Fly to the Moon

This one is just as it came out of the camera except for resizing &

framing work.

 

The Bi-plane is not real sharp because of pre-focusing on the Moon

when I saw the plane was going to pass within it's range.

 

Any suggestions on how I might sharpen and lighten the plane would be

greatly appreciated. I tried the "magic wand" but did not have any

success without making it look even worse.

 

Thanks in advance for any comments, opinions, ratings & critiques

which are greatly appreciated.

You could try experimenting with various combinations of soft light and screen blending modes on layers containing the plane via careful selection. I hope that helps; it's a nifty capture. Best Regards, Jerry King

Jim...  I'll let you decide if this is any better and I'm sure you can do a better job with the original image.  I ran this through Nikon Capture NX2 and used a tool called D-Lighting which brings out details in shadow (similar to the shadows/highlights tool in some programs); also through "Neat Image" to try a little sharpening without introducing noise; and then cleaned up some jpeg artifacts with PS Elements.  Any better?   Good eye to see this shot materializing... This plane looks like a well restored Stearman.... Mike

Jim,

here's another one, attached

like it?

cheers

Sam

Uh, I like Sam's better. 

@ Sam, How did you do that?

Mike

 

Thanks all for the input and re-works!

I'll keep fiddling with it and continue to see if I can get some satisfactory result's as Michael and Sam did.

When I used the Magic Wand to select out sections of the plane to lighten etc., etc.. What's the best way to get rid of the (for lack of better terminology) "oversharpened edges?" Even though I haven't done any sharpening.

Michael, I'll see if I can find some of the functions you describe in my editing software.

I really would like to salvage this shot!

Regards,

Jim j.

Jim...  What I saw around the edges looked like jpeg artifacts and I'll bet they're not in the original image.  I'll leave it to others to describe how they're produced (because I can't) but I believe it has to do with resizing and posting.... Mike

Hi Jim,

The nice aspect of a very good capture is that anyone can take it and rework it to their own ends.

You did a very good job technically to capture a moving subject at the right moment. Having the moon nearby is just the topping on the cake !

Very nice work, indeed.

Best Regards,  Mike

 

Jim.

 

I personaly don't see any point to light up a bottom of the plane. Well, light comes from the top therefore less visible details don't do any harm to the photo. More than that I'd rather enjoy fantastic moment as well comp you managed to shoot. Nothing less but worth to admire one's work. I don't want to be unpolite to other's suggestions - both of them present their own vision how to make the photo more pleasant to view.

 

Fantastic work, cheers, Vukasin

Nice image Jim, like Sam's idea too. Anyway nice capture.

Regards

Gamini

Beautiful work, Jim!

With best regards,

Ruud.