First picture from new member

Hello to everyone, some great images/advice on this forum. I joined last week but this is my first opportunity to post. Please feel free to C&C.
Regards to all, Rod.

Hi Rod - Glad to see your post here. Welcome!

I like it! I am partial to old vehicle HDRs. Just a couple of suggestions - I think that it could stand from a little Photoshop sharpening (unsharp mask works best for me). Also, I think the photo would be a little better if you desaturated the blue items in the background, as they detract your eye from the tractor. Also, I might suggest a crop on the left side of the image, which would bring the tractor to the forefront and put the boat in the background. Great job tho!

Melanie

SpiffyPix, many thanks for the reply and advice, it's much appreciated. I was beginning to think the pic was so awful, no-one could post a polite reply! I'll take on board what you say and keep practising. This does mean, however, I may inflict more images on unsuspecting forum members in the near future.
Regards to all, Rod

Kep them comming Rod, that is a very good HDR, you should have alot of HDR scenes where you live.

Almost looks 3D Rod, like Joe said, keep them coming..

Had a play with this one, hope you dont mind Rod.

Sorry-- but i totally disagree with Spiffys critique... I like the slight softness of the image-any sharpening would make it a bit too much in this case.. As for desaturating the blues in the background-- doesn't need that either- If they were a bright light tone, I would say yes. If I did desaturate the blues, i would just make a minor tweak.
As for a crop-- I personally find that HDR images tolerate busi--ness more than a normal ldr image. i have seen many very busy HDR images that look like crap in a normal ldr image. In this case, your eyes tend to flow through the imagegoing from place to place. When I first started shooting, i closely cropped just about all of my images, and wondered why many weren't successful. . Didn't include anything else---that is why!!! When adding other elements, make sure the added elements add to the image and don't detract from it. In this instance--I don't feel the added elements detract from the overall effect.
spiffys criticisms do follow some of basic rules of photography- but sometimes the rules do not need be adhered to. ---that is--If you understand when they can be broken!!
Very nice image, by the way!!!
buzz

Hey, thanks Xrider and Edge for the comments.
Edge, I love what you've done with the image, I only wish I had those skills! Once again, thanks very much.

Thanks, Buzzman for the positive critique. I tend not to do too much to my images, as I'm still feeling my way around photomatix, and am completely intimidated by photoshop at present. But I'll get there!

Rod, glad you liked it, was not sure how members here would be if someone else played around with there pictures..
That a very simple frame Rod, only took a few minutes..

To me i dont think it needs anymore shapening, could be different monitors ?
Looks just fine on mine.

Suitably encouraged by everyone's comments and suggestions, I humbly submit another image for your perusal. I went to town (for me, that is) on this one, adding a little levels, curves and unsharp mask, post photomatix. My Son kindly did the border for me.

Rod

excellent shot Rod, great view point, are these your old tractors?

Thanks Xrider, no the tractors are not mine. Because I live on a small Island, the sea and naturally boats, are a big part of Island life, for both work and pleasure. We have extreme tidal movement here and since the marinas are affected for access by the tides, people need to launch/retrieve their craft at any state of the tide. Fishermen (mostly) buy old tractors from farmers for this purpose - they work great over soft, wet sand. In this particular bay there are several now abandoned in a kind of tractor graveyard. This is one.
I think the rust, detail and patina of old machinery lends itself well to HDR work.
Rod.

Love the blue tractor shot Rod! well done

Thanks very much Sambista. Very friendly people from all over the world seem to be using this site, long may it continue!