Broken Reflections

[Sandie]

Exposure: 0.125 sec (1/8)
Aperture: f/22
Focal Length: 18 mm
ISO Speed: 200

Here is a recent shot I took that I like, but it doesn't 'pop' for me. How would you fix it? Remember when commenting that I am a total PS novice. Use simple language.

[VernonShaw]

I really like the picture. You can either try upping the contrast (or simply just desaturating it)in post or using a polarizing filter for the next time.

[VernonShaw]

Crap crap crap, forgot the simple language part.

Um, the simplest way to up the contrast is by going to image>adjustments>curves and making an S curve out of the line.

Desaturate = make it black and white = go to image>adjustments>desaturate

Sorry.

[Sandie]

lol, thanks..I had recently learned about curves (like yesterday), but learning how desaturate will be helpful. Somedays I truly miss my darkroom and my enlarger.

[jiminyClickit]

Sandie,

When they have a photo contest in your city for "Subtle," you may wonder what made you think "pop" was such a trendy concept. You like what you like; I'd leave this one and go shoot something that already "pops" and looks good doing it. You saw something in this at first. I think it was an unexplainable natural beauty.

[summerbreezing]

Sandie
I do like this. It has a soft & dreamy feel to it. You could play with increasing the saturation a little to bring out the colour a little more if you are curious but I like it as is.

[Nathan deGargoyle]

I too like this as is. However, if you want it to pop more maybe try a combination of Vernon's techniques. I think that the colours of the rocks may be too close to the colours of the reflection. If you desaturate the rocks a little and pop the colours in the reflection you get

[wulf]

You could rotate it 180 degrees - that often works well with reflection shots like this.

Wulf

[Mr. Clipit]

I think that Nathan's edit does 'pop' more, but I kinda like the dreamy feel of the original.

[the_camera_poser]

This isn't terribly helpful but I really like this shot, particularly with Nathan's "Pop."