Picture for C&C

PonderStibbons

This is my first picture submitted here for C&C, but don't go easy on me! It's also my first ever attempt at cloning something out - the original had a fence and a tree that was half out of view. My monitor is a bit terrible so I'm not really sure how good a job I did on that. I would really appreciate if someone would tell me if it really looks crap; I don't intend on winning competitions for my l33t photoshopping skillz, but I also don't want to get laughed at by The Internet. Sorry if this should really be in Digital Darkroom, but I'm looking for critique on the editing but also the photo itself. Thanks!

Wez

Nicely composed! The position of the tree is pretty much spot on, you get tired of seeing things pretty much bang in the middle..

Also, it's nicely different, a large proportion is white, only a small bit is black, like this a lot..

5uspect

AAAAHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!
Now laughing all done.
Thats quite a nice shot, well done.
I can't see any trace of cloning without messing with it in photoshop apart from a bit of sky that seems a little too white. I might try and bring out the sky a bit more tho.

PonderStibbons

Thanks for the comments! I brightened up the whole picture because I wanted to have bright snow, but unfortunately it lost a lot of the detail in the sky. Here's the original, if anyone's interested:

Morlar

I think the original you just posted is a lot better. The first one is too bright imo.

tba

yeah nice original, I think only the half hidden tree needs to be cloned out.

Plus if you only want bright snow fiddle with the curves to get the classic s shape.

5uspect

Sorry, i had a go. Couldn't resist.
Just a minor levels correction on the blue channel to pick up the blue patches of sky followed by a shadow/highlight adjustment to angry up the sky followed by a curves adjustment layer to brighten up the snow (with the layer mask filled in with black over the sky to prevent the adjustment layer affecting it).

PonderStibbons

Thanks again. I think I had my mind set on a classic white snow picture, but the fact that the day was so overcast means it came out a kind of grey, which I can't seem to get rid of, without ruining the sky, so far. I'll keep feckin' about with it!

EDIT: I didn't see your picture until after I'd posted. Looks pretty good! I don't understand about half of what you said though...

5uspect

oops, sorry!
Levels adjustments, curves corrections and layer masks are probably three of the most important things to understand in photoshop. Others has posted some excellent tutorials and guides in the Digital Darkroom. Definitely worth a read!

Dr.Louis

I much prefer the first version you showed us- I'm not too sure why though... The original gives too much away, the first one left me guessing, which I liked alot. Just a personal choice though- both are great!

Tarakiwa

I would like to see the original with just the 1/2 tree on the left hand side cloned out .............

I really like the image though!

Fenster

Great coloning work and not a bad shot.

mikeanywhere

Good shot. I quite like the fence there but defo would remove the signpost