Is there something else I should do here?
Dec 21, 2017 18:38:12 #
This is an image I took in the patio of the hotel we were in in San Cristobal. They had a bunch of lovely flowers, and I particularly like how this one looked in my lens. I ran the raw file through LR 6. I lowered the highlights down a bit to bring out a bit more detail in the white flower. I darkened the background a tad (just a tad). Then, in Photoshop 5 I darkened the leaf A LOT, as it started out really bright. Then it was sharpened a bit. And, of course, some clarity and vibrance.
So, my biggest question is if the leaf if dark enough? I'm not sure I can make it any darker, but maybe. And, would there have been different steps I could have taken to achieve this or a better image?
Thanks!
So, my biggest question is if the leaf if dark enough? I'm not sure I can make it any darker, but maybe. And, would there have been different steps I could have taken to achieve this or a better image?
Thanks!
Dec 21, 2017 18:42:19 #
Dec 21, 2017 20:07:20 #
AzPicLady wrote:
This is an image I took in the patio of the hotel ... (show quote)
I read with interest the steps you took with this photo. I don't know if the leaf needs to be any darker; but I question whether you need it in the composition at all. The main subject is that gorgeous flower. The whites are spectacular. some of the dark spots in the background are a tad distracting. You might want to consider cloning them out. The danger there is that sometimes it is hard to clone things without getting smudges and they might ruin your nice background. I'm very impressed with the detail in the whites and your exposure which is, in my opinion, spot on.
Erich
Dec 21, 2017 20:28:26 #
Frank2013
Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.
I'll say yes the leaf is dark enough...If the back ground give you some sense of place then leave it as is..otherwise I agree with ebrunner about the darker areas...a pleasant image.
Dec 21, 2017 23:32:49 #
ebrunner wrote:
I read with interest the steps you took with this ... (show quote)
I'll look into those areas. I'm normally not pleased with my cloning work because it seems to leave larger smudges. But I'll look. Thanks.
Dec 21, 2017 23:33:52 #
Frank2013 wrote:
I'll say yes the leaf is dark enough...If the back ground give you some sense of place then leave it as is..otherwise I agree with ebrunner about the darker areas...a pleasant image.
Thank you, Frank. I'll look into Erich's suggestion.
Dec 22, 2017 07:19:48 #
AzPicLady wrote:
This is an image I took in the patio of the hotel ... (show quote)
A beautiful image of the white flower.
If the image were mine, I'd carefully select the flower and Gaussian blur the background until the black spots disappear. This method would also get rid of some streaks there, too.
If the image were mine, I'd get rid of the leaf because its shape and its being out-of-focus don't, for me, enhance the image of the flower but, rather, distract from it.
Also, if the image were mine, before I'd Gaussian blur the background, I'd add smudges of a different color around the flower so that the blur would not be gray. I find this method much better than spot healing.
Another alternative might be to select the flower and bucket black as the background.
Lots of things you could do to make this beautiful image stand out more.
If you do decide to work on this photo, would you post again so we could see? I'd love to know what you decide.
Dec 22, 2017 08:16:58 #
My only concern about the background is there are three unidentifiable elements that are darker than the rest. If you can see those and they are OK for you, then all is well. It would be interesting to see how the composition looks without the big leaf, but also with it slightly lighter. The only reason I'd try it lighter is as a balancing element against the yellow-green of the flower's stem. I actually like it but the color doesn't seem to go with the flower's. I can imagine its beginning so I understand your action in that area. But any darker and I think it'll just look wrong.
Having said all that, any tweaks you do from here are just going to be personal preference. It's a stunning capture and the whites are perfect IMO.
I'll second Edie's motion - if you do anything significantly different to this one, please share!
Having said all that, any tweaks you do from here are just going to be personal preference. It's a stunning capture and the whites are perfect IMO.
I'll second Edie's motion - if you do anything significantly different to this one, please share!
Dec 22, 2017 08:32:53 #
That’s a lovely image APL, really beautiful.
I agree with those suggestioning the dark spots should go - probably just the three smaller areas, not the large area to the left.
