Posted by Howard Cihak on August 28, 2011 at 12:50 PM
Personally, I think the white water in the stream is much too grey, and I'm looking at this on my color-balanced NEC monitor. David, I would opt to brighten the foreground flowers a bit.
Posted by John Mumaw on August 28, 2011 at 1:12 PM
Looks like a global darkening rather than a selective one in the bright shadowed areas.
For example, I much preferred the original sky with the blues slowing turning brighter toward the bottom of the sky. In the repost, it looks bland now,
The sunlit areas of the mountain in the original were quite vibrant, and have been tamed in the repost. Same with the creek and the flowers. If you can selectively darken just the greens, I think it might turn out better.
Layer->New Adjustment Layer->Selective Colors.
Choose 'Greens' and move the black slider right to 100%.
Try the same with Blues to darken the sky a bit, moving the black slider right to taste.
Try the same with Magentas moving the black slider left to taste to make the flowers pop a bit more.
Then create a duplicate layer, and use the 'Image Polish' technique:
Unsharp Mask...Amount-20% Radius-50 Threshold-0
Use a layer mask to make it disappear in areas where you don't want it and/or lower the opacity of the layer to taste.
Sorry about all the unsolicited advice, but I think that this image is well worth the extra effort.
Posted by Erik Aagaard on August 28, 2011 at 1:13 PM
Nice composition, much more interesting than most from American Basin, I think what's bothering me (and perhaps others) is that the shadows areas are too flat and too light. I think if you darken and add more contrast to the shadow areas it will (a) look more realistic, and (b) make the gorgeous sunlit areas "pop" more. Not too dark and not too much more contrast, but more than the dingy gray I'm seeing now. I personally think with a little more work this image would really sing.
Posted by David Kingham on August 28, 2011 at 1:57 PM
John, don't apologize for the advice, I sincerely appreciate it. In fact I've been meaning to ask if you teach photoshop anywhere or do tutorials online? I've learned a great deal just from reading your advice to others, everything you said here was spot on. I also brought down the blacks in the blue just for the river and brightened it based on Howard's feedback. Is it getting close or should I start from scratch?
Posted by John Mumaw on August 28, 2011 at 2:22 PM
Bingo! I really like this version, David. You achieved the darkening, while the water and flowers pop a bit more and you kept the original sky. Selective Colors is one of my favorite tools.
You might add '+ reposts' or some such to your title here so others can offer their thoughts.
This is a unique composition from this place that looks great!
Posted by Jack Garrett on August 28, 2011 at 2:26 PM
That number 3 version is nice...a different take on an awesome location.
Posted by Lynn Scott on August 28, 2011 at 3:36 PM
Repost is very nicely done and looks sharp!
Posted by Dan Walters on August 28, 2011 at 10:01 PM
The last post looks great! The colors really pop.
Posted by Doug Koepsel on August 28, 2011 at 10:11 PM
David, nice perspective from AB. The repost is much better with the changes, esp contrast. Looks like there is a slight amount of magenta in the whiter parts of the water, though.
Posted by Kurt Bowman on August 29, 2011 at 3:03 AM
I really like the comp on this David. I agree the last repost looks much more natural. Good work!
Discussion
15 repliesFor example, I much preferred the original sky with the blues slowing turning brighter toward the bottom of the sky. In the repost, it looks bland now,
The sunlit areas of the mountain in the original were quite vibrant, and have been tamed in the repost. Same with the creek and the flowers. If you can selectively darken just the greens, I think it might turn out better.
Layer->New Adjustment Layer->Selective Colors.
Choose 'Greens' and move the black slider right to 100%.
Try the same with Blues to darken the sky a bit, moving the black slider right to taste.
Try the same with Magentas moving the black slider left to taste to make the flowers pop a bit more.
Then create a duplicate layer, and use the 'Image Polish' technique:
Unsharp Mask...Amount-20% Radius-50 Threshold-0
Use a layer mask to make it disappear in areas where you don't want it and/or lower the opacity of the layer to taste.
Sorry about all the unsolicited advice, but I think that this image is well worth the extra effort.
You might add '+ reposts' or some such to your title here so others can offer their thoughts.
This is a unique composition from this place that looks great!