Bank of China

Chez · 12-05-2005, 02:13

This is a picture I took in March of the Bank of China in Hong Kong.

Large Version HERE

All comments welcomed

Thanks
Chez

Oz · 12-05-2005, 12:46

I like that. It's a striking shot because the building imposes so much (as I guess it would on the skyline). I'm half wondering if it would look better in colour though? The glass should relflect a lot of light back and the puffy clouds dhould give a mottled effect to the background.

Just a thought...

Chez · 12-05-2005, 12:59

Thanks Oz

I much prefer the B&W version (which I hope to improve a little tonight by bringing some more detail out at the bottom and enhancing the contrast in the sky).

I will post up the colour on as well later, for comparison!

***Steve*** · 12-05-2005, 15:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chez

Thanks Oz

I much prefer the B&W version (which I hope to improve a little tonight by bringing some more detail out at the bottom and enhancing the contrast in the sky).

I will post up the colour on as well later, for comparison!

Now you have ruined my critique..I was just about to say "try bringing some more detail out at the bottom and enhancing the contrast in the sky" I think the picture is very strong in its own right however your convertion to B&W has removed some of the impact from the shot. It looks a little flat and would probably be enhanced by the process that you have already described earlier.

I look forward to seeing the results later.

Chez · 12-05-2005, 20:29

I've had a play around and come up with this (a complete reworking of the pic from RAW) -

Large version HERE

And this (reworking of the pic in the first post above) -

Large version HERE

***Steve*** · 12-05-2005, 20:57

Those are both much better but still seem a little dull and flat. I hope you don’t mind but I have taken the first picture from your second edited post and altered the levels and then increased the contrast slightly. To me it just makes the whole picture have much more punch.

Whichever way you look at it, it’s still a great image. [smilie=t:

Chez · 12-05-2005, 21:30

That looks great Steve, thanks.

How did you do it? (so I can recreate the effect on the orginial, full-size version)

Thanks
Chez

Oz · 12-05-2005, 21:45

Nice job, Steve. That much improves the B&W version.

***Steve*** · 12-05-2005, 22:39

I just opened the photo in Photoshop, then went to levels and adjusted the right hand slider down to the left until it was at the end of the histogram peek, this gives the picture a full range from the blacks through to the pure whites in the brightest areas without having any section blown out. I then opened contrast and brightness where I increased the contrast very slightly to give the image slightly more punch.

Hope that helps

Chez · 13-05-2005, 18:52

Right, I've dona ll I can with it, I think! lol

Here's my final effort (with 2 different borders) -

any opinions as to which works better?

Thanks
Chez

***Steve*** · 13-05-2005, 18:52

Can't see any pictures here?

Chez · 13-05-2005, 18:53

Yeah, they were still uploading as I posted! lol

refresh and all should be well

EDIT - just realised that a white border isn't the best on these boards ! lol

***Steve*** · 13-05-2005, 18:54

Edit can see them both now..must have been a bit quick at viewing them :lol:

***Steve*** · 13-05-2005, 18:56

Personally I feel the black is a little over powering and the white a little to plain and bland.

Maybe try a more fancy white border with a couple of keylines as I have used on the pictures in this thread?

Chez · 13-05-2005, 18:59

Very nice Steve

Now the obvious question - how the heck do I go about doing that?

I use the 'extend canvas' method to do my plain borders, as I tried to use Fill and Stroke, but got a strange 'bevelled' look, where the border extended into my picture :?

EDIT - I am using Photoshop CS, if that makes a difference?

***Steve*** · 13-05-2005, 19:10

For Photoshop CS...

Edit>select all>stroke with black as the selected colour and a width of 1pix

deselect

Edit> canvas size usually I use about 20pix, make sure the centre box is ticked and the colour in this case will be white.

Edit>select all>stroke again with black but this time 2 pix as the width

Edit>canvas size and then about 100pix, again make sure you have white selected as the colour.

Finally if you want a black line around the outside to make it stand out on white backgrounds, do the edit >select all>stroke>1 pix using black.

Note during all the strike sections I usually select "inside" by ticking the relevant box.

This whole process can be done in just a few seconds once you get it of to a T or you can create your own action if you wish.

Hope that helps?

***Steve*** · 13-05-2005, 19:13

BTW those instructions are aimed at creating borders for web size photos. If you are applying them to the full size images you will have to alter the sizes accordingly.

Obviously there are also other methord of creating the same borders, including canvas size or adding adjustment layers, but the above methord is my chosen way of re-creating that look.

Chez · 13-05-2005, 19:24

Like this?

