New member: Where I'm at.

[fletch]

As I'm new I thought I would post a before and after. It is both a "where I'm at" in terms of photography editing skill and physically as the shot was taken near where I live.

This is the original (apart from cropping) taken in the Peak District, England. Just driving along and saw the light in the distance. It was shot in RAW and this version was converted to JPEG using the default settings.

http://jfletcherphoto.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/pc142484-copy1.jpg

And this is my edit to emphasise the light in the distance and make it more vibrant

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3131/3111041439_d9d7b12ac9.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesfletcher/3111041439/)

Coments, critique and improvements welcome. I'm and big boy, I can take it!:D

[frank abramonte]

fletch:
Beautiful scenic photo. My only comment is whether you intended to styalize it with the harsh (contrast) separation between the dark and mid tones in the fields?
The shading in the fields wouldn't be this harsh under the type of clouds in the photo, they would be more gradual.

I kept the subtle variations while holding color in the foreground trees, which I think makes for a more balanced photo.

However, if your intention was to make the harsh separations in tones, then I think you did a nice job.

It's not often you come across such a nice scene with the right weather conditions.


http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1ji1gFrOCkqFGO6D32UZOoV9Q2uVT_thumb.png (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1ji1gFrOCkqFGO6D32UZOoV9Q2uVT)

[TonyK]

I think you made a nice improvement to that image.
Tony

[fletch]

My only comment is whether you intended to styalize it with the harsh (contrast) separation between the dark and mid tones in the fields?
The shading in the fields wouldn't be this harsh under the type of clouds in the photo, they would be more gradual.

Thanks for taking the time too look.

It wasn't my intention to make it look unnatural but I don't really know what you mean in your explanation. Lots for me to learn I think!

Too be honest I can't really see the difference between your version and my original. Mind letting me know what you did?

Thanks

[Not4wood]

That is a great shot. To me, this would be a good candidate for an HDR Image.

HDR: High Dynamic Rage combining 3-7 exposed images into one using PhotoMatrix or Photoshop CS2 or higher. Bracket Exposing for the different areas using Shutter Speed only you can take referanced images without changing the depth of field or the focus so all of the images will be almost exactly alike. You do need a Tripod for this though.

[i&ej]

This would make a good HDR tone mapped image, it's a good shot and worth working on. :D

[frank abramonte]

Thanks for taking the time too look.
It wasn't my intention to make it look unnatural but I don't really know what you mean in your explanation. Lots for me to learn I think!

Too be honest I can't really see the difference between your version and my original. Mind letting me know what you did?
Thanks

My original comments were in reference to your wanting to know what we thought about the corrections you made, not on the original photo.

I just decided to do a little tweaking on your original to open up a little more details (a little more contrast). This would probably help you in printing the image where a slight plugging of the shadows would have lost the little detail there was.
However, it could have stayed just as is was shot. Your other gallery photos all seem fine to me.

Perhaps you see the slight differences between the two photos below.

This is yours:
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1vLLZSKqwRurB92P3WtbT5BNR07gZ1_thumb.png (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1vLLZSKqwRurB92P3WtbT5BNR07gZ1)


This it mine:
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1Yi1qpqFVHE4W1r12x9gVApwDM02FI1_thumb.png (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1Yi1qpqFVHE4W1r12x9gVApwDM02FI1)

Please understand that these are my personal views, what's important is that you are pleased with your work.

[GaryK]

Fletch

Just to prove that each person has thier own view.. hence Frank's point about doing what YOU like.. I tried a levels adjustment layer and darkened the whole photo then masked out just the mountain and sky.
Just another view.
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1haCvllzUNXUM1AIVLHSRWNTA1kxHo1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1haCvllzUNXUM1AIVLHSRWNTA1kxHo1)

Even if you do a layer copy (ctrl-J) and set the new layer to multiply it brings in a whole new effect.
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1NS89T1uNRANVWrwjfb4VX38uda3_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1NS89T1uNRANVWrwjfb4VX38uda3)

[jhzich]

Good illustration, and although the differences are subtle, the improvements make a difference, especially when coupled with the brightening and saturating of the mountain in the distance.

My original comments were in reference to your wanting to know what we thought about the corrections you made, not on the original photo.

I just decided to do a little tweaking on your original to open up a little more details (a little more contrast). This would probably help you in printing the image where a slight plugging of the shadows would have lost the little detail there was.
However, it could have stayed just as is was shot. Your other gallery photos all seem fine to me.

Perhaps you see the slight differences between the two photos below.

This is yours:
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1vLLZSKqwRurB92P3WtbT5BNR07gZ1_thumb.png (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1vLLZSKqwRurB92P3WtbT5BNR07gZ1)


This it mine:
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1Yi1qpqFVHE4W1r12x9gVApwDM02FI1_thumb.png (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1Yi1qpqFVHE4W1r12x9gVApwDM02FI1)

Please understand that these are my personal views, what's important is that you are pleased with your work.

[i&ej]

Having separated the two areas of luminance I then lightened the lower half and increased the bright top ( just use the inverse button here to change between the two parts,) and increased the saturation of red and yellow while the lower part had the cyan and blue colours darkened and desaturated. While I can see the result is not great and needs a lot more time spent on it, it is a different view :)