Trippmeister Loc: Los Gatos, CA

I shot this oak tree hiking on a trail above Lexington Res. in CA. I photoshoped it a little, to bring out the blue sky, and darken the tree.Feel free to comment, I'm still learning. Nikon D-90 18-105

Bobber Loc: Fredericksburg, Texas

I think you got a good start. I'd go for darker trunk and limb yet. The backlit leaves seemed to have maybe even been made brighter from processing. I use Image/Adjustments/Replace Color fairly often to deal with smaller areas that seem troublesome.

I played with your picture in that manner and feel it helped. The darker limb-trunk sections against the sky made for a more dramatic impact. Yet I did not carry the darkening so far as to obliterate all detail.

I wonder whether you may have used curves to do the darkening. Sometimes pulling down the curve in one place raises another portion in an unwanted way. If so, more control can be exerted by using multiple points to control all of the curve. But, you did not say what tool you used. Did you use selections to manipulate the sky elements separately from the rest?

Trippmeister Loc: Los Gatos, CA

Thanks, I should have used selections, like you said. I didn't use curves, I used HDR toning. Seven years of photoshop, and I still learn stuff from you guys every day. I'll play around with your ideas, thanks.