Haze of Doom

Mr_T

Mr_T

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Edit My Images
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Hi guys,

I wonder if I could pick your brains briefly on a problem I've been having recently. It seemed to start a few months ago (although I may be seeing things) but every photograph I take looks a bit flat, it's almost like there is haze in all of them. I've been wondering for some time what could be causing this but I'm really unsure.

I have a sample HERE. Boringness and poor framing aside this untouched photograph really seems to lack punch. I can correct this by changing the black point in PhotoShop but in some cases I've been having to add ~+20 for large sets of photographs.

Could this be:
A) A problem with my 18-70 lens
B) A problem with my camera (metering perhaps?)
C) My imagination
 
Its flat because the light was'nt very nice and it was the wrong time of day.

It probably looked like that. I think you are expecting the camera to make a purse out of a sow's ear.
 
Fair point, I wasn't really thinking much about what I was doing as it's something I have to do instead of want to do. Maybe I think my camera has a much larger dynamic range that it does in reality :P.
 
:agree: its a lot to do with light and composition.
The light is flat and the composition wanting. Not sure what I'd have done in your place, but I think it's too straight on.
 
Hi the oldgit is correct (no offence)
Nothing wrong with colour
try it from the other side or step right 40 yards (dont fall in the lake) and the light will be totally different
Or change the sat with photoshop
Keep trying it all for art

Cheers
 
Thanks for the replies, I appreciate it. I decided to do another test today under more controlled circumstances, I employed the use of an ND grad to balance out the sky and the foreground (well roughly anyway...). I was at 180 degrees to the sun so flare shouldn't be so much of an issue and also adjusted the exposure slightly in Lightroom to make sure no highlights were being clipped. The camera was mounted on a tripod and I used a remote release to make this as fair a test as I could.

Here are the results: thumbnail full image.

I'm probably being entirely paranoid here but they just don't seem to look right, I've had this body and lens for over three years now but maybe I'm losing it. My only other thought is that perhaps I keep comparing it to my much more expensive 70-200 VR, surely there can't be that much of a difference? (Image quality not purpose :p). :shrug:
 
Your subject is in two halves. Upper part is bright sun and lower part deep shade.
Does Lightroom not have a control to lighten shadow area only?

Are you shooting RAW?

Try your test with sunlight on all parts of the pic, but the subject is uninspiring which does not help.

I don't think there is anything wrong with your kit.
 
arclight said:
Your subject is in two halves. Upper part is bright sun and lower part deep shade.
Does Lightroom not have a control to lighten shadow area only?

Are you shooting RAW?

Try your test with sunlight on all parts of the pic, but the subject is uninspiring which does not help.

I don't think there is anything wrong with your kit.
Click to expand...

The subject is in two halves however I used an ** grad to balance the exposure. This test was shot in RAW, and as it's a test I didn't bother to take anything exciting I just wanted to see if anyone else agreed that it doesn't look right.
 
Mr_T said:
The subject is in two halves however I used an ** grad to balance the exposure. This test was shot in RAW, and as it's a test I didn't bother to take anything exciting I just wanted to see if anyone else agreed that it doesn't look right.
Click to expand...

I think you have captured the subject as it is, but you could probably improved things with your editor.

When you get a blink of sun go into the street and take a shot of a nice bright clean car or something and fill the frame with it then post your pic.
 
Do a wee bit of work with curves. Pull down a little in the bottom left, where the line first cuts the other lines and then push up a bit where the main line cuts the other lines in the top right hand corner. There's more to it than that but it can add alot more punch to photo's that otherwise look 'hazy'
 
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