It will help a lot if you make a selection of the flower, invert it, then clone with a very soft brush set at no more than 20%. I’m not trying to teach you to suck eggs, just saying how I’d tackle this delicate job.
After much thought I’d say remove the leaf - it’s oof and contributing little.
The colour of the background is spot-on for me - far more contributing than a simple black, I’d say.
As always, what you prefer is what matters and you have plenty of suggestions to think about.
One last point - remember to work on a copy layer, it’s the sort of thing that may take more than one attempt!
I agree with those suggestioning the dark spots should go - probably just the three smaller areas, not the large area to the left.
It will help a lot if you make a selection of the flower, invert it, then clone with a very soft brush set at no more than 20%. I’m not trying to teach you to suck eggs, just saying how I’d tackle this delicate job.
After much thought I’d say remove the leaf - it’s oof and contributing little.
The colour of the background is spot-on for me - far more contributing than a simple black, I’d say.
As always, what you prefer is what matters and you have plenty of suggestions to think about.
One last point - remember to work on a copy layer, it’s the sort of thing that may take more than one attempt!
Dec 22, 2017 09:16:37 #
ediesaul wrote:
A beautiful image of the white flower. br br If ... (show quote)
Thank you, Edie. I'm not sure I know how to do what you're suggesting. (I'm really elementary at PP work.) Other than using the colour-picker tool, I don't know how to select. I'll see if that works. What's odd is that I didn't even notice the splotches until y'all pointed them out! So much for my detail noticing! I could perhaps darken the background a bit, but, frankly, I'm not fond of flat black backgrounds for flowers. But I know what you mean and it is a very popular thing to do. I'm wishy about the leaf. I deliberately included it when I took the image, but if you think it's a distraction. . . .
Dec 22, 2017 09:23:05 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
My only concern about the background is there are ... (show quote)
Thank you, Linda. As I said to Edie, I didn't notice the dark splotches until they were pointed out. I guess they didn't bother me that much. The sun was hitting the leaf and it really glared, so that's why I darkened it. It was trying to take over the image! Because of the shape of the flower, I don't know if the leaf can be cropped out or not. I think not. And I'll see if my cloning skills are up to the task of removing something that large. I had deliberately included it as a balancing agent, but I'm rethinking that. Obviously, I cannot reshoot it and start over. That would be the easy way out!
Dec 22, 2017 09:28:05 #
magnetoman wrote:
That’s a lovely image APL, really beautiful. br I... (show quote)
Thanks, MM. I'll work on those dark spots. What I don't know how to do is select the flower. The only way I know to select something is with the colour picker. I'll see if that works. Trying to use the loop just isn't in my capabilities, as my hands are WAY too shaky for that. I'll work on a way of removing the leaf. The colour of the background was simply drop-off of light as the corner behind the flower was in deep shadow already and my short DOF helped.
Dec 22, 2017 10:42:10 #
AzPicLady wrote:
Thanks, MM. I'll work on those dark spots. What I don't know how to do is select the flower. The only way I know to select something is with the colour picker. I'll see if that works. Trying to use the loop just isn't in my capabilities, as my hands are WAY too shaky for that. I'll work on a way of removing the leaf. The colour of the background was simply drop-off of light as the corner behind the flower was in deep shadow already and my short DOF helped.
Do you use Photoshop for this type of alteration? If so there are many ways to make a selection and, with the amount of contrast in this image it should not be a problem. I’d probably use the magic selection brush (or whatever it’s called!). An alternative that people shy away from is the pen tool - it can be difficult to master BUT you can cheat by simply letting it ‘join the dots’ as you go round the edge touching every few mm on the required edge. Then, once you've joined-up to where you started, right click and choose ‘make selection’. Once you’ve got your selection, add a layer mask so you can re-use it later should you wish to.
Your background could be either enhanced or completely replaced using a gradient filter and picking the colour from the image.
Dec 22, 2017 10:51:52 #
magnetoman wrote:
Do you use Photoshop for this type of alteration? ... (show quote)
I'll try the "connect the dots" thing. Looks like something even my shaky hands might be able to do.
Dec 22, 2017 11:28:19 #
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.