Untitled

Link to the file does not appear on the comments page, although it is visible if accessed in the forum. I'll embed uploaded image here:

 

(See my previous post for comments.)

I am a little ambivalent about presenting the original capture. The so-called original is to me only a step on the way to the proper picture. On the other hand, I find the discussion about color / partially desaturated / B&W version very worth-while. Additionally, I ponder a little about the obvious magenta cast on the re-saturated versions done by Vincent and Landrum, not being present on the neutrally converted RAW-file. So I have attached the original capture with no other adjustments than the necessary USM applied after resizing.

Concerning the post-processing on the POW I must admit, that I am not always able to reproduce in details all the PS-steps, but I have consulted my notes, and as far as I can see, I made no adjustments in Raw-shooter while converting to tiff-format. In PS CS I adjusted levels and curves, over-all brightness and did some dodging and burning. The desaturation was done by creating a gradient map adjustment layer and setting the opacity to approx. 70%. Some darkening of the corners was added and sharpening using high pass filtering in overlay. The picture was resized with Genuine Fractals and converted to jpg-format. I cannot see that this treatment should alter the colour balance towards magenta.

Thanks again for all the comments, I am over truly overwhelmed.

I think Ivan's attachment very effectively illustrates the value of space up top. Very nice by the way. They added sky just allows the image to breathe and breathe again. THIS type of image needs that. Where otherwise, if there were no people, I'd probably suggest cropping as well.

 

Thank you for posting the original Michael. While I personally do still prefer this colored (warmer) version to the desaturated, your post-processing on the original was very effective. This new unaltered version looks rather flat (even with the added color) when compared to your originally posted version. In particular the added contrast and darkening of the sky gives this one that extra dimension and pop. Thanks again.

Michael, I am also glad to see the original, since it was clear that something other than desaturation had been done to the original file, and I don't blame you for not remembering all the steps. That happens to me all the time.

 

The more I look at your original posting that got PoW, the more I like it. As for contrast adjustments, my own experience has been that extreme contrast adjustments do result in color aberrations as well, although I have no idea why that happens. Since your contrast adjustments were not extreme, I am still wondering exactly what happened from a purely technical point of view to cause subtle chromatic aberration. In retrospect, my presumption that Photoshop's color balance slide had been moved a bit away from green toward magenta seems a bit simple-minded, but it seemed to make sense, since green and magenta are complementary colors--diminish one and you increase the other.

 

I have approached this one all along as a kind of puzzle, and sometimes these puzzles can only be resolved by seeing the original file.

 

I did not mean for my attempts to solve the puzzle to imply anything about the quality of the shot, in its original or its manipulated forms. The capture was extraordinary, and the post-processing was very good.

 

Thanks for helping us try to figure out the technical side on this one. The aesthetic quality was never in doubt, just a bit puzzling with my very limited knowledge of how digital post-processing affects color. Getting the right color remains for me one of the biggest technical challenges of digital post-processing, and I am always asking myself if my other manipulations are affecting color balance.

 

Thanks again for the shot and the follow-up. This has been a truly great learning experience in addition to being a wonderful aesthetic one.

 

--Lannie

Ivan, I didn't know if you had seen this, but here is a portion of the site's Terms of Use relating to issues that you raised:

 

Furthermore, when commenting on photos in the photo Gallery, you may include a version of the photo under discussion in your comment, altered or marked up to illustrate your comments. By uploading photos to the photo Gallery, you grant to other photo.net members permission to copy the photo, to make such alterations and markups for the purpose of commentary as they see fit, and to attach tthe modified photo to their comments on the photo.

 

--Lannie

A stunning photo Michael.

The image has it's contrasts between the children, which works very well.

One of the best mages I have seen for some time.

Ivan, that was a great suggestion!

This photo should be given to people with SAD and to the anyone feeling down. It instantly gave me feelings of times long past of my childhood, happy times.

 

Good one, I wouldn't mind a print!

 

Dave

The composition, and subject, are so strong that both the POW and the B&W version are excellent. I like the sense of space and air, it's as if the boy is soaking up the warmth of the sun on the stone surface.

I love your photograph... as is! As a late-comer to this discussion, I've taken a quick look at the alterations, and they all pale by comparison to your original. I especially appreciate the soft hint of color and incredible mixture of nature's elements with the carefree kids. In what appears to be an ancient bit of ground, the blue sky and clouds, moss on the rock, and other elements all combine to offer-up a sweet mystery in Daydreamville.

Excellent composition and very well captured.

fantastica, great photo...

Til lykke med "POW" min ven ! Hilsen fra Island, Baldur

The extended sky interpretation is *very* interesting. I believe you have contributed an excellent POV to this image. As you mentioned, it is a matter of personal taste and interpretation, and for me you have added what was missing for me. I do want to add that in its own right, the original is a great picture.

 

Cheers,

 

Stuart

Thanks very much to all of you for giving your valuable points of view, for contributing interesting suggestions for improvements, for rating, and for confirming me in the satisfaction of being able to move feelings through photography. The discussion has been a great learning experience for me.

 

Best regards,

Michael

Congratulations on POW, Michael! Very interesting reading all the comments and suggestions, but I think you nailed it in the image posted and chosen for POW. Great depth and just a nice "feel" to it. I did like the straight b&w version, too, but your original posting seems strongest, imo.

Hello Michael. First of all, congratulations on getting POW. This photograph certainly deserves that accolade :) Personally, if I were to buy a print, I would go for the fully desaturated version a la Sondra Kicklighter.

But I must say that this partial desaturation was masterfully done. I wouldn't change anything at all. Cropping, etc. It's a truly brilliant shot, and you have a wonderful portfolio...

Best regards from Kenya, Mark