Sharpening
Hello everyone! I'd like to ask your opinion about the sharpening on my photo, is it too much? I also used the orton effect specially on the trees but I ask your opinion how improve the "mood" of my picture.
Thank you!
More Posts in: Landscape and Nature Photography
Charles Mercier
Grain silo
A couple of old photos taken while the Amtrak was stopped - somewhere in Colorado, I think?
(And yes, I like that the vertical leans!)
1
Last: Oct 21, 2026
Alan Brown
New website post
Just a heads up for anyone that may be interested (and as things are slow in the group.....).
2
Last: Oct 21, 2026
Colin Andersson-Hamill
Black Leopard
This female has arrived at Hamerton. This place rescues animals from all over the world, mainly endangered species, and they breed when they can.
Hector Reyes
Leopard spots and high heels
I've photographed Ady a few times now. We get better each time as a team. This image was a fave from our latest session. I hope you like it to.
1
Last: Oct 16, 2026
9 Comments
Hi, I think you answered your own question. Yes, too much sharpening in the leaves and it looks like you sharpened the water too, which you don't wanna do. The trees on the top work well for me. It's a nice photo, but overall overprocessed, I'd dial down on just about everything (sharpening, colors, Orton...) and there's a weird blurry part at the bottom right of the falls, where there's lichen (algae ?). I don't know what that is.
I agree, particularly less color.
comp is nice you captured great light streaking through the scene but i completely agree with nick these type of scenes don't need that much post processing and when using orton effect i stay between 18 and 30 precent
Thank you very much for the advices!
It really depends on what ur going for. I think its funny that people are saying its overly processed as there is generally a huge bias on here in favor of heavily processed images. If you are into surrealism, your image is processed well. If you want a 'natural' mood, you would dial everything you did to the picture back quite a bit. I don't think anything you did in your photo is 'wrong' per se, it looks like you have good technique, just decide what style you want to do.
It is true that people here will overrate an overprocessed image. But those are never the people that give critiques. Why, I don't know. But you're right, I've seen images that are way overcooked getting averages of 4. On the landscape photography critique given by Elia and Mike (when Lee was away), many overprocessed images with a high rating got destroyed. Although you might argue that they aren't your potential clients, clients may actually be the ones who like those overprocessed images... I think that you might be able to sell more prints by overprocessing, but I doubt you'll get hired or be successful at giving workshops.
I’d say do some burning around the edges to bring the eye along the water stream. If you want mood try color grading, bring up the shadows in your rgb curve. Depends on what mood you want!
Thank you for hints. I have another shot at same location but in portrait format; I try to change my pp workflow to have a "soft" image with less contrast, sharpening and saturation.
It´s a beautiful photo anyways