Barn House

[rosserx]

This image was taken while driving in a car going about 50 mph. I was the passenger
I tone-mapped and converted to B&W using HDR Efx Pro then brought it into CS5 and followed this tutorial link on how to make sun light beams. Did some more tone and level adjustments and cropped. Please let me know what you guys think!

Before


After

[windrider86]

For me , its overcooked.
A neat trick I learned that gives an orginal photo a boost is to take a photo like the 2nd one, place it as a layer on top of the orginal anmd then change the blend mode to overlay. Play with the opacity levels to get a version you like.

[gturner]

Originally Posted by windrider86

For me , its overcooked.
A neat trick I learned that gives an orginal photo a boost is to take a photo like the 2nd one, place it as a layer on top of the orginal anmd then change the blend mode to overlay. Play with the opacity levels to get a version you like.

+1 from me.

[sedetweiler]

Originally Posted by windrider86

For me , its overcooked.
A neat trick I learned that gives an orginal photo a boost is to take a photo like the 2nd one, place it as a layer on top of the orginal anmd then change the blend mode to overlay. Play with the opacity levels to get a version you like.

I do the same thing to boost contrast on some image, but rather than using a copy of the photo, I use a curve adjustment layer set to overlay. Same result but a smaller file, plus I get the bonus of a curve I can adjust.

Also, you can copy the layer, and go into channels and replace the channel with the least contrast with a better channel by using apply image. I do this when there is a lot of grass in the shot. You will have to then change the new layer with the changed channels to luminosity mode.

[rosserx]

Originally Posted by windrider86

For me , its overcooked.
A neat trick I learned that gives an orginal photo a boost is to take a photo like the 2nd one, place it as a layer on top of the orginal anmd then change the blend mode to overlay. Play with the opacity levels to get a version you like.

I'll try this. Thanks for the tip!

[rosserx]

Originally Posted by sedetweiler

I do the same thing to boost contrast on some image, but rather than using a copy of the photo, I use a curve adjustment layer set to overlay. Same result but a smaller file, plus I get the bonus of a curve I can adjust.

Also, you can copy the layer, and go into channels and replace the channel with the least contrast with a better channel by using apply image. I do this when there is a lot of grass in the shot. You will have to then change the new layer with the changed channels to luminosity mode.

This is great thank you! Yes I was having a hard time working with the grass in the image. I was not liking the way it was looking and ended up cropping half of it out and "settling" out of frustration. I will certainly go into channels and try this!

[sedetweiler]

Originally Posted by rosserx

This is great thank you! Yes I was having a hard time working with the grass in the image. I was not liking the way it was looking and ended up cropping half of it out and "settling" out of frustration. I will certainly go into channels and try this!

I cover this and a few other techniques on my blog. It is more of a tutorial site, but covers lighting as well as post production. If you get lost on how to do it, let me know and I can help.

[happyme]

You've got to be kidding me. It's aweeesomeeee.... I see you have used a grunge effect here and that makes it look even more jaw dropping.

[nicktyler]

I quite like it. It really looks like a drawing or painting but the tonemapping is given away by the halo round the top of the building and trees.