12-05-2005, 02:13	#1 (permalink)
Chez Been here a while Join Date: May 2005 Location: Northampton Posts: 289	Bank of China This is a picture I took in March of the Bank of China in Hong Kong. Large Version HERE All comments welcomed Thanks Chez

13-05-2005, 19:10	#16 (permalink)
*Steve* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: An Englishman living in Germany Posts: 16,374	For Photoshop CS... Edit>select all>stroke with black as the selected colour and a width of 1pix deselect Edit> canvas size usually I use about 20pix, make sure the centre box is ticked and the colour in this case will be white. Edit>select all>stroke again with black but this time 2 pix as the width Edit>canvas size and then about 100pix, again make sure you have white selected as the colour. Finally if you want a black line around the outside to make it stand out on white backgrounds, do the edit >select all>stroke>1 pix using black. Note during all the strike sections I usually select "inside" by ticking the relevant box. This whole process can be done in just a few seconds once you get it of to a T or you can create your own action if you wish. Hope that helps? __________________ .......__o .......\<, ....( )/ ( )

12-05-2005, 12:46	#2 (permalink)
Oz Getting Comfy Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Southampton, UK Posts: 177	I like that. It's a striking shot because the building imposes so much (as I guess it would on the skyline). I'm half wondering if it would look better in colour though? The glass should relflect a lot of light back and the puffy clouds dhould give a mottled effect to the background. Just a thought...

12-05-2005, 12:59	#3 (permalink)
Chez Been here a while Join Date: May 2005 Location: Northampton Posts: 289	Thanks Oz I much prefer the B&W version (which I hope to improve a little tonight by bringing some more detail out at the bottom and enhancing the contrast in the sky). I will post up the colour on as well later, for comparison!

12-05-2005, 20:29	#5 (permalink)
Chez Been here a while Join Date: May 2005 Location: Northampton Posts: 289	I've had a play around and come up with this (a complete reworking of the pic from RAW) - Large version HERE And this (reworking of the pic in the first post above) - Large version HERE

12-05-2005, 20:57	#6 (permalink)
*Steve* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: An Englishman living in Germany Posts: 16,374	Those are both much better but still seem a little dull and flat. I hope you don’t mind but I have taken the first picture from your second edited post and altered the levels and then increased the contrast slightly. To me it just makes the whole picture have much more punch. Whichever way you look at it, it’s still a great image. [smilie=t:

12-05-2005, 21:30	#7 (permalink)
Chez Been here a while Join Date: May 2005 Location: Northampton Posts: 289	That looks great Steve, thanks. How did you do it? (so I can recreate the effect on the orginial, full-size version) Thanks Chez

12-05-2005, 21:45	#8 (permalink)
Oz Getting Comfy Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Southampton, UK Posts: 177	Nice job, Steve. That much improves the B&W version.

12-05-2005, 22:39	#9 (permalink)
*Steve* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: An Englishman living in Germany Posts: 16,374	I just opened the photo in Photoshop, then went to levels and adjusted the right hand slider down to the left until it was at the end of the histogram peek, this gives the picture a full range from the blacks through to the pure whites in the brightest areas without having any section blown out. I then opened contrast and brightness where I increased the contrast very slightly to give the image slightly more punch. Hope that helps

13-05-2005, 18:52	#10 (permalink)
Chez Been here a while Join Date: May 2005 Location: Northampton Posts: 289	Right, I've dona ll I can with it, I think! lol Here's my final effort (with 2 different borders) - any opinions as to which works better? Thanks Chez

13-05-2005, 18:52	#11 (permalink)
*Steve* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: An Englishman living in Germany Posts: 16,374	Can't see any pictures here?

13-05-2005, 18:53	#12 (permalink)
Chez Been here a while Join Date: May 2005 Location: Northampton Posts: 289	Yeah, they were still uploading as I posted! lol refresh and all should be well EDIT - just realised that a white border isn't the best on these boards ! lol

13-05-2005, 18:54	#13 (permalink)
*Steve* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: An Englishman living in Germany Posts: 16,374	Edit can see them both now..must have been a bit quick at viewing them :lol:

13-05-2005, 18:56	#14 (permalink)
*Steve* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: An Englishman living in Germany Posts: 16,374	Personally I feel the black is a little over powering and the white a little to plain and bland. Maybe try a more fancy white border with a couple of keylines as I have used on the pictures in this thread?

13-05-2005, 18:59	#15 (permalink)
Chez Been here a while Join Date: May 2005 Location: Northampton Posts: 289	Very nice Steve Now the obvious question - how the heck do I go about doing that? I use the 'extend canvas' method to do my plain borders, as I tried to use Fill and Stroke, but got a strange 'bevelled' look, where the border extended into my picture :? EDIT - I am using Photoshop CS, if that makes a difference?

13-05-2005, 19:13	#17 (permalink)
*Steve* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: An Englishman living in Germany Posts: 16,374	BTW those instructions are aimed at creating borders for web size photos. If you are applying them to the full size images you will have to alter the sizes accordingly. Obviously there are also other methord of creating the same borders, including canvas size or adding adjustment layers, but the above methord is my chosen way of re-creating that look.

13-05-2005, 19:24	#18 (permalink)
Chez Been here a while Join Date: May 2005 Location: Northampton Posts: 289	Like this?