Futuristic Metal Horse

[sk66]

I saw this statue and was quite struck by it's "futuristic" context. My goal was to capture it's gleaming all polished metal character. However, I can't help but think it's a bit overprocessed. My question is does the processing help more than detract from the image? I've tried several versions and this is the one I like the best. About the only other thing I could try would be to do an HDR, but that would involve a 2hr drive.
(btw, my wife was very wonderful in understanding when I pulled off the side of the busy road to take this pic after already having been in the car 12hrs over the last two days and being "almost home" and weary.)

here is a link to the original pic

Here is the processed pic.


Processing was cropping, desaturating some of the colors in the reflections on the horse (red/green), and levels. For that type of editing it seems surreal, and I think that's kind of my problem with it, but also kind of my goal...

Exif so no-one complains, although I don't see how it's relevant.
Camera: Canon PowerShot G10
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1250)
Aperture: f/4.0
Focal Length: 6.1 mm
Exposure: 0.00
ISO Speed: 80

[AvasMom]

I love this picture. I am no expert, but just wanna let you know that I think it is very nice. Before I read your writing I thought the horse was made out of glass! Only thing I can say, the more I look at it, I wish the horse wasnt as close in color to the sky. Maybe a way to tweak the color so its a little different, but dont lose the glassy feeling! Again though, I love this pic! Good job.

[sk66]

Here's an edit using gradients to create a bit more contrast and "lighting" effect...

[utsc2006]

Personally it looks like CG to me and not something you've actually taken a picture of. I like the original with the setting around it. If you can go back, maybe try to include the area around it. It's a beautiful statue.

[sk66]

Originally Posted by utsc2006

Personally it looks like CG to me and not something you've actually taken a picture of.

I KNOW! It's weird! But that's kind of the thing with this statue... It is so futuristic and striking....Adding more "context" seems to bring it back down to being just a statue....

The other thing is, when you're there, it strikes you much more as the processed image does.....We have very selective vision...we "ignore" what's not drawing our attention....you don't see the red/green reflections, or even notice the blue cast to the steel from the sky...it's just all gleaming chrome... (unless you're looking at it like a photographer)

But, point taken...a vote for overprocessed...I'm still undecided. (and I've wasted WAY too much time on this snapshot trying different approaches)

[sk66]

Here's a version with almost NO editing done. (Crop and very light curves adj.)

[plangereis]

I like the last photo you posted the best. It provides more separation between the horse and the background.

[barabe]

I find all of the versions nice and interesting in different ways. The heavily processed one makes it feel like it is a ice or glass statue that you see trough so the feeling of future metalic is not there in my opinion. The other two, you get the feel of polished steel that the statue was meant to be. It all depends on what you are trying to acheive.

[wal]

I like the first and third because the first one is nicely processed and got that glassy look which blends with the sky, and, the third pic due to the metallic contrast that differentiates the subject with the sky.
Either way, both are nice in a differeent style.

[coldphoenix]

I enjoy the second post, I think it conveys that futuristic sense you're talking about, sort of a blend between steel and glass. The one improvement I would make on that photo though is to mask out the effect on the sky, the harsh contrasting and haloing on the clouds is a bit distracting, degrading the quality of an otherwise beautifully captured image.