Opinions about the PP for this photo: I really liked this photo, taken at the National Bison Reserve in Montana. But the mountains were kind of flat. I tried some brightness/contrast...

pmsc70d Loc: Post Falls, Idaho

I really liked this photo, taken at the National Bison Reserve in Montana. But the mountains were kind of flat. I tried some brightness/contrast tweaking, but wasn't entirely satisfied. Then I tried PS's Autotone button and voila! I really like the photo, but I wonder if it looks somewhat artificial. What do you think?

Original

(Download)

After pp
After pp...

(Download)

revhen Loc: By the beautiful Hudson

Lights too light in original, darks too dark in PP'd. Might try fill flash on PP'd.

pmsc70d Loc: Post Falls, Idaho

revhen wrote:

Lights too light in original, darks too dark in PP'd. Might try fill flash on PP'd.

Is fill flash a PS feature?

Fred Harwood Loc: Sheffield, Mass.

That's what the ATone is for, when one cannot decide. Then, if not "perfect" in your memory, make very slight adjustments.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

pmsc70d wrote:

I really liked this photo, taken at the National Bison Reserve in Montana. But the mountains were kind of flat. I tried some brightness/contrast tweaking, but wasn't entirely satisfied. Then I tried PS's Autotone button and voila! I really like the photo, but I wonder if it looks somewhat artificial. What do you think?

Now the mountains look monochrome, you can play with the color settings.
Did you try the more advanced PS adjustments that include Midtones and Highlight and Shadows on separate sliders?
I will often try the Auto tone, auto contrast or auto color then go to the manual sliders to see if I can improve things - very often I can.

Would you mind if I did a download and give it a try and repost?

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

PP is very nicely done. I'd crop out the road if it were mine

pmsc70d Loc: Post Falls, Idaho

robertjerl wrote:

Now the mountains look monochrome, you can play with the color settings.
Did you try the more advanced PS adjustments that include Midtones and Highlight and Shadows on separate sliders?
I will often try the Auto tone, auto contrast or auto color then go to the manual sliders to see if I can improve things - very often I can.

Would you mind if I did a download and give it a try and repost?

I don't mind. I've been using PS for a while, but I still don't know all the tricks.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

pmsc70d wrote:

I don't mind. I've been using PS for a while, but I still don't know all the tricks.

OK, back later.

NikonGal Loc: Central Oregon

In the post processed image, the light on the mountain tops and the contrast in the clouds makes a much more dramatic image IMO. I enjoyed seeing your before and after.

Don't concern yourself with knowing all the tricks in PS, that's what Youtube is for or your favorite instructor. Just sit back and enjoy the creative possibilities......Bev

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

The true colors are revealed in the download. Use sRGB color space when posting to UHH and the thumbnail will match the download.

I think the edit is gorgeous and dramatic, perfect for the scene. I like the road; the vehicle adds a sense of scale, though a shot one or two seconds sooner would have helped.

PP is personal preference and rarely does a thread result in a consensus

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

revhen wrote:

Lights too light in original, darks too dark in PP'd. Might try fill flash on PP'd.

More control can be found with selective editing, especially using curves or levels.

As mentioned, You-Tube has a wealth of free assistance!

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

I am back. Quick run through in PS with a side trip into Camera RAW since I don't have the Out Of Camera raw to work on in LR - my normal flow is LR > PS > add on and save back to LR.

Some things seem to be improved, some not, and a few spots are not as good. I count myself as only fair on overall Post Processing. I have a few tricks I am good at and the rest is done by experiment and guesstimate. I was trying to improve the clouds and peaks and open the dark area in the cloud shadow in the mid ground.

Over all my version is not as good, though it looks a lot better in download. Oh well, live, learn and experiment to hopefully improve in life.

Try posting it in the photo editing/Post Processing section and ask for help. Many of our real experts hang out there.

(Download)

Fred Harwood Loc: Sheffield, Mass.

pmsc70d wrote:

I really liked this photo, taken at the National Bison Reserve in Montana. But the mountains were kind of flat. I tried some brightness/contrast tweaking, but wasn't entirely satisfied. Then I tried PS's Autotone button and voila! I really like the photo, but I wonder if it looks somewhat artificial. What do you think?

Here's another rendering.

An effort

(Download)

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

I like what you did in the "after." The mountains look awesome, and the vehicle adds to the sense of scale and loneliness.

Ourspolair

Did you try simply adjusting the dehaze adjustment? It should bring out the mountains without dramatically changing the foreground...