Author Topic: looking for your opinion (Read 9804 times)

sensovision · « **on:** February 17, 2008, 12:57 »

I would like to know what do you think about this picture?

The reason I'm asking is because it was recently submitted out of curiosity to DT and got rejection about bad lighting.
I've tried to use auto correction to it(since I have no way to calibrate monitor right now) and colors look completely different and doesn't bring same emotions as with original photo and jeep doesn't look like silhouette anymore.
So I wonder if such colors are acceptable or not? (or maybe it's really so bad with my monitor).

Any feedback and critique are welcome!

sharpshot · « **Reply #1 on:** February 17, 2008, 13:05 »

It looks like it lacks contrast on my monitor.

louoates · « **Reply #2 on:** February 17, 2008, 13:15 »

It's one of those almost silhouettes that really isn't. Too much information shown, or not enough. Plus I guess I just don't care for the composition either. The person seems to be looking off to the right, the sun is off to the left. Just doesn't work for me. Just my take.
On my monitor (new big screen Eizo) the colors look dull and lifeless.

sensovision · « **Reply #3 on:** February 17, 2008, 13:25 »

Thanks for feedback, folks! I know composition isn't perfect so as with details, I've better version of picture from same set but I've submit it to PhotoShelter and was accepted.

Would someone be so kind to take a moment and adjust colors for this picture to what they need to be? I'm asking for this so I could use it for reference for other pictures with similar sunset colors.

null · « **Reply #4 on:** February 17, 2008, 13:29 »

I got similar, and they were accepted. When the shot sprung up to my screen I felt something odd. It has to do with composition. The jeep runs out from the frame to the right. It dumps into a wall which is the frame border. It hurts my eyes for that. The silhouette is not a problem for me.

The sunset is ok but too early and too dull, especially since it is the main focus of the image. I'm sure you have more spectacular views of the same sunset later on. Just glue that flamboyant sunset upon this shot, and clone the jeep to the left side of the image so it has some space to drive ;-)

One of my best selling waterfalls has a sky from 300 miles away. There is truth, and there is Photoshop

leaf · « **Reply #5 on:** February 17, 2008, 13:39 »

yeah. i would agree that it lacks in contrast... so I agree with dreamstime. I took a two second stab at it and upped the contrast in a few places, and made all the darks black. Not sure what the original was like and if it could 'handle' the contrast and saturation boost, but i am guessing so, if you were nice to it

yours

mine

Bateleur · « **Reply #6 on:** February 17, 2008, 13:42 »

One way of boosting the contrast is to use 'Curves' in Photoshop.

Anchor the straight line of the graph in the centre, and put two other anchors in halfway between the centre and top (right) and halfway between the centre and bottom (left).

Then pull those halfway anchors up and down respectively to get an 'S' curve.

You'll have to watch the result to see you don't overdo it, but that usually adds 'zizz' to an image.

leaf · « **Reply #7 on:** February 17, 2008, 13:46 »

Quote from: Bateleur on February 17, 2008, 13:42

One way of boosting the contrast is to use 'Curves' in Photoshop.

One way of boosting the contrast is to use 'Curves' in Photoshop.... may I edit.. the ONLY worthwhile way of boosting contrast...

once you get curves figured out you won't go back.

null · « **Reply #8 on:** February 17, 2008, 13:54 »

Quote from: leaf on February 17, 2008, 13:46

One way of boosting the contrast is to use 'Curves' in Photoshop.... may I edit.. the ONLY worthwhile way of boosting contrast...

Not over all the image! Sensovision's image has two parts: the sky and the silhouettes. You can optimize curves for both parts in 2 layers, then merge. Sounds HDR-ish but it can work. Curves have the disadvantage that they enhance noise. Lately, I'm working more with soft uniform W-B layers to reveal details locally without compromising pop-up.

leaf · « **Reply #9 on:** February 17, 2008, 14:19 »

Quote from: FlemishDreams on February 17, 2008, 13:54

Quote from: leaf on February 17, 2008, 13:46
One way of boosting the contrast is to use 'Curves' in Photoshop.... may I edit.. the ONLY worthwhile way of boosting contrast...
Not over all the image! Sensovision's image has two parts: the sky and the silhouettes. You can optimize curves for both parts in 2 layers, then merge. Sounds HDR-ish but it can work. Curves have the disadvantage that they enhance noise. Lately, I'm working more with soft uniform W-B layers to reveal details locally without compromising pop-up.

yeah, that is what i have done. i think i used 3 curves layers.

sensovision · « **Reply #10 on:** February 17, 2008, 14:46 »

Quote from: FlemishDreams on February 17, 2008, 13:29

The sunset is ok but too early and too dull, especially since it is the main focus of the image. I'm sure you have more spectacular views of the same sunset later on. Just glue that flamboyant sunset upon this shot, and clone the jeep to the left side of the image so it has some space to drive ;-)

yeah I realized from beginning that composition sucks and even was surprised that DT doesn't mentioned it. Also I don't think it's worth to make anything to this picture, I was just asked about help to get idea what colors are considered as correct ones.

