Sundance, Utah--critique welcome

[fitzperry]

Spent a little time with my camera at the Sundance resort yesterday sans kiddos and here are a few of the pics I got. I'm using my uncalibrated laptop here, so I haven't adjusted much--just used the D300's vivid setting when converting to jpg. I wish I'd had a nd filter for the waterfall shots to get slower shutter speeds (my only nd filters are split). It was around noon when I was there so the light was awfully bright. Would love some constructive criticism!

 

[Quicklabs]

I can't think of what I'd have done differently. But your pictures illustrate what I am trying to achieve, but can't seem to figure out. How did you get those deep blue skies AND all the lovely detail of the greenery?

 

[fitzperry]

I can't think of what I'd have done differently. But your pictures illustrate what I am trying to achieve, but can't seem to figure out. How did you get those deep blue skies AND all the lovely detail of the greenery?

On the first two, I was able to use a cp to decent effect (lens was my Tamron 28-75 f/2.8). The others were shot with the Tokina 12-24 which I've only been using for a couple of weeks, but it's a pretty impressive lens, IMHO. I've been surprised at the great colors I've gotten, even shooting at midday. The D300's dynamic range also seems much improved over the D70. I really don't think I'd have gotten such blue skies with my D70. I was shooting mostly with matrix metering, which I also think is better on the D300 than the D70.

Thanks for the comments!

 

[Quicklabs]

Thanks! I've been trying to decide between the Tokina 12-24 and the Sigma 10-20. Those last two shots could be used for a Tokina ad! Very impressive. I love the story told by the little sign.

 

[Code]

I love the Sundance area... Mount Timpanogos is very beautiful from the east! Definitely one of my favorite places to go in the fall (I live a few minutes from Salt Lake City)

The Stewart Falls shot is my favorite, I had two things pop into my head looking at it. First, I feel like I would like to see more of the stream on the right, the grasses jutting up obscure it and get lost in the background. Second, the bottom left is devoid of those nice flowers.

I agree with Quicklabs about the story conveyed by the sign and the wide angle is very appropriate on that one

Thanks for sharing!

 

[fitzperry]

I love the Sundance area... Mount Timpanogos is very beautiful from the east! Definitely one of my favorite places to go in the fall (I live a few minutes from Salt Lake City)

The Stewart Falls shot is my favorite, I had to things pop into my head looking at it. First, I feel like I would like to see more of the stream on the right, the grasses jutting up obscure it and get lost in the background. Second, the bottom left is devoid of those nice flowers.

I agree with Quicklabs about the story conveyed by the sign and the wide angle is very appropriate on that one

Thanks for sharing!

I'd love to see it in the fall--wish we could hang around that long! You're fortunate to live in such a beautiful area.

I actually took a few from the angle you suggest, but I was messing around with a grad nd filter at the time trying to get a slower shutter and didn't realize that it wasn't lined up properly, so those are pretty much rubbish! This one at least has more of the flowers. I like that the first one shows more of the sky and is more consistent with the rule of thirds, but the flowers are better in this one. This might also be a good subject for a stitched together vertical panorama. I'll have to try to get out there again before we leave.

Thanks for the suggestions and comments!

 

[fitzperry]

Thanks! I've been trying to decide between the Tokina 12-24 and the Sigma 10-20. Those last two shots could be used for a Tokina ad! Very impressive. I love the story told by the little sign.

Thanks! I also took several pictures of dh and the kids by those signs when we were hiking together. This place is so picturesque.

 

[jann1033]

nice coloration, beautiful scenery...not sure if you intended for the flowers to be a little soft on the waterfall shot but if not or want to try something different, here's the only link to hyperfocal distance i ever understood...probably cause they did the math ( although now that i look at it it's for older cameras, digital, i read 30d instead of d30)
http://www.vividlight.com/articles/2314.htm

ok now you put up the second waterfall shot so never mind

 

[fitzperry]

nice coloration, beautiful scenery...not sure if you intended for the flowers to be a little soft on the waterfall shot but if not or want to try something different, here's the only link to hyperfocal distance i ever understood...probably cause they did the math ( although now that i look at it it's for older cameras, digital, i read 30d instead of d30)
http://www.vividlight.com/articles/2314.htm

ok now you put up the second waterfall shot so never mind

Thanks for the link--this is something I know I should understand but haven't found the time to figure out. I also think the flowers are a bit blown out in the first one.