Moody Blue: In my daily drive through town I am often looking for a place to shoot the Dallas skyline. My city has a beautiful skyline especially at night. I think I found my location...

kenievans Loc: Dallas

In my daily drive through town I am often looking for a place to shoot the Dallas skyline. My city has a beautiful skyline especially at night. I think I found my location but the light was not right. It was a little hazy and overcast but there were some beautiful clouds. Unfortunately the sunset was behind me. I think it will be great at night though. Not wanting to waste the opportunity I took several shots to work on in pp. They were pretty boring so I tried to make it interesting. Yes it is heavily cropped. Is it overworked? Too much texture?

Your downloads, tinkering and comments are always appreciated.

Moody Blue
Moody Blue...

(Download)

Original
Original...

(Download)

Treepusher Loc: Kingston, Massachusetts

I like the effect. 'Overworked' is subjective. I'd say no, in this case, but everyone has an opinion on that. Overworked usually applies a step or two BEFORE it occurs to you it might be overworked, lol.

Cropping is also subjective. There's no real right or wrong to it, only what you think works best. Some crops might be objectively better than others for a given scene, but it's your image, play around with it and go with what looks best to you.

kenievans Loc: Dallas

Treepusher wrote:

I like the effect. 'Overworked' is subjective. I'd say no, in this case, but everyone has an opinion on that. Overworked usually applies a step or two BEFORE it occurs to you it might be overworked, lol.

Cropping is also subjective. There's no real right or wrong to it, only what you think works best. Some crops might be objectively better than others for a given scene, but it's your image, play around with it and go with what looks best to you.

Thank you! All art is subjective and I keep subjecting mine to FYC critiques.

Seriously though, as I am learning to use LR and other pp apps I find there are so many cool effects you can do. I want to do what feels right for the picture not just because I can play with the cool toys.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Skylines very often suit a panorama crop. And usually they respond well to extra vividness. I can see that wasn't your intent in your own edit - which is fine - but you asked for suggestions, so here's mine -

-

(Download)

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Maybe someone can advise with LR re how to "mask out" an edit. I like the look of your textured work, Kenie...except for the trees. It's marvelous that you're enjoying experimenting and trying new things (already, lol!). It will be highly enjoyable to follow your journey.

Some folks decide on one "look" and work hard to perfect it, while others like myself, just jump around with whatever mood or new idea gleaned from other topics strikes at the moment

Regarding R.G.'s version, I have to say I seriously love it. The skyline is hugely interesting with all the different shapes and colors of buildings + the soft sky with soft cloud compliments the geometry really, really well IMO.

kenievans Loc: Dallas

R.G. wrote:

but you asked for suggestions, so here's mine -

-

And I am very glad that I did. I tend to stay in the same ratio (I think thats the right term) when I crop my pics and not think outside that box. I like it in panoramic. Thank you!

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

kenievans wrote:

... I want to do what feels right for the picture not just because I can play with the cool toys.

What I've learned from FYC and UHH in general is similar to simple cropping: often there is more than one way that "feels right" and it just depends on which story you want to tell - the mood you want to emphasize. With pp effects I'm trying to learn, especially from artists like rborud, how far to take a concept so that it is a stronger statement.

kenievans wrote:

...I tend to stay in the same ratio (I think thats the right term) when I crop my pics and not think outside that box. I like it in panoramic. Thank you!

You'll get some ideas here:
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-540438-1.html

More folks have posted and it's at two pages, so keep watch!

kenievans Loc: Dallas

Linda From Maine wrote:

others like myself, just jump around with whatever mood or new idea gleaned from other topics strikes at the moment

I enjoy that myself and I now have to find out about masking. I agree I would rather have just textured the sky and not the whole thing. I don't know that I will settle down into a particular style. I like the eclectic.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

kenievans, your edit turns ho-hum to WOW; I like. Regarding the rain and trees... I live in FL and look out my door and the 5PM Monsoon Rain is just like that you have shown.

kenievans Loc: Dallas

dpullum wrote:

kenievans, your edit turns ho-hum to WOW; I like. Regarding the rain and trees... I live in FL and look out my door and the 5PM Monsoon Rain is just like that you have shown.

Thank you! I have visited your lovely state but did not experience the monsoon. I’m glad you like it. Now I am off on an adventure today that is supposed to involve milking a cow and hopefully will be back with lots of fun pictures to play with.

artBob Loc: Near Chicago

Good post processing and cropping.
I also like the original for what it shows: the modern city, abuilding. with the construction going on in the foreground. With some masking and post processing, I emphasized that idea.

(Download)

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

kenievans wrote:

In my daily drive through town I am often looking ... (show quote)

As usual, Linda summed things up quite nicely. You are really starting to do some interesting things and that is wonderful. This is not meant as a critique; but you might want to start going a bit further with post processing. Not that you need more effects; but a side effect of doing a lot of processing is that you get artifacts that you don't really want. Look at the edges of your buildings in download and you will see slight halo's and some color fringing. These come about often when you do a lot of processing. (notice they are not as pronounced in your original). You can control these.

1. open the image in Photo Shop
2. use contr+ to make the image very large.
3. Careful cloning along the edges can reduce/eliminate the halo effect.

I can go into more detail if you need me to; but those are the basic steps.

I like R.G.'s edit; but it is very different from what you had in mind. I think your crop makes for a very good composition.
erich

kenievans Loc: Dallas

ebrunner wrote:

you might want to start going a bit further with post processing.
erich

Thank you Erich. I agree. I need to slow down and look at my work with a more technical eye not just creativity.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

kenievans wrote:

Thank you Erich. I agree. I need to slow down and look at my work with a more technical eye not just creativity.

I must say that I was nit-picking. I can't wait to see what you come up with next.
erich