What would you do with this photo?
Jun 14, 2012 07:29:38 #
lachmap
Loc: Sydney Australia
Hi guys (that's gender neutral by the way). I was wondering if I could get the opinion of you all on how to make this photo look better.
I was in the beautiful Blue Mountains west of Sydney and the weather was bloody awful. Took some photos in between rain showers when the sun poked its feeble head out a bit.
So you can see that there was mist, rain, wet rocks and plants, but some nice atmospherics.
I am posting three of my shots here in the hope that I may learn something from you all on how to enhance the photo or how to take a better one in the future.
I was in the beautiful Blue Mountains west of Sydney and the weather was bloody awful. Took some photos in between rain showers when the sun poked its feeble head out a bit.
So you can see that there was mist, rain, wet rocks and plants, but some nice atmospherics.
I am posting three of my shots here in the hope that I may learn something from you all on how to enhance the photo or how to take a better one in the future.
Govett's Leap Lookout
Jun 14, 2012 07:41:07 #
They are good compositionally, they just lack (in my opinion) punch...contrast, etc.
Jun 14, 2012 08:36:27 #
I would open these photos in Photoshop and add a curves adjustment layer.
On the curves adjustment layer, if the histogram is not showing, click the button to show it. If you haven't used curves before, you will now see a histogram like the one you might see on your camera's screen and a diagonal line going from the lower left to the upper right.
The histogram on these pix will not occupy the whole space from left to right. Drag the upper right hand corner of the diagonal line (curve) and move it to the left until it lines up with where the histogram ends. Then drag the lower left hand corner of the curve to the right until it lines up with where the histogram starts.
That should bring you close to the image rpavich posted.
On the curves adjustment layer, if the histogram is not showing, click the button to show it. If you haven't used curves before, you will now see a histogram like the one you might see on your camera's screen and a diagonal line going from the lower left to the upper right.
The histogram on these pix will not occupy the whole space from left to right. Drag the upper right hand corner of the diagonal line (curve) and move it to the left until it lines up with where the histogram ends. Then drag the lower left hand corner of the curve to the right until it lines up with where the histogram starts.
That should bring you close to the image rpavich posted.
Jun 14, 2012 19:57:42 #
Jun 14, 2012 20:58:04 #
Jun 15, 2012 08:09:54 #
I can't believe it! I looked at those pictures and said to myself (I hadn't read your intro yet), "That looks like the terrain near the Three Sisters!"
Jun 15, 2012 09:38:07 #
Jun 15, 2012 12:17:38 #
Hi,
I have never made it as far as the Blue Mountains, they look spectacular. Hope you don't mind but I edited them in PSE, I'm only a beginner, but hope you like them.
I have never made it as far as the Blue Mountains, they look spectacular. Hope you don't mind but I edited them in PSE, I'm only a beginner, but hope you like them.
Jun 15, 2012 12:23:03 #
docrob
Loc: Durango, Colorado
lachmap wrote:
Hi guys (that's gender neutral by the way). I was ... (show quote)
well to me there's really not much here in any of these that you can work with to bring out something more - something hidden by the mist perhaps if that's what you had in mind. But that doesn't mean you can't learn a great deal from this experience.....and what I'd take from it if it were me is that some scenes on some days at some times under these conditions are just not very photographic - meaning they won't translate into a very good image to start with. BUT one can still fully experience the place and the moment and take from that what is needed.
Jun 15, 2012 19:02:30 #
lachmap
Loc: Sydney Australia
docrob wrote:
well to me there's really not much here in any of ... (show quote)
I know what you mean. I take lots of pics, delete 99% of them, and then, hard as I try, others just can't be improved. I save these for when I know how to.
Yes, the Blue Mountains are spectacular - our mini Grand Canyon! Apparently they used to be a few kilometres higher but have been eroded to hell. Now just 1km high and we have lots of sand!!!
I have learnt a bit about curves now - very useful. And sharpened it a bit (but maybe it can't/shouldn't be sharpened?). Anyway, here we go. I think being a misty day that you really can't increase the colour too much and have it look natural.
Jun 15, 2012 19:20:58 #
My take is this, are we photographers , or are we editors. Yes I agree that we can enhance our shots, but we shoot what we see. I'm a novice, but I want to post here only what I shoot, (a bit of cropping is ok for me) but I want to be able to post exactly what I shoot. If that means I dont post too many shots, thats the way it will be. I'm not anti editing, I've seen some fantastic shots here, that I couldnt have made without editing, but I want to post right out of the box. I think you captured exactly what you framed, and I liked them
Jun 15, 2012 20:15:43 #
Paul B.
Loc: North Carolina
They look great to me . I would leave them as are. Some times it pays to leave well enough alone.
Jun 15, 2012 20:39:37 #
Hi lachmap. You asked for advice to improve and you got some good advice. I agree that the less editing one does the more natural the photo, and the photo then shows what inspired you to take it in the first place. I like yours and the others. It's nice having many viewpoints so one can choose, or decide one likes one's own after all.
Keep on shooting! You've a good eye for natural beauty.
Keep on shooting! You've a good eye for natural beauty.
Jun 15, 2012 22:03:47 #
lachmap
Loc: Sydney Australia
Thanks to all of the posters here. I really appreciate the help and different viewpoints.
Jun 15, 2012 22:16:44 #
I like them - especially the 3rd one with all the mist. The only thing I might do is print, frame, and enjoy.
Lou Ellen
Lou Ellen
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