Bird House Row

[klpurkett]

This lighting is my favorite and least favorite thing about this image. I love the weeds by the fence. But I wish the bird houses where also illuminated so they stood out more against the barn. (A thought JUST NOW occurred to me: Flash. Duh. Why didn't I use the flash?!) This was taken just before sunset. Anyway, I'd love to hear any thoughts you all have on what could make this image stronger. Thanks,
Kristy

[IzzieK]

I only have one thought -- blur the background some more because it sort of compete with the colour of the bird houses. The bird houses is a good idea ...

[mugge]

I think Izzie is correct it's the birdhouses that should dominate. That is only my opinion.
Cheers Ole

[Shadowman]

The bird houses are just one element of the image, there are also the tones, shapes, and change of light (sky looks so drab yet there is a flicker of light on the tire and birdhouse).

[Stagecoach]

Kristy, nice image you captured that light well.

A bit of fill flash would have been good but too late now. How about toning down the horizon and boosting the exposure on the boxes and posts. Here's an example, I selected the boxes/posts in ACR and pushed up the exposure a bit. Put a gradient down to the top of the front box and reduced exp/highlight/sharpness. In PS I sharpened the boxes/posts a bit more.

Open in the lytebox and scroll between the two.

[klpurkett]

I only have one thought -- blur the background some more because it sort of compete with the colour of the bird houses. The bird houses is a good idea ...

Thanks Izzie.

[klpurkett]

I think Izzie is correct it's the birdhouses that should dominate. That is only my opinion.
Cheers Ole

I agree. I wanted the birds houses to be the main focus, and that's what I was trying for, but I don't feel I was very successful. It's a learning opportunity, anyway! Thanks for your comment.

[klpurkett]

The bird houses are just one element of the image, there are also the tones, shapes, and change of light (sky looks so drab yet there is a flicker of light on the tire and birdhouse).

Yeah, there's quite a bit going on in the image, and I wonder if that's partly what's distracting us from the bird houses. Hmmm...

[klpurkett]

Kristy, nice image you captured that light well.

A bit of fill flash would have been good but too late now. How about toning down the horizon and boosting the exposure on the boxes and posts. Here's an example, I selected the boxes/posts in ACR and pushed up the exposure a bit. Put a gradient down to the top of the front box and reduced exp/highlight/sharpness. In PS I sharpened the boxes/posts a bit more.

Open in the lytebox and scroll between the two.

Grahame, thanks so much for your comment and for the work you did to illustrate your point. It looks a LOT better! This is much closer to what I had in mind. I will work on this some more to try to accomplish something similar to what you have here... I like it!

[IzzieK]

Grahame's edit looks better than my suggestion...he knows so much that I've missed him if he is not around to critique my shots too...that is why he should be retired but can't. Most sought after I should say...better listen to him.

[jcuknz]

A step to the right and the bird boxes would be against the light grey of the building and stand out

[ST1]

A step to the right and the bird boxes would be against the light grey of the building and stand out

Or a step to the left to separate the boxes from the building but the edit has brought out the boxes from the rest of the image, so a nice example and explanation on how post processing can enhance an image .