Experimentation in PP - V8SC pic

[bwhinnen]

Whilst going through some old images for a printed portfolio I was trying to save an image to see if it was worth it (it wasn't). I decided to pull it into CS3 as a RAW (it was taken as a JPEG) as this allowed me to play with the settings through ACR. I came up with two distinctly different results and am not sure which processing I like best. I was going for the hand drawn and then water coloured / coloured pencil look without resorting to a filter, they are both de-saturated quite a bit, one slightly more than the other.

Sample 1. More contrast and edge definition on the darks makes a moody image.


Sample 2. Less contrast, makes a more whimsical image.


I'm almost wondering if something through the middle would achieve the look I want. I'm thinking this may make a nice style to print on canvas. Would really appreciate your opinions, does it work, or should I go back to bed and not get up for a week before touching Photoshop again

Thanks for looking

Brett

[Greg B]

Brett, I am not really a motor racing fan (although I will watch a bit on TV from time to time), so my comments should be discounted accordingly.

I don't think the desaturation works. Motor racing is loud, fast, in your face and colourful. The cars are (initially at least) beautifully finished
and brightly painted. Reduce the colours and - to me anyway - you lose an important aspect of the way it looks.

Otherwise, the shot looks pretty good to me!

[Big Red]

i'd have to agree with Greg...
they need more colour not less IMHO

[bwhinnen]

Hmm not quite what I was going for, but here is more saturation for a concept.



What I was originally thinking was something similar to a b&w print I have, perhaps I should have taken the colour out and turned it into a B&W to get the effect I was aiming for...

[ATJ]

Brett,

I prefer the 3rd image, although I think the colour needs to be toned back a tad.

[bwhinnen]

Brett,

I prefer the 3rd image, although I think the colour needs to be toned back a tad.

I'm going extremes here Andrew, not trying to make it look like a normal shot, that bit is easy But I'll tone it back a little when I get back on my laptop later this evening...

[Big Red]

probably a bit much as the shadows look painted on .

picky lot aren't we

[mickeyjuice]

picky lot aren't we

No doubt about that!

Having said that, I prefer #3 but think it's a bit much as well

[bwhinnen]

Sorry been busy with other projects

But finally got back to it last night.

[ATJ]

Brett,

I like the last one.

[mickeyjuice]

Yeah, love it. Guess I'm a traditionalist when it comes to some subjects

[gstark]

If you changed the angle, so that the car/image appeared to face downhill (from right to left) would the car be traveling faster?