mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Thank you. This is my first shot at creating this look. I will be modifying the preset for future use based, in part, on the feedback I'm getting. I will probably reduce sharpening and contrast to better reflect what might be visible to the naked eye during the golden hour

FotoPhreak Loc: Whittier, CA

You are a real magician! You made all the cars and the bicyclist disappear. That greatly improves the photo. But I would suggest toning down the golden hour effect a bit. Otherwise I like it.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Thanks. However, I'm not a magician. it's just some judicious use of the available repair and clone tools. They're pretty decent in PhotoLab but I think Photoshop's tools are somewhat more sophisticated.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

I read everyone's comments and as a result threw away the first version I created for this thread and started from scratch using the original raw file. In retrospect the first version was overcooked and the adjustments were far too aggressive for what I was trying to achieve. The first image below is my original take on creating a golden hour look from an image captured earlier in the day. The second image is my current and preferred version on that subject. Maybe its not everyone cup of tea, but the suggestions I got for the first image started me thinking more critically about it and I'm much happier with the current version. The last image is the unprocessed raw conversion which has a crooked horizon because I was on a rocking tour boat. Please click download and view them all at full resolution. Any additional comments would be appreciated.

My first take on the subject

(Download)

My new take on creating a golden hour look.

(Download)

Unprocessed raw conversion

(Download)

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Very interesting to compare given that I mentioned pink about your first and the new result looks much pinker than that I must have been mis-interpreting what my eyes saw.

For me the main improvement is the sky; now it isn't taking attention away from the monuments. I actually prefer the details in all the stonework that you brought out in your first result. This is a photo where small edits can change the feeling a lot.

Thanks for the follow-up, Mark. Fun to ponder!

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Thanks for looking at it again. The new version is actually a little less rosy, but is seems more obvious because of various other changes to contrast and sharpness. I reduced the amount of luminescence and saturation of reds in the sky. The color is mostly as a result of slight changes to the tone curve. I find that golden hour photo's often exhibit deep reddish yellows, and various degrees of pinks in the clouds as the waning sun filters through them or reflects off them. Creating the effect on an image from earlier in the day is always problematic. I have captured a number of photos taken just before sunset in places like Long Beach Island in New Jersey and in Nova Scotia, Canada that had a similar look just prior to twilight, and I was trying to simulate that on this image. With regard to the stonework details from the first image. I'm glad that you liked it. From my point of view, though, it was overcooked and I decided I wanted results that were more natural looking.