Help with dramatic post processing.

[theymademedoit]

Hi,

I am looking for ways in which to improve my landscapes and make them more dramatic and give them more zing.

I see many images that stand out and I wonder if anyone can give me some tips on how to achieve this.

For info I shoot in RAW and have access to CS3 and photomatix.

The images I produce don’t seem to cut it but with a little help I am sure they could be better.

The 1st image below is my attempt and the one below is something that I aspire to be able to produce.

Cheers for looking!

Al<div></div>

[theymademedoit]

Sorry.....<div></div>

[tobiasfeltus]

the aspirational one may have been shot with a polarizer to increase the contrast in the sky, and reduce some reflections

on the water.

 

But I am not sure what makes a good landscape. what Ansel Adams did with exposure and processing, is most similar

to HDR. This image you have posted has been sharpened a lot. it looks as though the sky were adjusted with a mask...

so try Select/Color Range, sample the blue, slide until you have what you want, then add a new adjustment layer in

Hue/Saturation, and it should take that selection as a mask, allowing you to darken, saturate and shift the blues.

 

Do the same thing to the shadow areas of the image, maybe. have a meddle, but I would not dodge and burn, as that

most often looks patchy.

 

t

[patricklavoie]

A bit of curve to add more contrast, a bit of saturation to the sky, a bit of sharpen and you got this;<div></div>

[theymademedoit]

Hi,

Thanks for the replies.

I like what you did with the shot....much more pop.

I am not to good with curves tho, I need to figure out how to use them......I know the basics but only just!

[roger_smith4]

The way to learn is to practice. Now that you have the original and an edited version you can practice until you can do it yourself.

[patricklavoie]

let make it simple..if i can;

 

1_adjustment curve; press OK without doing anything.

 

2_change the blending mode to SOFT LIGHT, drop the opacity until you like the contrast..20-30?

 

3_adjustment hue saturation; 15% press OK

 

4_if you can, mask the bottom, if not all the image will just look to saturated overall.

 

5_apply a smart sharpen; 120%, radius 1, lens blur do not check more acurate.

 

Simplier than this i would have to do it for you : )

[guido_h]

> 5_apply a smart sharpen; 120%, radius 1, lens blur do not check more acurate.

 

I read this "don't check more accurate" hint in a couple of other places too - can anyone explain why this is the preferred setting?

[patricklavoie]

checking it will make this amazing filter act like the less amazing USM : )

[pam_r]

<p>I completely agree with Patrick, smart sharpen is excellent, but "checking it will make this amazing filter

act like the less amazing USM". Do not check the "more accurate box"!</p>

 

<p>I just wanted to add that sometimes, when you have very nice graphic forms in an image, removing the color

will make those forms stand out even more. You have some nice s-curves in this shot...</p>

 

<img src="http://upload.pbase.com/image/104525435/original.jpg">

[theymademedoit]

Thanks again for all this help.

Patrick I appreciate the steps you have given and I will give it a try and post back the results.

 

Pam, I think that looks great.....what was the colour work done with?<div></div>

[theymademedoit]

Another thing I would like to ask (if not too much trouble), I am showing some of my work in a local art show in

4 weeks time and I am not sure which images to use.

If you could cast your eyes over my gallery and let me know which ones if any are worthy that would be great.

http://www.redbubble.com/people/theymademedoit

I am open for suggestions on how to improve them so feel free.

Regards,

Al

[theymademedoit]

Bump - Anyone?

[patricklavoie]

i have a quick look..heres my quick personnal view;

 

1_the bw look nice

 

2_the tone bw look nice

 

3_some color image look nice

 

4_some color image look wayyyyyy over saturated, sharpen and therefore i find it cheap looking..but this is you want a real nice color shot..if you want something unreal looking, you got it : )

 

5_the framing look pretty good on most of the shot...some i could even buy to hang..and that a good things.

 

heres the one i find too much.<div></div>

[patricklavoie]

just saw that one of them was post here..drop a bit the saturation and it should look better.

[theymademedoit]

Thanks for taking the time to look.

I agree that they need to be toned down and thats what I shall do.

Once I have made the changes I will report back.

[pam_r]

<p>I agree with Patrick. I think, in general, you just need a slightly lighter touch on the burning and

saturation. The comps are very nice, you have a good eye. Here are my picks after a quick run through your

galleries:</p>

 

<p>Temple Church Bristol</p>

<p>Tynemouth Priory</p>

<p>Long Sands</p>

<p>Door to Your Soul - very nice, rich texture</p>

<p>Where did the bats go</p>

<p>Arnos vale - beautiful</p>

<p>Frame within a frame - I like it :-)</p>

<p>Set in stone</p>

 

<p>Enchanted tower - very nice comp. Maybe lighten up the top of the tower a little...or the sky surrounding it,

not sure but that area is too dark. The rest...nice.</p>

 

<p>Hope this helps :-)</p>

[theymademedoit]

Hi,

I had a go....this time a new image from the same shoot and there is now no HDR and very little PP....in fact I used Nikon Capture instead of PS to convert the file and a little colour work, then into PS for curves, levels and smart shap......what doyou think?

[theymademedoit]

Hi,

I had a go....this time a new image from the same shoot and there is now no HDR and very little PP....in fact I

used Nikon Capture instead of PS to convert the file and a little colour work, then into PS for curves, levels

and smart shap......what do you think?<div></div>

[pam_r]

<p>It's a bit small to fully evaluate, but it looks great from here, Alan!</p>

[theymademedoit]

Thanks Pam....let me try again!<div></div>

[pam_r]

<p>Gorgeous! But a slight bit too much darkness on the bottom. Maybe try a more cinematic/panoramic crop.

Something like this:</p>

 

<p><img src="http://upload.pbase.com/image/104568460/original.jpg"></p>

[theymademedoit]

Thanks again Pam.....I think this looks so much better!<div></div>

[theymademedoit]

Hi again,

Following everyones advice I have decided to re-process my images.

The image below was taken in RAW I applied the steps that Patrick suggested -

 

1_adjustment curve; press OK without doing anything.

2_change the blending mode to SOFT LIGHT, drop the opacity until you like the contrast..20-30?

3_adjustment hue saturation; 15% press OK

4_if you can, mask the bottom, if not all the image will just look to saturated overall.

5_apply a smart sharpen; 120%, radius 1, lens blur do not check more accurate.

 

I actually added less saturation on this one. Even the untouched RAW file was very vibrant.

Suggestions and comments welcome!

 

Regards,

Al<div></div>

[jerryrock]

I edited your original photo with Lucis Pro 6.0 and mixed it 50% with the original.<div></div>