Quote

One of my best selling waterfalls has a sky from 300 miles away. There is truth, and there is Photoshop

I still doesn't feel comfortable to do manipulations like this

Thanks once again to everyone for your help!

Quote from: leaf on February 17, 2008, 13:39

yeah. i would agree that it lacks in contrast... so I agree with dreamstime. I took a two second stab at it and upped the contrast in a few places, and made all the darks black. Not sure what the original was like and if it could 'handle' the contrast and saturation boost, but i am guessing so, if you were nice to it

Thanks for your time and help in seeing what colors are required for photos.
In your photo colors look very saturated to me, I would even tell oversaturated, so guess that I can't trust my monitor at all in editing my photos, now I need to find some other way to postprocess my photos before submission

Actually colors of real scene was more dull from what I remember

Photo seems to win from this contrast adjustment as colors become more alive.

Quote from: Bateleur on February 17, 2008, 13:42

One way of boosting the contrast is to use 'Curves' in Photoshop.

Anchor the straight line of the graph in the centre, and put two other anchors in halfway between the centre and top (right) and halfway between the centre and bottom (left).

Then pull those halfway anchors up and down respectively to get an 'S' curve.

You'll have to watch the result to see you don't overdo it, but that usually adds 'zizz' to an image.

thanks for tip Bateleur! I'm not using curves a lot as just like mentioned FlemishDreams they boost too much noise, and I still doesn't understand their conception well. Guess I need to find some tutorial on curves and translate it for using in GIMP. I've followed your guide and get something similar to what's Leaf posted but with less vibrant colors.

madelaide · « **Reply #11 on:** February 17, 2008, 17:03 »

One thing I tried lately and seems to work well without much texture loss is a duplicate layer with soft light blending mode. In general I've been setting transparency of this layer between 20-50%. It improves contrast and saturation. Has anyone used this technique?

I tried it in Denis' image however and it did not suffice to make it really pop up. I think it does need indeed curves to help it.

I didn't know that brightness/contrast was so much different than curves to add contrast. I thought both would actually do more or less the same.

Regards,
Adelaide

sensovision · « **Reply #12 on:** February 19, 2008, 14:49 »

I just wish to say once again "THANK YOU" to everyone who provided feedback to this image.
I really glad that Leaf have showed me to what level contrast should be boost, and once I've used method described by Bateleur images really got new look.

BTW yesterday I decide to correct few pictures rejected for contrast reasons, and was very surprised as all of them were accepted

Amongst these files was jeep photo also, since it as rejection reason only contrast problem I decide to upload it to see if they reject it for second time for composition, I also grant permission to put it to free section and leave note to editor and was very surprised when it was approved to commercial one

Now I'm not sure if it's worth to left it there or move to free section as none would buy it anyway

Waldo4 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 19, 2008, 15:13 »

I used to be really hung up on curves, but since I discovered the magic of luminosity masking, the basic contrast adjustment is generally good enough when used in combination with the mask (which also has contrast applied to it to help isolate luminosity regions). I still use the curves when I don't think that masking is necessary, especially in the RAW editor, where the curves are much more forgiving. One of the best ways to give your colors pop is to contrast the A and B channels in lab mode (best place to sharpen is on the luminosity channel only), it is different than saturation alone. The curves could be used too, but in most cases that is more control than is necessary.

I also use the duplicate and soft blending technique, or take it further and triple duplicate, set copy 1 to screen and copy 1 to multiply, then adjust the opacity of copy 3.

I actually use this technique with multiple shots as well, I'll take 5 or more shots from a tripod, varying the lighting angle, then combine them into one file, each with its own layer twice, on one set I'll adjust the lighting to be perfect (its amazing what a single flash can do with multiple shots blended over and over), on another I'll pick the perfect white edges to erase around through to my background. Enables perfect shadowless isolations lit with what seems like lots of lights in a very complex setup, in reality it is just a bunch of shots combined, lit with a single flash.

sensovision · « **Reply #14 on:** February 19, 2008, 15:52 »

thanks for suggestions, Waldo!
Too bad that GIMP isn't working with LAB colors $:-\$
Hopefully it would be implemented someday as for now I'm going to use curves prior to submission to stocks.

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Author Topic: looking for your opinion (Read 9804 times)

sensovision

sharpshot

louoates

sensovision

null

leaf

Bateleur

leaf

null

leaf

sensovision

madelaide

sensovision

Waldo4

sensovision

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