Project 52 by Gillie

[gilliebg]

Week 4 means I have been here a month; what a wonderful site this is, a mine of information and education that I can mostly understand ! I have never entered any sort of competition, and the mini comps. are a great way to start, and thank you to those who have voted for my pictures, and to those who didn't, as it makes me take another look to see what I could have done better.

My post this week was taken in February, but was processed and edited this week, so I hope that will be alright. I once again failed to find the Project 52 guidelines although I did find enough interesting things while searching, that I burnt a pan of eggs. I love this particular stretch of Florida beach, one of the very few to have rocks. I wanted to produce a picture that had a little more artistry than the usual beach snap, and although I love the picture I think I failed in that respect. So, sunrise and sunset apart, what could I have done, do you think, to make the picture 'pop' more?

[Geoff F]

Before making any serious suggestions, Gillie, we really need to know what processing you have already done and what software do you use.

My first thought is would it take a fraction more brightness in the highlights. I would use an Adjustment Layer and edit a mask, where required, to prevent any slight hotspots. But can you use layers and masks with your software?

Another trick I sometimes use is to create a duplicate layer and set the layer blend mode to Soft Light with a suitable opacity, say something around 60%. But once again, can you do this sort of thing.

And I wonder if that image is just a fraction on the blue side. But I would have to experiment with it before making a firm decision.

But it isn't far out so any editing should be very slight; it is so easy to overdo the 'enhancements'.

[gilliebg]

Hi Geoff. Thanks for your reply. I have pretty much all I need to process properly, just need to get some proficiency with the software. I have CS5, I shoot RAW files, editing in ACR first. I also have Capture NX2, which I don't use a lot any more, although I like the noise reducer. I have Col Efex , Silver Efex2, Topaz Adjust, and Pixel Bender. So...no excuses about equipment!

Here I actually used CS6 beta, as I wanted to use the new tilt shift blur on the horizon; the shot was in focus way back and looked hard to me. I masked the rock to keep it from getting blurred. Before that, after editing in ACR, I used the shadows and highlights adjustment on a new layer; then I used a linear contrast on a curve layer. I reselected the rock and sharpened it slightly with the High Pass filter however I blended it with Vivid light at around 70%. That's about all I think; oh - I did pop the tern in for good measure
Gillie

[Geoff F]

Having had a quick play around with that image, Gillie, I think it will take a little more brightness mostly around the highlights. But I'm working with that low resolution copy.

https://www.cambridgeincolour.com/fo...3&d=1335031724

I have added a Soft Light layer at 30% but I'm not sure if that is a bit too much.

[FrankMi]

Hi Gille, I like the composition but the sharp line between the in-focus and out-of-focus on the horizon looks unnatural to me. I think you can achieve the same feeling by using a gradient with the same process to make the change more gradual.

[gilliebg]

Hi Geoff. I think the water and foam is brighter, but the rock has gone green? I am having trouble with color. For instance this picture I worked on in Prophoto RGB, which is what I have been using. I edited the picture and posted it here, on Flickr, (because that's the only way I can get them here!) and on another couple of sites, and the colours were exactly as they were on my monitor, except that on one site, perfectlycaptured.com, the thumbnail had this green look to the rock, but when opened it was fine. However, when I put the shot on my desktop as a screensaver, the rock went green. Now I just don't understand how it can show on my monitor as the colour I want, but when shown on my desktop, on the same monitor, it changes colours. There is an awful lot I have to learn about colour spaces and profiles, and although I read and read, I just can't get my head around it. I altered the white balance and then the desktop one was fine. Gillie

[gilliebg]

Hi Frank. I will try the gradient filter and see if I can improve it, thanks for the suggestion. Gillie
PS: Do you love your Tokina? I need (want) a wide angle and a macro lens and at my budget they seem very tempting.

[Geoff F]

Just a thought, but are you working with Adobe RGB or one of the more 'unusual' colour spaces which is acceptable in your photo editing software but isn't fully recognised elsewhere?

