From Heaven to Hell

[southernbelle]

This is one of my first highly processed pics. I was wondering if I went overboard on the saturation and if you think the crop is right.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/23141070@N07/2219692585/" title="Steps by southernbelle102, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2060/2219692585_35062159b9.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Steps" /></a>

EXIF:
Camera: Kodak Z730 Zoom
Exposure: 0.125 sec (1/8)
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 8.2 mm
ISO Speed: 140
Exposure Bias: 0/10 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Orientation: Horizontal (normal)
X-Resolution: 72 dpi
Y-Resolution: 72 dpi
YCbCr Positioning: Centered
Exposure Program: Normal
Date and Time (Original): 2007:10:27 17:39:25
Date and Time (Digitized): 2007:10:27 17:39:25
Shutter Speed: 30/10
Maximum Lens Aperture: 36/10
Metering Mode: Pattern
Light Source: Daylight
Color Space: sRGB
Exposure Index: 140/1
Sensing Method: One-chip colour area sensor
White Balance: Manual
Digital Zoom Ratio: 0/100
Focal Length In 35mm Film: 49
Scene Capture Type: Landscape
Gain Control: Low gain up
Sharpness: Hard
Compression: JPEG
Image Width: 1932 pixels
Image Height: 2576 pixels

[wulf]

Only time for a quick response right now, but I think I would have dropped the green grass seen beyond the door way. Three colours stops the colour scheme being so focused. I think it could probably afford to be darker overall as well.

Did you do this with The Gimp? If so, try a black layer set to overlay mode on the top, adjusting the transparency to taste. Experiment with other modes as well.

Wulf

[southernbelle]

I added the black overlay and definitely prefer that. How should I go about getting rid of the green in it? Thanks!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/23141070@N07/2219752203/" title="steps edit by southernbelle102, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2248/2219752203_9ff3b8f5fb.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="steps edit" /></a>

[peeperita]

i appreciate the way you've seen the abstract in the ordinary.....it's a good solid image with sensible cropping.....wulf's idea of the dark overlay was a wonderful suggestion that added dramatic depth.....

going with the more abstract route, i would remove the grass with a bit of cloning......spreading the concrete path the width of the doorway.....

thanks

peeper

[southernbelle]

Thanks to both of you!! I love how those edits made my shot look!
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/23141070@N07/2221005257/" title="steps edit2 by southernbelle102, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2056/2221005257_1237cd255d.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="steps edit2" /></a>

[Sandie]

Nice shot, great title! I like the edits too they make a big difference in the finished look of the photo.

[southernbelle]

Thank you!:)

[Digidave]

Nice editing job! One more thing you may want to try is adding a red tinge to the entire sidewalk. I say try because it may not be easy to get it exactly correct. It will need to be lighter in tone because it is out in the light of day. If that makes any sense. But I feel with the title you have & the feel you are trying to achieve it is essential that the entire doorway be red. It loses something with the gray sidewalk.

[southernbelle]

I see what you are saying... I am new to editing, but I'll give it a try :)

[southernbelle]

I took the suggestion to turn the pavement red. Tell me what you think of how it came out, please. I think it came out pretty well. Thanks! And, thanks for all the suggestions!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/23141070@N07/2222254784/" title="Heaven to Hell by southernbelle102, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2398/2222254784_483a6331d6.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Heaven to Hell" /></a>

[oriolhdz]

Hi southernbelle:
That's a nice photo and great edit ones. It only comes to my mind to add some texture to the photo to add some drama to the scene.
Thanks for sharing it!

[southernbelle]

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/23141070@N07/2222335292/" title="h2h3 by southernbelle102, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2106/2222335292_c23058e90a.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="h2h3" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/23141070@N07/2221543215/" title="h2h2 by southernbelle102, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2392/2221543215_fb7229b491.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="h2h2" /></a>

Here are 2 tries with texture. Any thoughts?

[oriolhdz]

I liked both tries. Most the first one because its more detailed. I had in my mind a stronger/darker texture but I also think going to far with texture will ruin your
"From Heave to Hell" mood you achieved.
I guess it will come down to playing with different textures and see what you get and the final mood.
Good job!

[southernbelle]

Thanks...I like the first one too. I am gonna play around with it some more. It is awesome to have so many artistic eyes to help make a great shot!! Thanks!!

[Ewie]

Very nice shot, very apt title, I like your perception of the scene and I like the "tweaks" you've made so far as each one makes a definate improvement to the image. The thing keeps leaping out at me (being picky) is the composition.

Everything in the scene is hard and linear from the lines of the brickwork to the nose of the steps leading down to the archway and this accentuates the fact that the photo was taken off-centre. To me taking half a step to the left would have centered everything up perfectly.

Unfortunately I'm not experienced enough with Photoshop to suggest how (or if) this could be fixed.

Still, it's a great shot and you should be proud of it.

[peeperita]

not to be a spoil sport.....but, the last edit i liked was when you cloned out the grass.....the red for some purely personal reason bugs me......it seems very noisy in that area to me now....

peeper

[southernbelle]

not to be a spoil sport.....but, the last edit i liked was when you cloned out the grass.....the red for some purely personal reason bugs me......it seems very noisy in that area to me now....

peeper

Peeperita,

I actually feel the same way. My favorite of the edits is the one where I cloned out the grass but the pavement was still blue...thats the one I am gonna print for my portfolio. It is fun playing around with it though :).

Sarah

[Dr. WooD]

I think you had a really good eye for this shot. You also took a good picture, and made it into something very interesting.

Well Done.

[southernbelle]

Thank you very much!

[Boomstein]

Didn't know hell was pink! So disappointed in hell... :D
Nice editing! Personally, I would go about this differently, cutting out the entire part you see through the doorway, pasting it on a different layer and making the top part really dark, maybe with some eerie red glow from one side... Or with a silhouette of a demon, if they would like to live in pink hell. Go crazy :)

[FocalFrenzy]

Just a thought......If you get a chance to re-shoot this scene, get ahold of a couple of smoke bombs (the kind they sell in convenience stores around July 4th). The smoke is white like steam, giving you lots of room to experiment with tinting in GIMP. The smoke may eliminate the need for cloning of the grass. With the proper wind, you can have it billowing up the stairs toward you. Great image, great concept, and excellent editing.

[wulf]

Or check out some tutorials on the web of how to add smoke effects in post processing. To be honest, that is probably easier than going back and reshooting with smoke bombs when the wind is in the right direction and without committing some kind of public order offense and scaring people.... :)

Wulf