Melbourne sunset in winter ..

[Louie]

Edit: new (hopefully improved?) versions of 2nd image further down the thread - am I on the right track?

------

Not as spectacular as the one I saw driving home from work last week but still a nice one.


This is supposed to show that it was cold ...


Sun has set ...


C&C, hints and tips welcomed - the last two look a bit flat on my screen but the bits I know how to use in PP didn't help.

Cheers,
Elena

[Bindii]

The first one does kinda look cold which is what you set out to achieve so thats good...

and the second one has lovely composition with that curved road leading my eye right into the pic.. I really like it... I had a little play with this one by selecting the sky and hitting auto levels.. the inversing the selection and hitting auto levels again.. very simple stuff.. and maybe not the effect that you were looking for.. and normally I would play properly but I am short on time tonight... I really hope that you dont mind.. and if you do please let me know and I will remove it from my post straight away....

[rah]

Hi Bindii, You just taught me something new in photoshop. I didnt realise you could do it that way! Thanks for the tip.

Love the sun set picture and nicely improved with photoshop.

[Louie]

Bindii, I have no problem with anyone playing with my images to show what can be done - this is how I learn!

I like what you have done with it, now I will try it out myself and see if I can get a similar result.

Thanks for commenting

[Bindii]

Hi Bindii, You just taught me something new in photoshop. I didnt realise you could do it that way! Thanks for the tip.

Love the sun set picture and nicely improved with photoshop.

Oh thats easy...but don't forget to feather your selection or it won't work... well it will work but the photo will look like crap because the two different levels won't blend in...

Bindii, I have no problem with anyone playing with my images to show what can be done - this is how I learn!

I like what you have done with it, now I will try it out myself and see if I can get a similar result.

Thanks for commenting

You welcome and don't forget to post the results...

[Louie]

After nearly chucking the computer out the window I worked out what I was doing wrong and came up with these:

Using Bindii's method:



More playing:



While I know it's not a great photo it has been helpful to practise some PP techniques. Still waiting for the 'fix blown areas' tool though

Thanks,
Elena

[rah]

Hi Bindii, You just taught me something new in photoshop. I didnt realise you could do it that way! Thanks for the tip.

Love the sun set picture and nicely improved with photoshop.

Oh thats easy...but don't forget to feather your selection or it won't work... well it will work but the photo will look like crap because the two different levels won't blend in...

Thanks for the feathering, advice, was wondering how to get around that.

[Sandy Feet]

I think somewhere between Bindii's efort and your first re do of this image would work.

with Bindii's rework I find it a bit too blueish along the brickwork but with your fist rework a little too warm.

Cheers
Rod

[Alex]

Elena,

I really like the reworked image, by either Bindii method or yours. Nicely composed and the colours are beautiful.

Alex

[Louie]

Thanks for the comment, looking at it again I agree it is a bit too warm. Esp for Melbourne.

Maybe it was wishful PP'ing .....

[Louie]

Thanks Alex, I appreciate it!

The last one became my favourite, seemed to be the best balance of what I had

[Bodak]

Hi Louie, seeing that you welcome different approaches I had a play this morning.

This is basically working in different layers and sectioning off the various areas.
Worked on the sky in one, water, sand, and walkway in others.
Mainly worked the colours and contrast in all.
Have tried to keep things stark to give the feeling of coolness with the added warmth from the sky.
Added another layer on top that I painted some orange sky colour to the cliff face on right for some sky reflection.
Dropped the opacity way down so it blended in..
Might be over the top but I enjoyed having a go.

[PiroStitch]

Great stuff Louie! Even though you thought the shots weren't great at first, at least it provided you with an opportunity to learn more about PP

Not trying to blow highlights is a challenge and a half you can prevent it by bracketing your shots and using HDR. There have been a lot of HDR examples on here

- http://www.dslrusers.net/viewtopic.php? ... hlight=hdr
- http://www.dslrusers.net/viewtopic.php? ... hlight=hdr

Also check out http://www.dslrusers.com/files/BracketingExposures.pdf on tips for Bracketing Exposures.

Cheers,

Wayne

[Louie]

Hi Bodak, I like what you have done! I have managed to get as far as playing with one layer, not as adventurous as you yet. Can I ask, did you use a select tool to work on a specific area or have some other way of bringing part of a layer through when you have lots of them? Although I should ask this somewhere else ...... will check out the PP section ....

Wayne, thanks for the links. I had never heard of HDR until this forum and am keen to learn more about this technique, and bracketing when I get a tripod! Think it still requires me to manage at least one picture with no blown bits though And yes, it has been (and still is) a great PP practice image