Water Lilies, Summer 2001

Appreciate your comment.

Thanks.

Very vivid colors. Did you do some processing in PS? Beautiful image.

Yes, it has been worked on in PS. But really not that much. I bought both ends of the level tighter together to give it a little better contrast.

When you do contrast adjustment in Levels (or Curves) you also increase the saturation. Even if it is close to the natural appearance -- because you were in unusual light -- it doesn't look it, and I think it would be better if you toned down the saturation.

 

Apart from this, the composition is rather interesting. I wish there were a little detail in the very black areas at top and bottom left.

Thanks for the advise. Now that you mentioned it, I do find the saturation a little over done.

 

I toned down the saturation a little bit and it does look more natural.

 

Can you see the difference?

I think the black area is excrescent. And I want to know which city are you in?

Upper Westchester County, 50 miles north of New York City, is where I make my home.

 

The water lilies are taken in Purchase, New York in the Pepsico World Headquarters.

 

The blackness of the water is the result of the polarizer. I guess it's a personal taste. I like it because it serves as a black ground to high light the leaves and the flowers.

 

 

Very nice composition, though the colors were a little over the top for my tastes. Beware of Photoshop colors, they can be seductive. I do like the blackeing effect of the polarizer. Overall, nice shot!

I can see the difference in your second version; but I think you didn't go anywhere near far enough. This is partly a matter of taste, but here is what I would have done. This was a big desaturation move in Photoshop on your second version!

I prefer desaturated version. It is more realistic