... the day ends.

I believe it is easier to catch the mood using the F11 view.

Thanks for your anticipated comments and critiques.

Bulent:

I think this is an interesting photograph. When I first saw it, I wondered why you selected this scene. It took me a bit to "see" the cat, who, I think, makes the shot.

IMO, you could strengthen the image with a different, tighter crop, more shadow definition and a good dose of additional midtone contrast to eliminate the muddiness. There is also a slight blue/cyan color cast that mutes several of the more central colors to the image (the red of the tractor and the orange of the cat). These are just processing differences.

The tightness of space around the tractor itself (bottom and right) could be addressed with some added canvas and cloning but that's pretty invasive.

I've attached an example of a modified crop for your review.

Patricia,

I am grateful indeed for your comments, suggestions and for your time spent to make this one a better photo.

I was aware of the low contrast nature of this photograph and better photographers had criticised some of my earlier work for lacking enough contrast already. I know the ways of increasing contrast during post-processing (some of them, at least). The problem is, I do not want my photos look more contrasty than the actual scene as I saw it. Below are some of my earlier work (no need to look at them now, really):

A very low contrast one (actually the same place, within the same 10 minute period):Boats at sunset "http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=7976874">

One with more contrast (you would perhaps like it more contrasty):Ilgaz Mountain... "http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=7634956"

And a last one with "enough" contrast, I think:A summer house "http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=7612078&size=lg"

The nature of the light and the "original contrast" were quite different for each. I cannot say that I am entirely happy with them.

I fully agree than many of my photographs (this particular one included) still lack optimum contrast. You are also right about my inability to get more attention for the cat, which was indeed the reason I took this particular photo.

I have re-processed the image and have left more room to the tractor. I did not crop as much as the amount you suggested because I believed the tractor is already dominant enough.

I have made it more contrasty but not as much as yours. This is because, it was "after" sunset and the light we see here did not come from the sun itself. Here lies my biggest problem, I think: Adding more contrast makes this image more "palatable" but it also makes it quite different than the actual scene that I saw.To me, my revised version here is better than the one I have originally submitted.

I would be very happy to receive your further comments.

Regards,

Bulent:

Fair enough. I can certainly respect your view. I am altogether less circumspect and will "optimize" to an extreme if it suits my purposes for presenting an image. (I do draw the line at composites, though. I will make them but always label them as composites.)

Contrast is tricky. To the eye, appropriate contrast is almost as important as sharpness and indeed is often an analogue for sharpness. The key for me was leaning how to adjust contrast within tonal parameters (midtones or upper quadrant tones) by using luminosity masks. Take a look here:

http://www.goodlight.us/writing/luminositymasks/luminositymasks-1.html

Tony's tutorial on the subject is excellent.

Your comments were most helpful and the link you provided is full of valuable information. I will be experimenting with my other images within this new light. (I have replied twice earlier but the system somehow refused to record them).