Surfer Dude...

[FotoMike]

Here is the image i shot right out of the camera (just converted from RAW)



And here is the image after a did a little editing. I think i did a decent job, i basically just edited using the RAW converter in photoshop and darkened the whole image until it was at least an acceptable silhouette.



Any other comments welcome. I think the column from the pier is a little distracting but im not sure what to do about, if I crop it out it becomes an unprintable picture because of the weird size.

[timkoo]

Nice recovery. There are a few quirks about it (such as the column) but overall, much better than the original.

I'd still try cropping it even if you needto chop some off the top/bottom

Did you try to do a B+W conversion on this? Curious what that would turn out like.

[private]

Since you have photoshop you can clone out the column - But don't let the size worry you too much - there are places on-line that will print odd size photos - BUT, it won't be as cheap as snapfish

[Winning Post]

I'd say cloning would be your last option if you really didn't want to crop. It looks like you'd have a tough job of cloning out against the sea, ripples, waves and sand.

IMH, leave it alone! I don't mind the pillar there and it adds a bit of mystery, not that it'll take too long to work out what it is. Very Laird Hamilton

[skipjack]

Don't feel that the pillar is any distracting at all. It may even be to frame up your subject. It all depends on which way you look at it.

[Olivier H]

Nice job on the post processing.

[herrickphoto]

I like it a lot - and I'd keep the pillar

[djshagadellic]

I'm very impressed with the final result especially considering what you started with. I also like the pole, like skipjack said I think it very nicely frames the subject.

As far as printing the odd size, I got so sick of photo services cropping my images that I make everything in a standard size with borders, usually basic black. For a portrait image like yours In PS, I start with a proportional canvas size keeping the height of the original image and choose a longer proportional width (multiply the height by 0.8 if using 10 x 8 standard). Then fill the background layer with black and then add the image to a second layer.

For your image I think it would help to move moved the image layer slightly to the left, using the beam as an eye-catching frame, and then manually cutting out the excess black border from right side of the image for visual symmetry.

[lissykeeper]

Maybe I'm the only one, but I really like the original photo. Don't get me wrong, your edit is awesome. I really like the sillhoute and it has a very dramatic effect. But the original has a romantic whimmsical feel that I just love.

To deal with that column, you could crop it and then frame the pic with a black border to make up for the difference. I know a lot of people don't like frames, but they can add to your picture in certain situations