Foggy Cityscape - Tips for Post Processing

[Brownbear]

I headed out to photograph birds at the shipyards and much to my surprise it was very foggy morning, something I have yet to see during the summer months. Anyhow I love photographing scenes in the fog so even though I didn't have my tripod I took a couple of snapshots. So perhaps not a sharp as they should be but I know that this Fall and Winter I will out photographing scenes in the fog.

ISO 100 SS 1/80 f/8 focal length 300 mm

Processed in ACR in LR, raising the black point but keeping with the high-key/low contrast look.

Then I applied a curves adjustment to darken the shadows to bring out the fog. More so in #1 than #2.

#1



#2



Basically I'm a little puzzled on how one should go about post processing a scene like this. Ideally I would like to keep the soft colours/low contrast look but play up the fog and the mist.

Keeping my goal in mind, how did I do?

Thank you.

[Kodiak]

Keeping my goal in mind, how did I do?

I'd say your artistic intent was clear and your pictures depict just that. Very,very cool!

[Shadowman]

I always go the opposite direction with an image like this, adding more contrast and warmth to the colors if they are visible. Unfortunately you don't have those colors to do an edit like that, but you do have some interesting shapes in the domes and the white canopies. If you do anything to the image concentrate on those shapes. Nicely done.

[Mike Buckley]

I think these are wonderful, especially because they meet your goal so well! The only thing I can suggest is that you consider cropping on the right in the second one to just barely eliminate the building at the edge of the frame.

When post-processing photos such as these, especially while this style is relative new to you, push any or all of the post-processing parameters to far greater extremes than anything you would otherwise consider. Doing so will help you determine that you need to either treat this style with unusual aggressiveness or that you are satisfied treating them as is. Indeed, do a lot of experimenting. Regardless of what you ultimately conclude, the newly found information will be a winning situation for you. (You may have already done all of that, in which case you should promptly ignore this paragraph.)

[deetheturk]

I like them as is Christina, well captured

[ShaneS]

I agree with Mike, Christina, but would also suggest that you crop about half off the building in the first shot. The 2nd image is also a bit brighter than the first was that the variation in the lighting or your PP?

Hard images to capture and process for sure but I think that you did meet your goal and are on your way to a series once the fog rolls in more often. I used to love going for a walk around lost lagoon on a damp foggy morning and if I had a nice cup of tea or hot chocolate in hand it was all the better

[Colin Southern]

Hi Christina,

Fog shots are a bit of a paradox if you try to process them along conventional lines; Fog induces a loss of contrast and the more one tries to restore the contrast, the less the fog becomes visible (and generally the worse the image looks).

My suggestion is to usually just force the blacks a little to give the shots somewhat of an "anchor" - but ultimately they usually look best going for high-key, as you've done.

Well done

[FootLoose]

I think you have done well, Christina, I like them both. They are very evocative.

[Kaye Leggett]

I think the first image works better, the foreground in the 2nd is not misty enough and distracts for me. In the first the sail like rook is that bit clearer which somehow adds to the fogginess, if that makes any sense at all.

[HaseebM]

I really like the first image, well captured.

[Brownbear]

Thank you to everyone! Sorry for the late reply. It was supposed to be foggy this morning so I headed out all excited (and prepared with tripod in hand) alas no fog! However my seal paid me a visit so that made the trip worth the early rise.

I'm most appreciative of everyone's feedback, input and suggestions. Come foggy season I will be well prepared for this scene, and I've decided that I do quite like these.

John... Thank you for sharing. Edits are a little warmer for you only because I decided the 2nd image was a bit too blue.

Mike... Thank you for the tip on playing with the sliders, very helpful and I learned that there are only two colours in this image. (Blue/aqua/green)

Colin... Thank you for advising. I do love high-key images and the fog so it is very encouraging to know that I did this well.

Kaye... Thank you for advising on the mist, brought out in the new edit.

Shane and Mike... Thank you. Cropped I hope I cropped the right building. I have a hard time hand holding the camera in a vertical position, crooked images and lens corrections mucked up my composition a bit.

Also Thank you to Kodiak, Haseeb, Greg, and David!



Following are my edits...


2.

Cropped



Another version of 2, different shot.



#1. Cropped

[bnnrcn]

Sorry for being late for this thread Christina, I like the edits It is good training for us to see fog shots.

[Stagecoach]

An interesting challenge Christina, well done. Nothing I can add that has not been mentioned already and something I have never attempted to photograph.

Fog is very rare here although some early mornings there's a bit of a mist on the ground mixed with cooking smoke

Grahame

[Brownbear]

Thank you Binnur & Grahame.

And thank you for the training on sunset/sunrise shots. The next time I manage to get to the beach I should be well prepared from reading all of your threads.

Grahame... Fog is the one thing I would miss, a lot, if I moved back to the tropics. It even hides the unsightly cranes (building cranes, not birds) in the city.

PS Shane... You must be missing Vancouver. I for one would rather be sipping a chilled glass of vino taking in the view of Hanauma Bay, or a soda pop and snorkeling the warm ocean waters. Instead of braving the cold fog of Lost Lagoon with a hot chocolate to warm up my frost bitten fingers. Although I must admit that I do love hot chocolate.

Be careful with your camera. I just remembered that I lost my camera (an inexpensive point and shoot) to a rogue wave on Hanakapiai beach on the Na Pali coast (Kauaii) even though I was quite a ways back from the surf!