Your thoughts on making it stronger
May 27, 2018 03:34:00 #
wdross
Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
I title this one "Sailing before the storm". What do you think can be done to make it a stronger print.
May 27, 2018 06:56:50 #
wdross wrote:
I title this one "Sailing before the storm". What do you think can be done to make it a stronger print.
Hi, wdross,
It is a gripping image...once the lone, fragile sailboat is finally identified as the focus and sink of concern as it breasts the waters driven by the strength of that forebodingly massive, on-coming storm.
IMO a crop to a stout portrait format that maintains the height of the storm cloud and gives the brave little boat just a bit more noticeability should be considered. I think it would provide more immediate impact.
I’ll admit that perhaps, younger and sharper eyes would argue against such a crop...???
Good eye!
Dave
May 27, 2018 07:13:54 #
I think the boat is too small in the frame to be an obvious main subject. However, the options for cropping are limited. You don't want to lose the bridge, and the cloud works best when you can see the top of it, so the only option is either to take a skim off of the right hand side, or if you want to keep the aspect ratio, give the image a horizontal stretch. And your verticals could do with a bit of straightening.
The clouds would look even more dramatic with some more contrast, but you've probably found that the blue becomes too intense when you do that. You can counter that by desaturating, either in the Basic section or by targeting blue in the HSL section. And if you darken the shadows instead of lightening them, it should add drama.
The clouds would look even more dramatic with some more contrast, but you've probably found that the blue becomes too intense when you do that. You can counter that by desaturating, either in the Basic section or by targeting blue in the HSL section. And if you darken the shadows instead of lightening them, it should add drama.
May 27, 2018 07:57:38 #
May 27, 2018 08:08:36 #
I see two possibilities that strengthen your idea; I'll send photos via pm. One is a vertical that leaves just one tower of the bridge. I don't miss the left bridge tower because the clouds are still such a major part of the image, as Uuglypher describes. The other uses that aspect and crops from the top also.
I don't think it's important to keep the sky above the clouds if the intent is to imply danger of incoming storm. Having the upper part of the frame filled with clouds makes me feel even more unease for the sailor.
I'd be interestered in a few pp tweaks such as R.G. suggests, along with trying to whiten the boat a bit more.
I don't think it's important to keep the sky above the clouds if the intent is to imply danger of incoming storm. Having the upper part of the frame filled with clouds makes me feel even more unease for the sailor.
I'd be interestered in a few pp tweaks such as R.G. suggests, along with trying to whiten the boat a bit more.
May 27, 2018 12:15:19 #
It's almost great the way it is, the small sailboat among the immensities of nature and man. I would select the boat and increase the tones into the white and black.
May 27, 2018 13:54:24 #
wdross wrote:
I title this one "Sailing before the storm". What do you think can be done to make it a stronger print.
Graduated filter from bottom to edge of water and open up the shadows. DeHaze on the image overall.
May 27, 2018 21:48:30 #
wdross wrote:
I title this one "Sailing before the storm". What do you think can be done to make it a stronger print.
You've gotten some pretty good suggestions so far. I don't have anything to add to that other than, as posted, the boat does appear too small. The detail in the bridge and the clouds are nice and I almost don't need the sailboat to be impressed with this image. Of course then you would have to change the title. BTW, is that the Ravenel bridge in Charleston?
Erich
May 27, 2018 22:15:20 #
wdross
Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
ebrunner wrote:
You've gotten some pretty good suggestions so far. I don't have anything to add to that other than, as posted, the boat does appear too small. The detail in the bridge and the clouds are nice and I almost don't need the sailboat to be impressed with this image. Of course then you would have to change the title. BTW, is that the Ravenel bridge in Charleston?
Erich
Erich
Sorry to everyone. I've had a working Memorial Day weekend. Yes, this is a view of the Ravenel bridge in Charleston where one of our sons lives. We were waiting for the boat to go out to Fort Sumter National Monument. There have been a lot of comments about various ways to crop but I guess one other way is to crop for that massive bridge against that even more massive cloud and leave the sailboat out. Thank you for the comment.
May 27, 2018 22:23:14 #
wdross
Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
Uuglypher wrote:
Hi, wdross, br It is a gripping image...once the l... (show quote)
I think your eyes are doing just great along with your thoughts and comments. I have limited PP software at this time (just the free Microsoft and an android app called "ToolWiz Photos"). I hope to PS Elements or some other PP software a little later this year. I wiil be looking at trying other crops of this shot later on this year.
May 27, 2018 22:45:10 #
wdross
Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
R.G. wrote:
I think the boat is too small in the frame to be a... (show quote)
Thank for the constructive comments. This was shot with my relatively new Olympus 7-14mm f2.8 Pro lens. It is very rectilinear - when held parallel to the earth. You are right that this was pointed upwards and could stand some correcting. Again, I will try it once I can get some decent PP software. With layers I could heighten the contrast of the clouds, keeping the cloud's white were it is, while retaining the blue sky. I can then try and see what happens if I go in and make the sails of the sailboat almost pure white to see if gain a little in notice. If things don't look that good then, cropping would probably continue to help it. Thank you for your thoughts and comments.
May 27, 2018 22:57:51 #
wdross
Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
Bloke wrote:
Get the helicopter to fly over the boat... 
Your comment caught me the most off guard. Since I had been spending whatever time on the clouds and what to possibly do with the sailboat, I completely missed the helicopter! Part of the problem is working on small screens and not blowing up all areas for a check. I think the next time I will either wait for your suggested helicopter positioning or use a surface to air missile to correct the problem. Or I guess it would be easier and cheaper than a surface to air missile to just take the helicopter out in PP. Thanks for the comment.
May 27, 2018 23:10:19 #
wdross
Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
Linda From Maine wrote:
I see two possibilities that strengthen your idea;... (show quote)
You are all possibly right that the sailboat needs to be whitened up some it gains more notice. Even if it does not gain enough notice in a "full frame" image, the cropped image would probably gain from the whitening also. Thank you for your comments.
May 27, 2018 23:14:53 #
wdross
Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
artBob wrote:
It's almost great the way it is, the small sailboat among the immensities of nature and man. I would select the boat and increase the tones into the white and black.
Thank you for the comment and suggestion. It is sort of a consensus that if the boat is to be a part of the photo, it is going to have to have some treatment. I promise tha all the comments and suggestions will be used. Thanks again.
May 27, 2018 23:21:14 #
wdross
Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
rgrenaderphoto wrote:
Graduated filter from bottom to edge of water and open up the shadows. DeHaze on the image overall.
Thank you. This is something I hadn't thought about. Once I get some decent PP software, I will give your suggestion a try. Thanks again for suggestions.
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