Using the basic sRGB is safest for multi format use.

[Goldcoastgolfer]

I actually like what you've produced here with the exception of what Frank mentioned on the unnatural blurring effect because it's quite pronounced making look unnatural. There's certainly enough elements to keep someone's interest although I think I'd try for a tighter crop if the detail in the bird allows for it.

[gilliebg]

Well, this is what I came up with, after trying to follow all your advice, for which I thank you. I think I have improved the horizon line, but in trying to brighten it, the sea seems to have become a little too blue maybe. Anyway, I shall be going back to this spot to try to get these rocks at a better time of day - I have dozens of shots of various angles so I shall work on those. Geoff, this picture was processed entirely in Adobe RGB, although I usually use ProPhoto RGB. Gillie

[FrankMi]

Looks great to me Gillie! The sea and the horizon is looking quite natural and the seagull is easier to see. Great PP effort!

[Geoff F]

If you have edited in Adobe RGB did you convert to sRGB before posting here? Adobe RGB can produce colour problems when viewed on the internet.

[gilliebg]

Hi Geoff; I didn't convert it to sRGB, as to date I have had few problems with the colour; it all seems to look as it does on my monitor. If I send anything for printing it goes to myphotopipe.com as they handle Adobe RGB in addition to sRGB. I think my friend Steve and I solved the problem of the change in colour when I use a picture as a screensaver; I think that is probably to do with the Windows profile. Gillie

[gilliebg]

The Prickley Poppy.

This is my effort for my fifth week; I am having a lot of trouble with this flower; I found it by the side of the road, a great bush of white poppies fluttering over the ground cover phlox, but I would like some help with it, as so far, any pictures I have posted, have gone over like a proverbial lead balloon.

[Goldcoastgolfer]

What is it about the photo that you feel you're not happy with?

[Geoff F]

I may try a slight crop from the left side and bottom, but everything else seems fine to me.

My only other suggestion would be to experiment with a minute increase in the highlight brightness. But this might require a bit of selective application with a mask.

Not really sure if it would work though. Just a case of try it then decide.

[gilliebg]

Hi Mal; I actually like the picture and several others that I have taken and posted of this plant, but it became apparent that they did not appeal to those who rate or comment on the couple of other sites of which I am a member. Part of it's appeal for me, was the way it was blowing about in the wind, and maybe I should have allowed more movement in the petals. I thought that I would post it here to seem if anyone could put their finger on why it is not clicking with viewers.

[gilliebg]

Thanks for the suggestions, Geoff; I did have quite a bit of trouble with the highlights, as part of it was blowing out and the shadows were turning blue. In the end, I played with the white balance to get rid of the blue edges around the petals, brightened it as much as I could, and even burned one small area that was really blown out. Gillie

[FrankMi]

Hi Gille. Other than personal preferences, I'm not really seeing anything wrong with the image.

Sharp will grab attention faster than less-sharp so you could try a slight blur on the leaves on lower third of the stem, but not to the point where it is less-sharp than the buds it supports. If you were to reshoot, try to get the leading edge of the blossom as sharp as the trailing edge of the blossom.

As strictly a personal preference (and it may not be what you'd like), I'd try reversing the image horizontally and see if it ‘feels’ better to you. The stem is fairly large, but IMHO not to the point where it takes attention away from the blossom. The background may be a bit busy but it is sufficiently subdued so as to not detract either.

If you feel that the comments posted on other sites have merit, try them to see if you like the result as well as what you have. If not, don't be overly concerned about what others think and develop your own style of preferences.

[Goldcoastgolfer]

From my perspective I suspect part of the issue is that when people see flower photos, it's often in a very "clean" background setting, up close and personal so the flower is the clear focus of the composition. In the one that you've captured, there are a number of elements that can pull your focus away from the flower. In this case you could try a closer crop to see if you can bring the focus back to the flower and remove some of the other distractions.