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Post by hmca on Jul 23, 2019 1:45:44 GMT
I live on a river and often shoot images from our balcony. There were some interesting cloud formations this evening. I am never sure how to compose these images. There is a restaurant, parking lot and marina at street level. I try to avoid the roof of the restaurant but that results in cutting off the boats. I can never seem to figure out how much of them to include in a shot or if it is better off eliminating them completely. Are they a distraction or do they add interest? I usually shoot with my 24-150. Suggestions welcome. Thanks!   |
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Post by fotofrank on Jul 23, 2019 16:21:45 GMT
Helen, I'm sure you will get comments in each direction. I like it as a PANO without the boats.  |
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Post by Peterj on Jul 23, 2019 16:59:01 GMT
I'm a fan of using close in objects as a point of reference. I this case I cropped slightly and applied a lens blur filter to the remaining boats slightly darkening and reducing contrast.  |
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Post by hmca on Jul 23, 2019 19:40:21 GMT
Thanks, Frank. I do have a longer lens that might better work better for getting in closer. I'll have to give that a try.....
Peter, I never would have thought of blurring the boats....an interesting idea that I will surely try.
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Post by dandc on Jul 24, 2019 15:43:30 GMT
Helen - I prefer the shot without the boats in the foreground since some are cut-off and their light color distracts from the clouds (your subject for this shot).
What a beautiful view you have!
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Post by PeteB on Jul 24, 2019 16:57:44 GMT
Helen I also like the image without the boats. I cropped to remove most of the boats in the foreground I stayed with the 3x2 ratio and used the rule of thirds for placement of the horizon. Then I cloned out any remaining boat parts. To enhanced the sky, I used the Selective Color command from Elements+. I chose a Sky Boost preset and applied it at 50% opacity. Then to adjust the color of the water, I used a Solid Fill color layer, selected a blue and applied at 60% (blend mode Color). I used the Solid Color layer-mask to mask out the sky and the land. Then I used a Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer to selectively apply contrast to the sky and clouds. Then as an afterthought, I applied Neat Image to the gray clouds at the very top of the image. Thanks for allowing me to play with your image.  |
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Post by hmca on Jul 24, 2019 18:34:36 GMT
Thanks, Dan. I appreciate your input as I always enjoy seeing your landscape work.
Pete, thanks for working on my image. I especially like the suggestion to use the Solid Fill color layer on the water. This is something that I have never done but can
see where I could use it often as I am especially fond of water shots. I also noticed the noise at the top but didn't address it. I usually use Nik define for NR and also have
the newest upgrade by Topaz. Do you prefer Neat Image over those products? Do you think it is worth the extra cost?
Can't wait to try your water suggestion!
PeterJ....I am hanging on to your suggestion as well. sometimes, depending on what I am trying to shoot, those boats can't be avoided.
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Post by hmca on Jul 24, 2019 19:37:30 GMT
Had to try Pete's water suggestion......  
Thanks, Pete. Will use often. |
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Post by PeteB on Jul 24, 2019 22:29:08 GMT
Hi Helen I think Wendy (of the PET forum and later VillageElements) introduced me to the fill layer technique. If I’m not mistaken, she would often use/recommend it to retouch/correct skin color. About Neat Image … I first purchased it in 2008 and I have kept it upgraded. Since I am happy with it, I really haven’t compared it to other noise software. ni.neatvideo.com/overview/what-is-it |
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Berengaria
Established Forum Member
Posts: 398 
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by Berengaria on Jul 28, 2019 11:40:10 GMT
Helen I also like the image without the boats. I cropped to remove most of the boats in the foreground I stayed with the 3x2 ratio and used the rule of thirds for placement of the horizon. Then I cloned out any remaining boat parts. To enhanced the sky, I used the Selective Color command from Elements+. I chose a Sky Boost preset and applied it at 50% opacity. Then to adjust the color of the water, I used a Solid Fill color layer, selected a blue and applied at 60% (blend mode Color). I used the Solid Color layer-mask to mask out the sky and the land. Then I used a Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer to selectively apply contrast to the sky and clouds. Then as an afterthought, I applied Neat Image to the gray clouds at the very top of the image. Thanks for allowing me to play with your image. Could someone please explain to me how Solid Fill Layer works and how I use it? Sounds interesting. Thanks. Berie |
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Post by hmca on Jul 28, 2019 12:09:55 GMT
It is interesting, Berengaria......and simple and effective. I am including screenshots to show you the before and after along with the layer panel: Before:  After you have created the color fill adjustment layer the whole image is affected:  To apply to just part of the image you use the attached mask to remove it from areas where you don't want the color to show....in this case I only wanted it on the water....quick job as I didn't remove it from all the little islands.  Layers Panel in full version of PS  Icon to create the solid color adjustment layer. In PE 14 I believe it is at the top right of your screen. 
Post back if you need more help. |
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Post by Bailey on Jul 28, 2019 12:16:33 GMT
Hi Helen ... There were some interesting cloud formations this evening. ... If you wanted to highlight the clouds, ie make them the subject, I would crop to something like this. The water and land act as a sort of foreground and set of leading lines to the main part of the image, the sky and clouds. I did use a Levels Adjustment Layer, masking in just the sky, to add more contrast and depth to the sky and clouds by raising the black point and then applied a quick rough dodge and burn on the clouds using a 50% grey filled layer with overlay blend mode to also help add depth to the clouds. Normally I would also apply other adjustments to clean up the image more but here I mainly aiming to show how I would approach highlighting the clouds and sky generally. |
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Post by hmca on Jul 28, 2019 12:28:16 GMT
Thanks, Bailey. Dan had made the same suggestion above and in this case, it certainly would have been a good choice. Most often I am interested in a broader view so am often grappling with how to work with the boats.
I also could have spent more time with the clouds as you pointed out.
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Post by Bailey on Jul 28, 2019 12:38:13 GMT
No problem Helen.
It's just my preference, but I prefer a tighter crop to cut distractions like the water and boats at the bottom of the original image and the sky at the very top of the image.
It really just depends on what you want the viewer to focus on and how you compose/crop the scene to lead their eyes to what you want them to focus on.
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Berengaria
Established Forum Member
Posts: 398
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by Berengaria on Jul 28, 2019 14:22:51 GMT
It is interesting, Berengaria ......and simple and effective. I am including screenshots to show you the before and after along with the layer panel: Before: After you have created the color fill adjustment layer the whole image is affected: To apply to just part of the image you use the attached mask to remove it from areas where you don't want the color to show....in this case I only wanted it on the water....quick job as I didn't remove it from all the little islands. Layers Panel in full version of PS Icon to create the solid color adjustment layer. In PE 14 I believe it is at the top right of your screen.
Post back if you need more help. Thanks so much Helen. I actually got it to work the first time! For me that's amazing. Really appreciate all your help. Berie |
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