When you can't beat the blur...

[ni2sml]

...work with it?

I took this shot handheld at 328mm equivalent focal length, 1/80 second shutter speed. Image stabilization helped, but it was still a bit fuzzy when viewed on the computer (of course it looked fine on the LCD, so much for chimping!). I liked the shot, but yet wasn't happy with it.



Thought I'd go for a more dreamy, soft-focus look and emphasize the boat and pier a little more. Or at least, try to do that!


Waterside Dream by ni2sml on Zooomr

Post work done using GIMP. Started with the GREYCstoration plugin to reduce noise a bit (with hindsight, maybe I didn't need to bother with this step).

Then used the soft-focus plugin with the resulting layer set around 65% opacity (normal blending mode, I think). Selected a rough vignette shape around the image using the freehand select tool, then feathered the selection by 500px and created a layer mask for the soft focus layer, using that selection so that the edges feathered out into the effect.

To get the vignette I just duplicated the soft focus layer and mask, set it to multiply mode at 100% opacity and placed it above the softness layer.

Finally I duplicated the original image layer, applied a gaussian blur of 20px radius to it, set it at 70% opacity, overlay mode, and placed it in between the original image and the softness layer to enhance the saturation and contrast a little.

This is probably one of my more extensive PP efforts so far. I've used GIMP for about 6 years now, but only recently started exploring what it can really do.

[dlaf]

That's a nice save of a pretty scene. Thanks for posting your steps, too!

[NileQueen]

Thats really neat trick and scene is nice too.
Thanks for sharing your tips.

[ni2sml]

Thanks!

I figured it was worth trying to save. Plus I can use the practice at PP...

[wulf]

Thanks - this is an excellent illustration of a fix that relies on spotting and bringing out the potential of a shot rather than trying to make it into something it is not.

Wulf

[Mstee4eva]

Great rescue, I guess we can all learn from this!
Quick thinking, came out fab ,';0)...

[ni2sml]

Again, thanks!

Mstee4eva, your signature is so true. I think I had one of those days today!

[Quo Fan]

I like it. It went from an ok photo to something I'd like to hang on my wall.

[prince]

I like it that you didn't go over board with the soft focus. Looks better..

[pbdweeeebie]

Nice save indeed.

And a reminder of how less is often more.