Branch of Hope

[myfotoguy]

Okay, maybe the title is a little dramatic, but there was hope for this shot with a little PP. The actual steps were pretty simple and basic, but I like the results. I love when a few tweaks can take a blah image and make it enjoyable.

This branch is part of my set from the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis.

BEFORE


AFTER


For the after I used ACDSee Pro3

• Used Advanced Lighting to decrease brightness in the scene, I think this tool also does some local contrast adjustments
• Increased Contrast to "19" (-100 to 100 setting in this software)
• Used Advanced Color to increase blue band saturation to 33 (same scale as above).
• Used Advanced Color to descrease brightness of green channel to -50 to darken the foliage on the branch. (same scale as above).
• Set Luminance NR to 39 (0 - 100 scale)
• Vignette at corners to bring it all together, then a frame to display.

[Jamfke]

Very impressive. You definitely brought this one to life.

[Stryker]

It certainly makes the subject the "subject" instead of just being there in the photo. Great work, myfotoguy, I really like what you have done here. I'd probably choose a wood grain finish to the frame, to top it all off but that is my personal preference only. Nice work.

[myfotoguy]

Thanks Jim!
Thanks Stryker!
Good suggestion on the wood grain. I have a pretty basic framing tool, are there any you use/suggest?

[Stryker]

I use the "AAA Frames" free plugin for Photoshop, available here, on the very rare occassions that I want to put frames around my photos. But if you are not a PS user, this is obviously of not much help to you. I have not used ACDSee, so I can't comment on whether it supports plugins like these.

[MSidPhoto]

Amazing work, i like the way you edited that.

[peeperita]

nice hand with the editing.....if it hadn't been for the frame, i would have not guessed you tweaked it.....

good work...

peeper

[myfotoguy]

Originally Posted by Stryker

I use the "AAA Frames" free plugin for Photoshop, available here, on the very rare occassions that I want to put frames around my photos. But if you are not a PS user, this is obviously of not much help to you. I have not used ACDSee, so I can't comment on whether it supports plugins like these.

Thanks, I'll check it out. I don't usually use frames either, but have started playing with them lately for displaying outside of my gallery. Particularly for Facebook to dress up the plain appearance there.

KazeFox and Peeper, thanks for your comments!

[mark1123]

Great PP! I saw your original photo and thought, "can't really do anything with this". I was very wrong. Nice job.

Mark

[calmaxgan]

I really like what you have done with the shot - not to mention that you had the insight to see the potential in the first place.