An excercise in PP - WRX Portrait

[bwhinnen]

I took the photo originally in March after fellow member dodge had detailed the car. The original is a quick edit from the NEF to adjust for levels etc, seen below;



I took some time to re-process the photo to give it something extra, interested to see if it works or not, or if over processed.



C+C welcomed.

Oh yes I know I blew the highlights on the front fender

I've owned the car since new (Nov '99) it's had a few modifications (well ok a lot of modifications).

Thanks for looking,

Brett

[Kyle]

Great car brett, the later model wheels really suit the early shape

I think you've done well, but i find the sharpening over the top though. Sorry.

[Pehpsi]

Yeah #2 looks great, I think the PP works well.

Nice lookin' ride too. Simple & clean.

[gasgasgas]

Brett,

I like it and even on the dodgy monitor here at work, I don't think you've gone too far with sharpening. Maybe a touch more vingetting in the bottom corners, but only slightly, would help with balance, but I like it as is.

Cheers

Simon

[dodge]

I like it alot ........You should frame it..Mainly because it will never look that clean again

cheers Joe

[The Naked Duck]

I don't think it's oversharpened either. Good edit.

[Raskill]

I don't think it's oversharpened either, but it certainly is sharp.

I like the saturation and contrast levels, you've done really well to pull the cloud detail out of the sky.

It's to easy to worry about blown highlights. The car is shiny silver, good luck not blowing them. It's a bit like the current 888 car, the chrome on the vehicle either needs to be blown (or close to it) for it not to appear just plain grey.

Just a minor gripe (because I know you have high standards). The horizon, where the dirt meets the sky looks funny. I'd say because you've selected the sky and pumped up the blues at the saturation levels, it's left a rather defined horizon. It's to defined, rather than blurring. Maybe try selecting again, and feather a few pixels to blend it together.

How many tickets does the Rex earn you a year?

[bwhinnen]

Thanks for the input guys.

Alan, yes there is a definite line there, it is a layer mask that I think I might change and feather the edges and potentially darken up the treeline along that horizon to help blend it more. It is one of those areas I need to spend more time on and practice with

I have taken the USM down a tad (not much) on it (am still refining it a bit), the thing to remember is that this is resized from a 10MP image and that tends to exacerbate the USM a little as well

I wasn't sure if I should increase the vignetting, I had it a bit darker in the bottom corners at first but lessened it off a bit, I might have another look tonight when I get the chance.

As to tickets in the almost 8 years of it's life I've had 1 ticket and 1 warning, it's not driven too often these days as it was retired as a daily driver last April, but prior to that averaged about 25K a year. I've also had a couple of really nice door dents and been T-boned when some hapless driver decided a green left turn arrow meant go straight through

Thanks All.

[gasgasgas]

Just a minor gripe (because I know you have high standards). The horizon, where the dirt meets the sky looks funny. I'd say because you've selected the sky and pumped up the blues at the saturation levels, it's left a rather defined horizon. It's to defined, rather than blurring. Maybe try selecting again, and feather a few pixels to blend it together.

Alan,

I reckon that the problem with the horizon line is that it leans from left to right. I think I saw it too the first time, but couldn't pick it. I was too busy looking at other elements in the photo.

Brett,

Perhaps try reframing with a straight horizon. I know that will mean a slight crop, but should improve the picture without detracting from the image.

Cheers

Simon

[Bindii]

Perhaps try reframing with a straight horizon. I know that will mean a slight crop, but should improve the picture without detracting from the image.

Cheers

Simon

I agree... it needs a straighten... which is going to make it tight as the car is barely just fitting in the frame as it is...

I really do like the PP you have done btw Brett.. you made it pop without ruining it... no easy task!

[bwhinnen]

Here we go, take 2

Thanks for the comments all, you tend to get focused on a specific area when working on something too long.



Cheers
Brett

[Shorty]

Here we go, take 2

Thanks for the comments all, you tend to get focused on a specific area when working on something too long.



Cheers
Brett

That's one sexy pic right there, that's for sure!! Well done Brett!!

Should get some of the wrx's together and do a shoot - that would look quite mad!! Might even get a ring-in or 2 along as well... SS commodores included!!

See, I'm not a rexist!!

Shorty

[Big Red]

i like the car as it is but think the sky is too blue.
the different colour doors spoil it a tiny little bit but there probably not much you can do about that.

the composition looks great and its beautifully sharp