I combined two bracketed photos with a three stop difference for this shot, again using the amazing Refine Mask tool in Photoshop CS5. I'm not sure it looks totally realistic...what do you think?
Sweet, Mr.
On my laptop this looks great. The sky looks wonderful as does the red tree.
Posted by Debjit Ghosh on October 19, 2010 at 11:30 PM
looks fine. maybe a bit darker version would be good but thats just me
Posted by Robert Dayton on October 19, 2010 at 11:40 PM
I like the painterly affect here, Tony. Well composed with
diagonal lines in the FG. You also had nice even lighiting
to work with.
Posted by Mat Malone on October 20, 2010 at 12:42 AM
Really like it, Tony. Looks very natural. I think you could get away with a little stronger sharpening in this version as well.
Posted by Cory Freeman on October 20, 2010 at 9:35 AM
fine work tony and l like the less contrast chosen. I think I see an area of brightness around the tip of the tree where the mask needs to be refined a bit. these are tough masks to make, bright tree against dark clouds-ugh!
I thinks this works well. Nice color, and the mix of plan life is wonderful.
The blend seems to work nicely, but I'd like the clouds a bit darker so that the tops of the trees pop a little more. Also, there looks to be cyan cast in the clouds.
Nice effort!
--P
Posted by Lon Overacker on October 20, 2010 at 5:13 PM
Well done Tony. Like Mike's recent image, I like that you were able to isolate the top of the tree against that brooding sky. I think that makes a big difference here. Excellent job with the blend.
Personally, I would like to see this a little darker. and globally even. A darker sky would add more stormy mood and I think a little darker and just a tad more contrast in the trees would be good. But obviously already differing opinions on the contrast so in the end it's really however you want to present this. But this is certainly an autumn image worth trying different things to see what works best for you.
Lon
Posted by Steve Sieren on October 22, 2010 at 1:49 PM
I've got some 2 sided views on this one Tony, my knit picky photographer side thinks the halo around the tree top needs to be fixed but my artistic side says it makes the tree pop more. I sound like a frosted wheat cereal commercial. Sorry the undecisiveness doesn't help but it's just my thoughts.
Posted by Tony Siciliano on October 22, 2010 at 10:40 PM
Discussion
10 repliesOn my laptop this looks great. The sky looks wonderful as does the red tree.
diagonal lines in the FG. You also had nice even lighiting
to work with.
The blend seems to work nicely, but I'd like the clouds a bit darker so that the tops of the trees pop a little more. Also, there looks to be cyan cast in the clouds.
Nice effort!
--P
Personally, I would like to see this a little darker. and globally even. A darker sky would add more stormy mood and I think a little darker and just a tad more contrast in the trees would be good. But obviously already differing opinions on the contrast so in the end it's really however you want to present this. But this is certainly an autumn image worth trying different things to see what works best for you.
Lon