Partial desaturation of Raw file image - does it 'work'?

[Matty B]

This image I painstakingly desaturated / masked in PS and re-toned the desaturated parts. I added a small frame to try to give more impact. Is it a EASY image to view or awkward to focus on? Like - Dislike?

[jonnydee]

I like it, the colours on the boat are muted enough that it doesn't stick out too much, but draws the eye in. Nice work! Might be a bit tricky, but have you thought about partially colouring the reflection/shadow of the boat on the water?

[Matty B]

Thanks for the comments jonnydee, The boat's owner's painted it in some great understated "boaty" colours. I'll go back to the original file and see what reflection I can save from the boat - a job for a rainy day when camera stays in it's case!

[sirhc55]

Nicely done Matty B - the photo lends itself to being filtered as a pastel or even given a touch of gaussian blur to give it a dream like effect

[ozimax]

I like the effect, the colours aren't too much, but subtle, nicely done, Max

[kurokaze204]

Now call me a down-home country boy, but this is the sort of photo I'd frame for my office.

[BBJ]

I like it the way it is looks good and also would look nice with a bit fog or mist off the water as well.

[mudder]

This really invokes a relaxed, calming feeling for me... Really like what appears like a soft-focus (or is it just me?) and the spiky grass spears(?) in the foreground...

That'd look great framed and up on the wall in the bar Very nice... Very easy and soft on the eye...

Cheers,
Mudder

[Glen]

Matty, I really like it and its dreamlike quality. Interetingly, proving that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I think I would like it even more without the grass spears, unlike mudder who prefer them. I think they slightly throw ones focus from the boat.