Looking for help with a photo

bbam · 05-11-2009 12:09am #1

Hi,
I'm shamelessly asking for help with a photo..
I was hoping to get it made into a canvas print as a present but was wondering if it could be "tweaked" in any way first, in some ways it appears a bit flat..

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/9272/img4909s.jpg

Thanks..

Chorcai · 05-11-2009 12:21am

Use http://www.gimp.org/ and tweak it youself (not been smart!) But it's free and ya learn a bit as well.

:D

CabanSail · 05-11-2009 1:38am

Quick run through my Actions.

Do you have the RAW file?

bbam · 05-11-2009 7:15pm

No raw file this as I've shot it, I have GIMP but nothing I try looks natural..

That's a nice subtle improvement.. how would I do that myself with GIMP as I'd like to keep the resolution for printing?

Thanks

KarmaGarda · 05-11-2009 10:19pm

Go into: Colours -> Curves

Then make a curve that looks something like this:

Basically it bumps it by highlighting the lights (top part of curve) and darkening the darks (bottom part of curve).

In your picture be careful with the lights (top part). If you over do it you'll blow out the whole sky.

KarmaGarda · 05-11-2009 10:22pm

Actually, looking at your photo the sky is already quite blown so I wouldn't touch the top part of the curve. Something like this would be better:

bbam · 06-11-2009 12:58am

OK folks...
I spent some time at this with GIMP and this is the best I can do...

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/8829/wallz.jpg

What do you think??

PopeBuckfastXVI · 06-11-2009 11:10am

Try some highlight recovery in bibble.

bibble free trial can be got at bibblelabs.com

Really nice pic by the way.

bbam · 06-11-2009 10:01pm

PopeBuckfastXVI wrote: »

Really nice pic by the way.

Thanks...
We were lucky it was just after snowing, but it was cold !

gary82 · 08-11-2009 4:05pm

I'd probably go for something like this...

Anouilh · 08-11-2009 9:53pm

I'm in a bit of a hurry, so could work on the stonework a bit more.

However, the blue mountains seemed worth enhancing in this lovely photo.

I auto-adjusted the colour in Irfanview and then did some colour correction.

Hope it's not too garish.

KarmaGarda · 08-11-2009 10:44pm

Actually, you know what I'd do. I'd fake "cross process" it. Then maybe bring a bit of blue into the blown out sky just to help the scene. If you want me to give an example I will, but fake cross processing is basically bumping greens and reds, and doing the opposite to blues. I'd then tint the sky manually (bit like having a filter on your camera for the sky).

Captain Flaps · 09-11-2009 11:45am

If it was me, I'd do something like this:

Bit of work done to fix the sky (not perfect, more could be done), colours tweaked, hint of fake HDR. Looks alright to my eye, but then I have weird tastes :P

Anouilh · 09-11-2009 6:16pm

I began to think of a lacquer cabinet and came up with this...

6034073

MalboroMan · 10-11-2009 12:05am

this is what i would do

CabanSail · 10-11-2009 9:37am

Lots of different options here. The sky could have been improved with the extra data from a RAW file, but that is not to be.

No matter how it's processed, one thing keeps at me aboutthis image. It's the way that the wall on the right exits the frame. It is a strong leading line & it's interuption ruins the flow. It's a real shame.

Anouilh · 10-11-2009 10:57am

I have to admit that the break in the wall does not worry me too much. I've tried to see if it would bother a person whose eye was trained to look at oriental art.

http://painting.about.com/od/stepbysteppaintingdemos/ss/Zhaofan_Liu.htm

Westerners always seem to crave perspective and lines and I try to break out of this from time to time.

kjt · 10-11-2009 2:22pm

Larger

Three different versions. If you want the full file, just let me know

YeGods · 12-11-2009 6:50pm

Try using photosacpe. It's very easy to use basic photo editing software and it's completely free software (not a torrent) and can do most adjustments quickly.
here's the download link
http://www.photoscape.org/ps/main/download.php

dryadssaddle · 17-11-2009 1:03am

Fionn · 17-11-2009 6:53pm

something like this?

wackerdattacker · 18-11-2009 10:51am

Heres my half arsed attempt.........

paddy

challengemaster · 21-11-2009 8:06pm

CabanSail wrote: »

Lots of different options here. The sky could have been improved with the extra data from a RAW file, but that is not to be.

Not really CabanSail, trust me, having been to china and on the great wall...the sky actually is like that there. It's due to the amount of pollution in the air, that the entire sky is just a layer of smog. It's not just blown out... There was I think 1 day where I actually saw a blue sky, and I had to leave beijing for that to happen...

I'd go for gary82's version personally, I really really like it

Looking for help with a photo

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