Landscape composition - help needed

[Dave.R]

I have done some changes in PS on a photograph I took and proceeded with the picture [still in early stages] and would appreciate advice on the composition. If anyone sees any snags or improvements.
I think I have sorted one problem bottom left, where the stream led the eye out of the picture. Not sure about the background trees. The whole picture will get many more layers and be much stronger in values hopefully.
Observations and comments gratefully received :)

The first pic is the original, the second is modified version.

[artmasters]

I like what you have done so far. This looks like a challenging piece. Lots of textures. You are doing great on showing the different textures so far. Are you going to show leaves on the background trees? As for the water leading you out of the picture, You've added the plant grouping there to stop the eye. When my eye follows the stream it just stops there. Another possibility is to have the stream turn to the right at the bottom so that it goes towards the bottom center of the picture. If you also make it wider, then my eye will enter the picture from the bottom and travel up to the waterfall. So instead of leading you out, it will draw you in. Well that's my two bits worth. I hope that this isn't confusing (or wrong). It's just a suggestion. Keep up the great work!

Dave F

[Dave.R]

Hi Dave and thanks for your reply.

I will add foliage at the back in muted colours and hazy detail. The intention is to go darker to get that 'closed in' woodland feel that is the 'feeling of this place'.

Thanks for your suggestion for the stream, I hadn't considered that, as I thought it would change the caharacter of the stream.
It is rather unusual in that the bed of the stream is 'V' shaped formed by two slabs of bare rock. However I have worked it in PS and it is possible to retain that feature.

It does look fine but you have left me with a tough decision on which way to go:D .......what do you think? Does it still let the viewer drop out the bottom of the picture.

[Roses]

I like the first version better. The fence/bridge?? catches my eye before the water does.

[glo]

DaveR.

As a woman I want my cake and eat it too, so I liked the plant in the lower left corner and also the water curving to the right at the bottom. Could you do both? I think adding the plant to your second version fills in the corner and adds to the woodsy feel.
Nice job so far, can't wait til you do more.
Gloria

[bmac]

Dave, this looks great so far. I think the greenery at the bottom should be left in. I think that artmasters (DaveF) was saying the leaves in the bottom left was helpful in stopping the eye from being lead of the page. At least, that is the way I understood it. :)
Are you going to post this in the cp forum too?

[Denise]

Dave-

I really like this scene and what you have so far. My suggestion, (for what it's worth) would be to start the stream from farther up in the piece, meandering through the trees and disappearing into the misty bg, almost like a path that disappears in the woods. I feel this would lead the eye upwards, through the piece instead of bringing the eye to the middle and leading it down. I learned from an art teacher I had about having "a jumping off point" for the eye where it wanders in and up and stays there following that path. I hope this makes sense. I'll try to see if I can ps it in and show you what I mean....

[artmasters]

I think the greenery at the bottom should be left in. I think that artmasters (DaveF) was saying the leaves in the bottom left was helpful in stopping the eye from being lead of the page.

Yes, thanks bmac, sorry if I was un clear. I like the addition of the plants in the lower left. I wanted to try to curve the stream back towards the center and widden it to help draw you in. I hope that makes sense.

Dave F

[Dave.R]

Thank you Roses, Gloria, Beth, Denise and Dave ....please bear with me, getting there slowly:bangin: , you are all right the bushes stay.

You have a good point Denise.. the line of rocks was meant to define the course of the stream and bring the viewer down to the falls, but the addition of water there would clarify this. I have had a quick go in PS and also added some folige at the back and to the right to strengthen that diagonal coming from the right.

Many thanks:)

BTW Roses, I believe it is an old weir which has rotted away, I'm not sure why it was built and will do some research to see if I can find out. It is local to me, in fact, it is on the hillside on the back right of the picture I recently posted in CP as "Welsh Landscape".
Beth..... will post in CP forum after little more progress.

[Denise]

Dave- here's kinda what I meant...I'm not good w/ photoshop, but I think you can get the idea of what I'm trying to convey

[Dave.R]

Hi Denise..... thanks for taking the time to show your idea in photoshop...it is pretty useful and has made me think along the lines you suggest. I will use the idea to introduce a sort of path, rather than the stream, in the area you show and see if I can get the same effect.

I intend to do more work on the background next as it is only lightly sketched in. It will alter the ways things look, so it time it was done. [have learned a little from Arlene;) ]

Many thanks:)

[Dave.R]

Have got back to doing some more work on this and post an update below.

Converting this to grayscale does show too many mid-tone areas so I have altered the grayscale image in PS to enhance the values, which gives it more punch. Please let me know what you think.
I'll see if I can get these values on the original now :D