
from the exact same spot, height, and time of day each year. Sure it is a beautiful
view point, but changing your position, height/level, time of day/year, all can make for
a more unique composition, as opposed to getting out of the car/bus, walking up to
the wall in the middle of the day, taking a shot at the aperture, and speed that the
camera has set for you.
Learn how to use your camera, don't let the camera be in control! Understanding how
different apertures, speeds, ISO, lenses, effect your creative input. Shoot raw, otherwise
the camera is in control of the output, and your creative vision/individuality will not be
present in your photo.
Photoshop, lightroom or whatever software you use is another important factor in
personalizing your photography.
Look at other photographers works like Ansel Adams, John Shaw, Jack Dykinga,
the Muenches, John Sexton, Christopher Burkett, Michael Fatal, and some of
our fellow HST members websites, and you will see that an artists individual style shines
through his/her work, which is what you want to do with your own work.
Your subject matter in your photo is nice, but as others have mentioned the time of
day makes or breaks a photo. Also, as Fish mentioned, using a wide angle, and getting
lower to the ground, and closer to the flowers would give you a greater perceived depth
of field making the mountains fall back with the flowers dominating the foreground.
A longer lens could be used to isolate a subject matter like the flowers, and a telephoto
lens could be used to compress the perceived distance between subject matters.
Cropping off the bottom would make the photo a little stronger, more balanced. Also
getting in closer and lower, and taking the shot in portrait mode would emphasis the
lines of the creeks more, and thereby leading your eyes towards the ridge line in the
back ground.
Your photo has to have a subject matter, a focal point, what is it your trying to convey
to your viewer, the beauty of the mountains, the flowers? Once you answer this question
you need to figure out what aperture, ISO, speed, lens you should use to best convey this.
Then make a decision from what angle to shoot from, are there any natural lines that
can be used to lead the viewers eyes to your main focal point, like a ridge line, rock
formation, a trail/road, or river/creek, which are all parts of the creative process one
needs to think about when composing a scene. This is why scouting the area ahead of
time, and then returning when the lighting is optimal is so important!
Learning to put your focal point/subject matter in the upper or lower, left or right
third of your photo is something to keep in mind when composing, and even though
this rule does not always apply, it does more often than not. Another mistake made
is putting the subject matter dead center(which you did with the creek) or placing
the horizon, or the far end of a lake in the center of the photo thereby cutting the
photo in half.
Polarizer filter's as mention before can help with getting a sky darker, cutting reflection
or glare, but it has to be used correctly. A photo with an overly dark blue or almost
black sky not only looks unrealistic, but aesthetically unappealing. It can also be used in
conjunction with a smaller f-stop(less light reaching the sensor) to get that candy effect
in waterfalls.
The most important piece of equipment that a serious landscape photographer must
carry at all times is a solid tripod. Even the smallest amount of wind, or vibration can
ruin an otherwise beautiful photo. Sure it may look okay on the web, but try printing it
large, it will never happen.
Being able to take good photo's and to make a decent income from it is very hard work,
not only the time and effort to get to remote locations, but also capturing nature in
its finest moments (which is part luck, and also the study of natures habits), having
the right equipment, proper technique, and then being able to develop it properly so
it does justice to our artistic vision are all part of the process. All this may take years
of visiting the same location over an over again for it finally to come all together, but
most people are unaware or unwilling to do this.
Many people do not appreciate all the effort that goes into capturing an art piece
because they see so many people flood the internet with there snap shot photo's,
which gives them the impression that it is so easy and no talent is needed, just go
to a location and just shoot away, which digital has made so easy to do, but try to
get a tack sharp 12x18 print, or even larger print from those files. That is when
you will see the difference what all that learning, practice, and effort that many
successful photographers invested pay off.
Just like our expert fishermen who have been fishing for decades like OR, Markskor
and GB to name a few. No way someone dabbling in a little fishing will even remotely
understand the nuances that these folks have amassed over the decades of experience.
Sure they can enjoy it, even have a passion for it, but it is at a whole different level
which requires dedication and a total commitment.
These are just a few things that hopefully will help in your progress, and if you have
any other questions about equipment, software, or techniques, please feel free to ask.