Photo of the day or edit of the day

[Beaux Reflets]

Any suggestions Andy?

I'll play around with it a bit more, later this weekend, and see what I can come up with.
But I have (plenty) of other things to do first!

I like the overall composition Reinardina  and probaly would not crop it. If it was mine, I would apply a graduated directional lighting effect (darker to the bottom) to the areas of window glazing having isolated and blurred the brickwork to throw it out of focus. After that, if I felt the need, perhaps a little Dodge and Burn to carry and hold the eye around the composition.

[DigiDiva]

Abers, just seen your Seahouses shot - have you been there recently? Did you do the boat trip to Farne?

[Graham]

Abers, just seen your Seahouses shot - have you been there recently? Did you do the boat trip to Farne?

I'll be up there next Friday. Stopping at Beadnell Bay camp site. Looking forward to walking along the beach to Seahouses (Or "World of Chips" as we like to call it.) 

[ABERS]

Abers, just seen your Seahouses shot - have you been there recently? Did you do the boat trip to Farne?

I'll be up there next Friday. Stopping at Beadnell Bay camp site. Looking forward to walking along the beach to Seahouses (Or "World of Chips" as we like to call it.) 

Love that part of the country, especially the Scotch pies at the butchers in Bamburgh.

Haven't been there for some while unfortunately.

[Hinfrance]

How well I remember the annual school forced march (day out), the Bamburgh to Craster walk. Happy days

[Reinardina]

I frosted the windows. Had terrible problems with the edges; my sight simply isn't good enough. Also noticed I didn't do the window on the left.
But, am I getting there?
Also did a crop, but kept the original as well.

[ABERS]

But, am I getting there?

What do you think? Whilst it would be carping to pick out one or two minor adjustments that could be made, one's eyes are now concentrated on the bottles, which I think was the objective from the outset.

How many hours did you spend on converting the pic to B+W in the first place and how much longer have you spent making further adjustments? I only ask the question because the immediacy of digital photography has a tendency to lead one to assume that post processing is just as quick and easy, when in fact it's no quicker than the old darkroom procedure, just more convenient and not as messy and smelly.

Mind you, just because you spend hours, perhaps days, working on a picture there's no photographic formula that equates time with perfection, silk purse and sow's ear comes into it somewhere!

Others may disagree.

[Beaux Reflets]

I frosted the windows. Had terrible problems with the edges; my sight simply isn't good enough. Also noticed I didn't do the window on the left.
But, am I getting there?
Also did a crop, but kept the original as well.

I agree some images can take up many hours, and it is ultimately the personal satisfaction that matters; rather than what others may think.

To answer the question "But am I getting there?" only you can answer that Reinardina. However, there are aspects to consider that may help that decision in answer.

I actually think the crop is not necessary; yes it gets the bottles 'in your face' so to speak, but in my opinion you have reduced the area of play provided by the original composition.

Hung in an exhibition I would now probably glance and miss it!

The reason being, that quite naturally the human eye is drawn to the light, and it is this aspect that chirps away as the brain engages or disengages viewing an image. Once my eyes have hit the row of bottles they are drawn away to the lighter areas and disengage, as there is no more connecting detail.

Where as in the original version, the angle of brick work and architectural detail beyond pause the eyes, and then I am back looking at the objects in the foreground, before the bottles (for a second time).

[Reinardina]

Been looking long and hard, and decided I do not like the frosted windows, as it seems like going blind when my eyes go there.

I have a different way of looking at pictures, and everything really, than someone with normal sight. I don't take it in, in one go, but have to go over the image several times. So I see it in sections first, before the brain 'sees' the whole picture.

I decided to 'go' with the shot with the partially blurred brickwork, and the foreground in tact.



I don't know how much time I spent on it, but definitely a lot.  Too much for the moment, as I have a lot of other things to do, that should have come first.

Thank you Alan and Andy. Through your guidance I have 'seen' the picture in different ways. 

