A Closer View (Please view large)

I have another image of this white house. I'm curious which one you like

best. Please use the forward arrow to view the other one. And please click

on each one for a larger view. Thanks!

What a nice compliment coming from you!  I just took a look at your portfolio, and you do outstanding work!  Thanks so much!

Christal - I love what you have chosen and the color is artful.

I am thinking there is a slight bias towards blue which I actually like.

I have made a color balance adjustment and darkened the foreground grass a bit - simply for your review

Tony.....do you remember specifically what you did?  The trees are darker as well as the foreground, so I wonder if you just did an exposure adjustment.  Or did you use a gradient on the foreground?  I really like what you've done.  At first I liked the fact that the green grass was lighter, as a contrast to the rich colors of the trees, but after seeing your version I stand corrected.  :-)  Thanks for taking the time!

I like Tony's version, I feel the colors are realistic, even though I also know color tends to go blue in those hills late in the day.  Just for fun I thought of another version; of course it's 180d to the left of either of these.  I immediately thought of b/w with all the fantastic shapes and detail here.  In addition, having been here, I recall that when visiting these remote farms there's a strong feeling of isolation, almost to the point of being spooky.  Now that's a modern man's emotion, I'm sure these settlers found the area simply... private ;-)... Mike

Some great feedback and a variety of good suggestions! 

But as a direct comparison to the previous image, I have to say I prefer the the previous kind of distant view. It takes in the surrounding hillside and accentuates the sense of isolation and solitude within the vastness of nature. 

I like the detail in this image and what I also like about both images is the absence of visible roads, cars or machinery. 

Compliments! 

Alf 

Now I am confused.  I liked the version with the unique blue bias, then I liked Tony's more natural hues and the black and white pops.  I guess this is just a great composition.  Congrats, Chrystal.

It totally works!  I like the way the trees that are stripped of their foliage become more prominent in the B&W.  Still prefer the color, but it's fun to see other options, and I had not even considered trying it in B&W.  Thanks!

Alf....I see your point, and I'm not sure I agree or disagree with it. I think I would need to view this on a large monitor and step back some distance to see which one I truly prefer. It's so hard to tell from my small monitor. Mike Mancil and I have decided that we need to get you over here for a little photo jaunt. You would love the Smoky Mountains. I've been in every state in the U.S. and many countries, and it remains one of my favorite places to visit.

Ernest.....thanks for your comment on this, and as well for your recent comments on my other images.  

Something to be said for your comment.  Sometimes we photographers luck out (well, hopefully there is a little skill involved)  ;-)  and we get an image that works well in a variety of applications.  Thanks so much for your kind words!  

Hi Christal, one  of the things I love about  photography is the different approaches it has, and the three version we have here serve as a point of illustration of it. As photographers we cannot say one  image is better than the others neither one is worse than the others, all three images are beautiful. I love Tony's version because it represents what  it should be in reality. I like Mike's version because it shows a beautiful image that could bring us to the past as well as it has lovely details, but your image appeals more to me in the sense that I see it as a piece of art, I love working with layers and exploring different things, and  even though there is not layers in this image the colors of it are the expression of those elements that made this image so especial for me, plus it looks as it has layers.

Warmest regards,

LuDa

Luisa.....thanks so much for your detailed assessment and kind words.  Each certainly has its own appeal, and I always appreciate people giving me their ideas of what I could have done with an image.  

Christal - I don't remember the specific details but I used the roof of the house and the tree behind it as my assumed 'gray' object. I start adjusting the color balance until they look gray. I would have increased the yellow as a starting point. You can also use an eye-dropper (middle I think) on the levels command to click on the roof and see if that makes the adjustment for you.

Wonderful composition and colors. Bravo

Christal,  Very beautiful and peaceful place. I like the subject, the colours and the composition. Best regards,