Google Eyes

[John 2]

I like Veteran Car events but images tend to be a bit samey (is that a word?) so looking for something different.
It was the enormous headlamps that attracted me to this shot.

Fuji X pro1
14mm f2.8 Fuji X lens

Original - 1/60th Sec @ f16 ISO 400

[chauncey]

I like Veteran Car events but images tend to be a bit samey (is that a word?) so looking for something different.

Samey...samey...I'm not a grammarian, but I get the drift. When I visit those shows I don't even look at the cars, but instead, look for interesting reflections...that aside
I really like your PP, the conversion and fading of the cars on the side. Really pulls the eye back to the main subject. Care to expand on your technique?

[John 2]

Thanks Chauncey. The technique isn't difficult. Its basically three/four layers. After converting the image to mono, I duplicated the original into a second layer to work on. You don't have to but it is safer. I then used Topaz Re-mask 3 (great software) to select and cut out the vehicle and the FG grass. Re-mask 3 then pastes the cut out back on the layer stack as a third layer. You can then select the second layer once more and lower the contrast etc until you have the background effect that you want. I think I may have introduced another layer at this point filled with white and at a very low opacity and overlaid it on the background layer (layer 2) to enhance the white out effect. A bit of dodging and blurring of the join then just about does it. Have a play. It's a useful Way of bringing down a busy background.

[chauncey]

Got it...thanks!

[Dave Humphries]

Nice result John - and thanks for sharing how you achieved it.

[John 2]

Thank you Dave - you're welcome. It's what this forum is all about.

[Plumcrak]

OK, thats it! I need to get some software. I absolutely love this image! Thank you for your explanation on how you achieved it. I think it is time to make another investment in this hobby...Shhh, don't tell my wife

[Karm Redland]

Hi John. Very nice. Creative processing.

karm

[Brownbear]

Stunning image... beautiful!

[RustBeltRaw]

The contrast reduction on the surrounding cars is pretty blatant. I'd tone that down and blend it more gently near the ground, especially on the right-hand side. Great subject, great angle, great detail, nice conversion, but that one bit of PP is really distracting me.

[John 2]

Karm, Christina, many thanks for your comments.
Jon, good luck but you never know, Christmas is coming.
Lex, it never fails to surprise me that you can look at an image for hours and still miss something. You are absolutely right and it is so easily put right. Thanks for pointing it out.