re visited

[bigsarg7]

Hi, I posted some pictures earlier this week, obviously i am not a pro photographer but i have a go, I have re posted a picture i took of the pier at Pt Lonsdale on the coast of Vic. I have touched it up a little in Photoshop, Just wondering if i've made it better or worse.

I would love advice on what to do with it so please if you have any, i'd appreciate it. Thanks Kristen

THIS IS THE NEWLY EDITED SHOT.....



THIS IS THE ORIGINAL SHOT, NO EDITING DONE.

[aim54x]

That looks good, can we get the original posted up next to it for comparison??

Cheers
cameron

[bigsarg7]

Yeah sure, i will edit the original post and include it in there. Thanks kristen

[bigsarg7]

Do you all think it looks ok? are there any suggestions in how i could make it better, i am thinking of getting it printed and framed so i am wanting to get it looking the best, so please any advice is appreciated.

Thanks kristen

[biggerry]

kristen, can you post a link to a larger version? That would make it easier to comment, for me anyway!

[bigsarg7]

yeah sure, here's a link to the image, it should be larger!

Hope it works ok, let me know if it doesn't. Thanks Kristen

[biggerry]

hey Kristen, I am sure there are otehrs here with more expertise here than me, however for the interim until they all flood you with responses, here is my crack and opinion.

Firstly irrespective of the version you use, the horizon needs to be straigtened

Secondly, I think yoiu need to bring out a bit of the light, followed by a bit of contrast and finally some sharpening. The web copy seems a bit soft, but this could be due to your downsizing method.

So at this stage if your going 'wtf is he banging on about'
heres one i prepared earlier bear in mind this is based on your downsized version, using your original full res image would produce better results..

[aim54x]

Very nice Gerry, but that noise is becoming a bit of problem....

[bigsarg7]

Wow thanks gerry, Great advice i might have to have a fiddle, its just so hard because in my mind i know how dark it was that night and how cold and windy too. I love the light you were able to bring to the pier. I appreciate you showing me, i've never had any advice in photoshop its all been learnt by fiddling around with different things, so i'd love to know how you did your changes so i can do them on the original.

Thanks for your advice, if anyone else has any hints or tips please flood them my way!!

kristen

[aim54x]

in photoshop I would adjust the curves, then adjust brightness/contrast, then saturation....

Gerry probably hit it with Capture NX and used D-Lighting...which is not a bad way to do it either.

Hope this helps

[bigsarg7]

Thanks, i might give that a god this afternoon when my bubs is asleep, i love thursdays as it gives me a chance to fiddle on the computer without my 2 year old being there(daycare) and my 5 year old is at kindy, makes a nice quiet day usually used to clean but today i might use it to fiddle!! lol

thanks aim for the advice, i'll fiddle and repost it if your interested.

thanks

kristen

[biggerry]

2 year old being there(daycare) and my 5 year old is at kindy, makes a nice quiet day usually used to clean

man, being a mum is hardwork, my hat goes off to ya!

Gerry probably hit it with Capture NX and used D-Lighting...which is not a bad way to do it either.

yeah, I used captureNX, which you can get as a trial for 30 days (or there abouts), I basically just straightened (probably the most important thing for that picture) adjusted the levels, you can do this through the 'D-Lighting' feature (high quality) but adjusting levels/curves does give you more control. Following that I adjusted the contrast, just enough to remove any 'washed-out' look then sharpened with a radius of 2 at about 45%. Basically just sharpen until it looks right, very subjective but seems to work for me.

Let us know how you go an if you have any Q's

[aim54x]

I am really enjoying Noise Ninja at the moment so I would push everything through in 16-bit tiff and run noise ninja until it looks right....but Capture NX is still my preferred processor.

Cheers
Cameron

[bigsarg7]

thanks for the suggestions, i am so unfamiliar with any of those programs you mentioned, i struggle to get my head around cs2. I might see if i can get the trial, thanks again, i never had time today, typical the one day i planned to have free ends up being flat out, anyways will fiddle and re post it again. thanks everyone!!

kristen

[bigsarg7]

Hello, again. I finally had a quick (i emphasise QUICK) chance to have a fiddle with the shot of the pier. I don't think i was very sucessful but i'll leave it to you pro's to make that comment. My kids have been very destructive while i was on computer editing, so i think this will have to do for today i'm afraid, but once again any advice would be great!!

Kristen

THIS IS THE SHOT EDITED TODAY



THIS IS THE FIRST ATTEMPT AT EDITING THE SHOT



THIS IS THE ORIGINAL SHOT STRAIGHT FROM CAMERA EXCEPT THE CROP

[Jase555]

Looking good though still looking a little soft, especially near the start of the pier. I'd suggest playing with the sharpening mask and bumping up the contrast a little - then adding a little light (I use lightroom with the fill light). In moderation of course as fill light introduces noise...