How to improve this picture??

Humpty · 24-03-2006, 14:23

Saw an opportunity for a good shot so snapped it off but was wondering how to improve it. Only post processing is resize & change to B&W

Be gentle. It's my first time ;-)

SammyC · 24-03-2006, 14:56

Damn! That's a fine image to be starting with!

My initial thoughts are that there is a fair bit of expanse between the sunset and the high clouds which makes it feel a bit lost.

Maybe a landscape crop rather than portrait?

SammyC · 24-03-2006, 15:00

Like this:

Humpty · 24-03-2006, 15:11

Thanks for the responses Sammy.

I know what you mean with the crop, but one of the things that I like about this image is the scale of it all (insignificant child in a big world).

I was wondering if I could fiddle with the levels or something to sharpen the clouds and loose some of the detail in the immediate foreground. Not sure how to do it though

.

SammyC · 24-03-2006, 16:03

Ok, cool ,no problem.

To boost the clouds you need to play with the curves, boosting high values and reducing low values. Bascially makeing an S shaped curve.

But this will also affect the bottom part of the image so you may want to do this as an adjustment layer with a graduated mask.

Ask, if I seem to be talking Spanish here.

Humpty · 24-03-2006, 16:06

Think I know where you're heading. I'll give it a try.

mrgubby · 24-03-2006, 16:58

Is this the sort of thing you mean ?

Humpty · 24-03-2006, 17:31

Yes. That's more the kind of thing I was heading for. Little too 'blue' but I could fix that.

***Dave*** · 24-03-2006, 18:41

Here's a different version for ya:-

If you still have original colour shot, try duplicating layer & converting one with 100% red in Channel mixer, for sky & the other 100% Green for foreground. Use layer mask to combine the 2.

Peterg984 · 25-03-2006, 12:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by SammyC

Ok, cool ,no problem.

But this will also affect the bottom part of the image so you may want to do this as an adjustment layer with a graduated mask.

Ask, if I seem to be talking Spanish here.

yeah could please translate to english

Cheers
Pete

SammyC · 25-03-2006, 12:46

Hey Pete, no problem.

Basically in some, but not all, photochop applications (I have only knowledge of Photoshop CS2) you can add adjustments to your image (such as saturation and levels) as a separate layer. It allows you to chop and change them without affecting your original picture.

Now, each of these layers can have a mask associated with it which affects how much they apply to the resultant image. So, by default the levels adjustment applies equally to the whole image. If you modify the mask so that it applies fully at the top and gradually fades to the bottom you will have a graduated mask.

HTH

Humpty · 03-04-2006, 12:50

Thanks for all the responses guys (been out of the country so have not seen them until now).

Like what you've done there DJW. I'll try your what you suggest.

24-03-2006, 14:23	#1 (permalink)
Humpty New here Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 11	How to improve this picture?? Saw an opportunity for a good shot so snapped it off but was wondering how to improve it. Only post processing is resize & change to B&W Be gentle. It's my first time ;-)

25-03-2006, 12:46	#11 (permalink)
SammyC Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bristol Posts: 1,466	Hey Pete, no problem. Basically in some, but not all, photochop applications (I have only knowledge of Photoshop CS2) you can add adjustments to your image (such as saturation and levels) as a separate layer. It allows you to chop and change them without affecting your original picture. Now, each of these layers can have a mask associated with it which affects how much they apply to the resultant image. So, by default the levels adjustment applies equally to the whole image. If you modify the mask so that it applies fully at the top and gradually fades to the bottom you will have a graduated mask. HTH __________________ Canon 350D Canon 18-55 kit lens Canon 28-105 f3.5-4.5 USM Canon 50 1.8 Mk 1 Sigma 70-300 APO Macro DG Kenko extension tubes My photographs

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24-03-2006, 14:56	#2 (permalink)
SammyC Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bristol Posts: 1,466	Damn! That's a fine image to be starting with! My initial thoughts are that there is a fair bit of expanse between the sunset and the high clouds which makes it feel a bit lost. Maybe a landscape crop rather than portrait?

24-03-2006, 15:00	#3 (permalink)
SammyC Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bristol Posts: 1,466	Like this:

24-03-2006, 15:11	#4 (permalink)
Humpty New here Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 11	Thanks for the responses Sammy. I know what you mean with the crop, but one of the things that I like about this image is the scale of it all (insignificant child in a big world). I was wondering if I could fiddle with the levels or something to sharpen the clouds and loose some of the detail in the immediate foreground. Not sure how to do it though .

24-03-2006, 16:03	#5 (permalink)
SammyC Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bristol Posts: 1,466	Ok, cool ,no problem. To boost the clouds you need to play with the curves, boosting high values and reducing low values. Bascially makeing an S shaped curve. But this will also affect the bottom part of the image so you may want to do this as an adjustment layer with a graduated mask. Ask, if I seem to be talking Spanish here.

24-03-2006, 16:06	#6 (permalink)
Humpty New here Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 11	Think I know where you're heading. I'll give it a try.

24-03-2006, 16:58	#7 (permalink)
mrgubby Been here a while Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 328	Is this the sort of thing you mean ?

24-03-2006, 17:31	#8 (permalink)
Humpty New here Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 11	Yes. That's more the kind of thing I was heading for. Little too 'blue' but I could fix that.

24-03-2006, 18:41	#9 (permalink)
*Dave* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 14,659	Here's a different version for ya:- If you still have original colour shot, try duplicating layer & converting one with 100% red in Channel mixer, for sky & the other 100% Green for foreground. Use layer mask to combine the 2.

03-04-2006, 12:50	#12 (permalink)
Humpty New here Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 11	Thanks for all the responses guys (been out of the country so have not seen them until now). Like what you've done there DJW. I'll try your what you suggest.