[Beaux Reflets]

Been looking long and hard, and decided I do not like the frosted windows, as it seems like going blind when my eyes go there.

I have a different way of looking at pictures, and everything really, than someone with normal sight. I don't take it in, in one go, but have to go over the image several times. So I see it in sections first, before the brain 'sees' the whole picture.

I decided to 'go' with the shot with the partially blurred brickwork, and the foreground in tact.



I don't know how much time I spent on it, but definitely a lot.  Too much for the moment, as I have a lot of other things to do, that should have come first.

Thank you Alan and Andy. Through your guidance I have 'seen' the picture in different ways.

May I take the liberty Reinardina, by downloading your first upload shot and then to upload a tweaked version? While the quality will remain low resolution, it will demonstrate how my alternative suggestion might look.

[Reinardina]

Been looking long and hard, and decided I do not like the frosted windows, as it seems like going blind when my eyes go there.

I have a different way of looking at pictures, and everything really, than someone with normal sight. I don't take it in, in one go, but have to go over the image several times. So I see it in sections first, before the brain 'sees' the whole picture.

I decided to 'go' with the shot with the partially blurred brickwork, and the foreground in tact.



Go ahead Andy, as long as you explain what you did, as I don't know how to get the graduated directional light.

I don't know how much time I spent on it, but definitely a lot.  Too much for the moment, as I have a lot of other things to do, that should have come first.

Thank you Alan and Andy. Through your guidance I have 'seen' the picture in different ways.

May I take the liberty Reinardina, by downloading your first upload shot and then to upload a tweaked version? While the quality will remain low resolution, it will demonstrate how my alternative suggestion might look.

[DigiDiva]

Abers, the plug in you sugested doesn't do a Mac version. I was so happy at  the thought of new software and now im disapointed

Reinardina, don't forget, its the photo how you like it, now how others like it :-)

[Beaux Reflets]

Editing idea for Reinardina and method (bearing in mind the image used was very small, downloaded from the gallery)

Before


After


Method used

The process I used is very simple (but would be more involved for a colour image, with additional Layers adjusting White Balance between Indoors and Outside.

Working with three layers:-

1) Open image Background, open a New Layer 1 for your Graduated Filter, and open a Duplicate Copy of Background image for Layer 2.

2) Select Layer 1, and using the Gradient Fill tool; Settings (in this case) Colour Black to Transparent Linear, apply the Gradient Fill in the desired direction / angle, to create the Graduated Filter corresponding to the lighting effect you are after.

3) Select Layer 2, and Cut away the desired areas to reveal the Graduated Filter below (in this case through the glazed areas).

4) While keeping Layer 2 in view, reselect Layer 1 which then allows you to make adjustments to the Filter for Transparency, Density, Direction of light, plus any minor localised effects desired using the Dodge and Burn brushes etc.

5) Reselect Layer 2 and make any final adjustments, before merging layers and saving the edited image.

[Reinardina]

Andy, thank you for having a go, and the lesson. I think I used the graduation filter once in my life, and had totally forgotten about it.
I see the difference; the brickwork is indeed subtly toned down, and less intrusive.
I'm now not sure whether I prefer the blurred or the 'graduated' brick work!

Reinardina, don't forget, its the photo how you like it, now how others like it :-)

Chris, other people often see different things in the same photograph, and it is worthwhile to have a discussion like this once in a while. Especially with experienced photographers like Alan and Andy.

I'm still learning, and have cone away a bit wiser, and will hopefully scrutinise my images a bit more thoroughly before publishing them. It's often the finer detail I miss, because in my mind, I see the image as it was in real life, not realising that the 2D picture has lost, or sometimes gained, something that can enhance, but also detract.

[DigiDiva]

I agree Reinardina, learning from the experiene here is very important. If it wasn't for forums like this, I wouldn't have half the knowledge that I do.