Not getting the "pop" factor I'd like - Steamboat Springs - Mt Werner

[steamboatscott]

Just getting into landscape shots. Took this of Mount Werner in Steamboat Springs. Used a cheap ($30) tripod, set camera to open shutter, and triggered with wired remote. Also had circular polarized filter on. Looked better than w/o filter, but I still didn't get the "pop" of the colors I was expecting. Took some bracketed shots for HDR processing later, but curious if anyone has any suggestions of this non-HDR shot. Thanks!



f/11, 1/320, ISO 200
Canon XSi w/ EF28-135mm at 47.00mm
Circular Polarized filter used
Shoot took around 5pm, with sun setting and pointing toward mountain.

[troutwhisperer]

It looks like the picture was taken sometime between mid morning and mid afternoon. That is always a very difficult time to get the results you want in a landscape picture. From your screen name I would guess that you live in or near Steamboat Springs so why not try shooting the same scene at sunset or sunrise. Get up a little early, pick up some coffee at Spill the Bean coffee shop and get that early morning shot.

[steamboatscott]

Sorry, should have clarified. Took the picture about 5pm, which seemed to be the best lighting of the mountain.

[plangereis]

To me the shot looks okay, and the issue might be clarity lost because of the distance you took the photo from. I have had similar issues when taking photos of mountains from a long distance away. Either way it appears that the lack of punch is possibly due to distance, atmospheric dust, which can present refraction issues with distance etc. Was it hot in this area for a long period of time? If so, could you re-shoot after a rainy day, which may clear up the air. You could also try increasing black levels and contrast, depending on what program you are using in post. Just some thoughts.

[plangereis]

HI again. I thought I would play with this shot in Lightroom 2. I think it is a bit punchier, but let me know what you think.

[kencaleno]

For a start image is underexposed-and here's how to "pop" color in photoshop with Lab color:

To “POP”Color Using Lab mode

Here's how to "pop" the color using LAB (Lightness-Alpha-Beta; Not"Lab") color.

Image>mode>Lab color

Ctrl+ M -This brings up a grid-by holding the "Alt" button and clicking on the grid, you will get either large or small squares

Press "alt" and click on grid to get small squares.

Selecting Channel "a",Hold and drag cursor a short distance ( about one and a half squares-right to left) along top right corner of grid, and do the same to bottom left corner (left to right). Channel "a" allows you to fine tune reds and greens. Just adjust until the color is good for you.

Repeat the exercise using channel "b"-this fine tunes the blues and yellows.

When you have got it how you want: Click "OK"

Image>Mode>RGB color

[steamboatscott]

Thanks Ken, great advice!

[Free]

Originally Posted by kencaleno

...

Image>mode>Lab color
...

Image>Mode>RGB color

Hi Ken, just wondering, don't you loose quality every time you convert colour spaces? I seem to remember being told something about it in School

[kencaleno]

Originally Posted by Free

Hi Ken, just wondering, don't you loose quality every time you convert colour spaces? I seem to remember being told something about it in School

The only color spaces you need worry about are SRGB for all web work, and ARGB for direct printing-Ken

[Free]

Originally Posted by kencaleno

The only color spaces you need worry about are SRGB for all web work, and ARGB for direct printing-Ken

But in your previous post you said to convert the document to LAB colour space, make some adjustments and then convert it back to the (S)RGB colour space.

My question was (and still is) doesn't changing colour spaces lose image quality (or technically discard data)?

If I remember photoshop class properly (it was over 5 years ago) each time you change from RGB to CMYK, LAB or anything else you are discarding data. So from changing to LAB and back again, I would think that you are losing image quality to achieve something that could possibly be done losslessly via adjustment layers?

Cheers
Free