How can I improve this shot ?? :)

[Quinn]

Hi All
A good friend of mine is soon to celebrate his 50th birthday (Sadly, Im not far behind ) and I want to give him an image of his favorite beach, this being Pedney beach in Treen Cornwall.
This image was taken some years ago on a Canon Powershot S45 and is the best shot I have of the place.
As you can see from the before and after, I have done a fair amount of work on the image which I hope improves the shot! (Have I overdone it ?? please feel free to critique).
I still feel the image lacks a focal point, or something to pull it together. At the moment it is just a picture of a pretty beach.
Id be grateful for suggestions as to how I can improve the image, give it more impact or interest. I have toyed with B&W but I'm struggling to find a conversion that adds anything. Create 'movement' in the clouds perhaps??

Many Thanks !
Phil

Before


After


Click for Larger Version

[Digital]

I like images #2, and #3 as they are. Nice work.



Bruce

[whited3]

Great pic but I think you need to straighten the horizon. Doesn't quite follow the rule of 3rds (if you think that's important).

Cheers,

Mark

[jordand]

Phil, nothing to be sad about approaching the 50 (and nothing you can do to avoid it). I crossed this line a year ago and nothing changed dramatically ;-)
I suppose this is a wide angle shot, so straightening the horizon as suggested here by Mark is a good idea.
I like #2’s foreground for the greenish look of the shallow water and the details in the rocks and cliffs, but in my opinion, there’s too much blue in the distant water and the sky which produces a banal, post card look.
What I’ll suggest here, assuming you use Photoshop is a technique I developed for myself, although I’m sure many other use similar approach.
Create black and white layer of the image, emphasizing on contrast and sharpness. Place this layer over the original. Put a black mask over it (hide all) and using soft brush with opacity value not more than 5-7 paint over the mask with white, thus slowly revealing the colors underneath till the point you’re satisfied with the balance between saturation and contrast.
If you have a steady hand, increase the opacity of the brush and reveal completely the foreground.
Hope this would help.
Jordan

[Paniaa]

Do keep up people - don't you know 50 is the new 30?? I know what I'm talking about.
I like the after pics, though I see what you mean by lacking a focal point. I don't mind the intense blue.

[Dusty]

To me 'after' is fine by me and I'm sure your friend will be overjoyed with the image.
Dave.

[HenkB]

Philip,

This is a very appealing photo of the coast and sea. The surf is especially engaging. It should be a real hit.

To my eyes, the sun-dazzle should be the most attractive area and it nearly is ... except for the glare on the rock at lower right. If you were to tone this down, your eye would be more drawn to the center and, lacking the distraction on the right, be able better to appreciate the sand and the rocky headland on the left. To my eye, to my taste (which admittedly runs to understatement) and on my monitors (calibrated), the blue is too intense, too hyper-realistic. But, I get where you're going and, if that's what you think the situation requires, sympathize. If this will be printed large, it would be critical to level the horizon and remove any curvature.

Again, good job. And, as someone who lived through them, don't fear the 50's. For me, they were the best (as in the BEST).

[Quinn]

Well, Thank you all for your kind words and suggestions.
I think I will take Jordand's suggestion of toning down the blue, particularly in the distance.
I will definitely straighten the horizon, I hadn't thought of removing the curvature, but I will !
Also, Thanks for your advice on MY impending milestone ! I take grate sollis in your comment that 50 is just THE BEST !!!
I'll post the results
Thanks again
Cheers
Phil

[Nancy Moran G]

I am sure your friend will love it and appreciate it came 'from' you, not bought.
(And having passed the 50 already, he'll appreciate a non- gag gift too )
Can't add much to what has been said- nice gift.
Nancy

[Brev00]

For me, there is a subject. The strength of the image is in the surf lines in the middle, lower third that sort of hug the sand bar that all flows from the cliffs to the left. I think the saturation of the sky tends to deemphasize this less vivid part of the picture. I might first straighten things up as others have said, then lessen the pop of the sky, and crop the top few clouds off the edge. That would lift the horizon and add emphasis to the bottom two-thirds. I think the image is pretty great as is and will delight the birthday recipient, no doubt. I really like how you included the near rock on the right. It helps give the image presence and might be worth some more attention if you ever get back to the site.

[Kris V]

Create black and white layer of the image, emphasizing on contrast and sharpness. Place this layer over the original. Put a black mask over it (hide all) and using soft brush with opacity value not more than 5-7 paint over the mask with white, thus slowly revealing the colors underneath till the point you’re satisfied with the balance between saturation and contrast.
If you have a steady hand, increase the opacity of the brush and reveal completely the foreground.
Hope this would help.
Jordan

Interesting technique. Gotta try that sometime.
Thanks for posting this!