Trinidad, Cuba landscape: Too much post processing?

GeorgeK Loc: NNJ

Too much post processing?

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jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Not for me.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

The sky looks wonderful, very natural. I think you should coax more out of the land itself with some selective edits of brightness, saturation, levels/curves. Can I post a tweak of your pic?

GeorgeK Loc: NNJ

Linda From Maine wrote:

The sky looks wonderful, very natural. I think you should coax more out of the land itself with some selective edits of brightness, saturation, levels/curves. Can I post a tweak of your pic?

Certainly, Linda. I would like to see your take.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

GeorgeK wrote:

Certainly, Linda. I would like to see your take.

I used an online app to make the changes I mentioned. Now that it's uploaded, I would do even more, especially to the light/shadows and color saturation of the center of the mountain range and to the grassy/greenest areas of the valley. It's a beautiful scene that holds up to viewing large and in detail - and you have the opportunity to help direct viewers' eyes around the scene with color, tones and light.

Thanks George!

(edit: I guess my crop moved the horizon line to the middle, but I remedied that with a pano crop in next posting

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original
original...

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I'm quite in love with those clouds (I feel I can touch them!) and the dappled light on the mountains. So, for a story that's all about the two stars of the show:

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GeorgeK Loc: NNJ

Linda, I like what you did with the saturation and shadows. I'm not sure I like the last crop as much, though. I like the small pond(?) and some of the golden grasses just below and to right of center in the original.

Thank you for the suggestions. I will enjoy doing more work on this.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

GeorgeK wrote:

...I'm not sure I like the last crop as much, though. I like the small pond(?) and some of the golden grasses...

Absolutely, it was your vision and I appreciate being able to play.

artBob Loc: Near Chicago

Since you okayed showing what we mean, here is my suggestion. First, your shot is absolutely great in composition. Next, I thin you got a great moment, as cloud shadows pattern the land.
To bring out those features, I increased the contrast on the land, then lightened and saturated the brighter value lands in the shadows to emphasize the composition while not destroying the cloud shadows.

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GeorgeK Loc: NNJ

Thank you, Bob. The cloud shadows are more prominent and certainly add something.

NJFrank Loc: New Jersey

I think like many landscapes images many have their own vision. For me that is what makes the subject interesting. As seen in this thread many have a different take on your image. In this particular shot i think I am in your camp in how you presented your image to FYC. Nicely done.

GeorgeK Loc: NNJ

NJFrank wrote:

I think like many landscapes images many have their own vision. For me that is what makes the subject interesting. As seen in this thread many have a different take on your image. In this particular shot i think I am in your camp in how you presented your image to FYC. Nicely done.

Thanks for looking and the comment, Frank.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

GeorgeK wrote:

Too much post processing?

Hi, George,

First, I am one of those with antipathy for a horizon right across the middle of a landscape. I think it works better with horizon raised or lowered.

Also, I am unimpressed with the compositional effect of the “cloud shadows” in this image, but AM impressed with the opposed arcs of the clouds and the arcs of the terrain greens; they are in almost perfect opposition and are an effective compositional counterposition.
See examples.

Dave

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magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Not sure I’d go as far as some of the offerings but a bit more saturation as per Linda’s first shot at it is about right for me. I too do not love central horizons but I’d be very loath to give up any of that beautiful sky - I think you can leave the crop as you chose . It’s a lovely landscape image.

GeorgeK Loc: NNJ

Uuglypher wrote:

Hi, George,

First, I am one of those with antipathy for a horizon right across the middle of a landscape. I think it works better with horizon raised or lowered.

Also, I am unimpressed with the compositional effect of the “cloud shadows” in this image, but AM impressed with the opposed arcs of the clouds and the arcs of the terrain greens; they are in almost perfect opposition and are an effective compositional counterposition.
See examples.

Dave

Dave, thanks for taking the time to view and comment. I typically don't like a horizon in the middle either but it didn't bother me here maybe because both the sky and terrain are so strong texturally.