Old barn Opinions on overall brightness?

[tbob]

Just curious about opinions on the image, in particular the overall brightness.

This was shot on a very dull day, when i processed it I purposely elevated the brightness and decreased the saturation of snow. I warmed up the barn however I kept the barn a bit dark.

Opinions?

[Manfred M]

Trevor - I find shooting snow scenes on overcast days quite challenging and it is hard to show texture in the snow, which often tends to make it too "hot". You almost have me reaching for my sunglasses with this image.

[tbob]

Trevor - I find shooting snow scenes on overcast days quite challenging and it is hard to show texture in the snow, which often tends to make it too "hot". You almost have me reaching for my sunglasses with this image.

Thanks.

I am planning in printing this. I glad you caught this I originally had set the curve so the snow was not blown out. However in further processing I adjusted exposure/brightness and never thought to go back to check the whites. The snow is completely featureless due to the light being so flat.

Here is the amended version with the curve set to where I originally wanted so the whites are actually a very subtle (okay; really subtle) pink

[Manfred M]

This version is definitely better. I don't need the sunglasses to look at it any more.

[Shadowman]

My main thoughts were on the roof and how it could've very easily have blended in with the sky except for the sliver of roof visible which saves the shape somewhat. The foreground is a bit too harsh and only saved by the brush protruding through the snow.

[tbob]

My main thoughts were on the roof and how it could've very easily have blended in with the sky except for the sliver of roof visible which saves the shape somewhat. The foreground is a bit too harsh and only saved by the brush protruding through the snow.

I promise I did not go up there and brush off the roof line. Just took what I was given.

The initial conditions made the sky and snow the same colour. That plus very dull morning light took away any contrast in sky and ground. I would have cropped out even more of both the sky and snowy field except I wanted a bit of space around the barn. And as you said, the few little weeds sticking out saved the foreground space.

[JBW]

Thanks.

I am planning in printing this. I glad you caught this I originally had set the curve so the snow was not blown out. However in further processing I adjusted exposure/brightness and never thought to go back to check the whites. The snow is completely featureless due to the light being so flat.

Here is the amended version with the curve set to where I originally wanted so the whites are actually a very subtle (okay; really subtle) pink

would you consider a pale pale blue instead of pink?

[tbob]

I suppose I could do multiple hue adjustments in Capture One and move the hue over to blue, it would be a 180 degree shift. The sun was rising and the hue of the snow, although it looked white, was actually yellow/red. I shifted it a bit toward red as I was more pleased with the result. Going toward green was quite nasty!

[JBW]

I suppose I could do multiple hue adjustments in Capture One and move the hue over to blue, it would be a 180 degree shift. The sun was rising and the hue of the snow, although it looked white, was actually yellow/red. I shifted it a bit toward red as I was more pleased with the result. Going toward green was quite nasty!

green snow

[Wavelength]

Yes, it looks too bright for my eyes too

[george013]

Trevor,

I think it's to bright too. Looking at the exif you used spotmetering and an ev of -0.67. If spotmetering there are only 2 subjects to meter on: the snow or the barn. For the snow there should be a positve ev, so the barn is left. Maybe the dynamic range in this subject was to big. So far as I can see there's a lot of clipping

George

[tbob]

Trevor,

I think it's to bright too. Looking at the exif you used spotmetering and an ev of -0.67. If spotmetering there are only 2 subjects to meter on: the snow or the barn. For the snow there should be a positve ev, so the barn is left. Maybe the dynamic range in this subject was to big. So far as I can see there's a lot of clipping

George

I spot metered on the barn, then adjusted the EV until the snow was no longer clipping on the curve (using the blinkies on the camera viewer).

I will go back and revisit the image, see what if anything can be done.

[xpatUSA]

I spot metered on the barn, then adjusted the EV until the snow was no longer clipping on the curve (using the blinkies on the camera viewer).

I will go back and revisit the image, see what if anything can be done.

Perhaps 'Fill Light' if your editor has it, or an upside-down 'S'-curve? (Luminosity, (I reckon)

Depending on how much can be recovered at each end, make say 5 to 7 images from the raw and fuse ** them?

** Like Enfuse or TuFuse ...

It's an image well worth "saving", IMO.

According to the camera settings, that scene was pretty bright as George said, over 16 LV! (12.52+0.67+3). 12.52 comes from EV = log2(N^2/t).

[DanK]

Given how featureless the snow is, one option might be to compose differently than you otherwise would, and crop more tightly to get rid of some of it, particularly on the bottom.

[tbob]

Reworked the image to be no longer "high Key", if that is the correct term Took a bit of work, but the snow and sky are now longer as bright; there is even some detail. Not my original intent, as I wanted it stark, however with the recommendations incorporated it may be a better version

[xpatUSA]

Reworked the image to be no longer "high Key", if that is the correct term Took a bit of work, but the snow and sky are now longer as bright; there is even some detail. Not my original intent, as I wanted it stark, however with the recommendations incorporated it may be a better version

I ran your OP image through TuFuse and it came out quite similar with a greyer sky. Didn't post it because I wasn't sure whether it auto-bracketed or not (don't use it much).

A dose of local contrast on the barn might stark it up a bit ...



RawTherapee, exaggerated as usual ...

[tbob]

Thanks Ted
I will have to let the more stark version sit a bit in a corner of my brain. I like it, however it will need to be mulled over.

I really enjoy, and learn from, other peoples versions so I greatly appreciate the input

[Manfred M]

Trevor - the image still has the characteristics of a high key image; flat and shadowless lighting with a properly exposed subject. A lot of "modern" high key imagery goes a step further and has a white or light subject too, so the old barn "fails" that test.

The grey sky with corresponding tones in the snow are probably more realistic (no sunglasses required), but perhaps a bit less exciting than your original versions.

[tbob]

Thanks for high key definition(s). I struggled with what exactly constitutes a high key image as they seemed so variable. Maybe because there are two forms?

The decision has been made. My wife prefers the less "high key" version. Since I defer to her in all things artistic, there is no point in proceeding further (Or at least showing her any other versions)

[xpatUSA]

Thanks Ted
I will have to let the more stark version sit a bit in a corner of my brain. I like it, however it will need to be mulled over.

Glad you liked it, Trevor. Just so's you know, I did it in RawTherapee and you may not have the exact same functions in Capture One for the Mac.

I really enjoy, and learn from, other peoples versions so I greatly appreciate the input

Yes, there are indeed many ways to skin the cat in post-processing.