Am I making the right changes

[sheldonc]

i'm guessing I should ask this here rather than in critique section but if I am wrong I assume the thread will be moved

i've just really started playing around with GIMP. I've watched some of the video tutorials but on the whole i've been using trial and error - mainly error. I just wanted to know if other people think i'm on the right track

The 1st shot is the original



the next is the one i've worked on



I'll be honest and say other than rotation & cropping I can't remember exactly what I did other than playing around with different layer tools & opacity

Any comments as to whether I'm moving the right way or what I should have tried would be really appreciated

[Trader]

Yes, the one you worked on is definately an improvement over the original. I do think you are on the right track. I would even go a step farther with the sky but I have been known to over do too.

[PrimeTime]

I think your on the right track sheldon. Go to meet the gimp . org, there are over a hundred video's on gimp, that are very easy to follow.

I played around with your pic and this is what i came up with using gimp.



Let me know and i'll delete it, if you wish.

If you want to know what i did, i'd be happy to give you the step by step process.

[sheldonc]

Prime Time

I've watched some of the early videos and they are really helpful

I would really appreciate the step by step instructions if you have the time

How do I view your interpretation of the image in a larger size

Thanks

[sheldonc]

Originally Posted by Trader

Yes, the one you worked on is definately an improvement over the original. I do think you are on the right track. I would even go a step farther with the sky but I have been known to over do too.

I would if I knew how - I've only really taught myself how to work on the whole image at the moment but I'm sure I'll get there

[PrimeTime]

Originally Posted by sheldonc

Prime Time

I've watched some of the early videos and they are really helpful

I would really appreciate the step by step instructions if you have the time

How do I view your interpretation of the image in a larger size

Thanks

I don't think you can view the larger size, because i copied the smaller one.

I'm not shure if you shoot in RAW,but it will help to shoot in RAW and download UFRaw to convert and do some raw editing.(UFRaw is free and compatible with gimp)

Three episodes that are a must see , at meet the gimp, are 006;007;069

I usually start by adjusting the color of the whiteballance.

Next i go the the curves tool. If you click on the image after you bring up the curves tool, a line will appear on the histogram of the curves tool. This line is where that spot falls on the histogram. If you slide the curves line up it will get brighter. If you slide the line down it will get darker. It's really that easy. Most of the time the line will look like a flatened out s shape.

Next i did a contrast mask with layers. This process darkens the light's and lighten's the darks. Start by duplicate the layer twice(3 layers). Click on top layer---desaturate---invert---gaussian blur,set to about 330 and choose IIR---set opacity slider to about 85%---change mode to soft light----every picture is different so move opacity slider to where you like it and flatten

Next i did a layer mask on the sky and changed mode to multiply, to darken it. This wasn't enough, so i doubled the layer and then used the opacity slider to adjust a little.

To get the mask of the sky, duplicate layer---add layer mask (grayscale copy)---threashold tool to make sky white and everything else black---touch up what is needed with the paintbrush ---after mask is complete, click on the image to left of mask and then what ever you do will only affect the sky.

Next i do burn and dodge with layers episode 069 at meet the gimp. Anything that needs to be a touch darker or lighter.

Last i sharpen with edge detect and unsharp mask.....episode 006 at meet the gimp.
When you sharpen with edge detect, it will keep down noise associated with sharpening to a min.

[sheldonc]

I played around with another image following your instructions and sort of understand the concept - from the looks of things there are many different ways to get the same sort of result but it seems like it's a matter of playing around and not trying to go too far. I would guess from what you have said that it's also a case of setting up a work flow so that you get yourself in a position to tweak later. The thing I like about the layers, and assume the intention of them as well, is that you can go back and make changes later

Really do appreciate the guidance. It's a great help already - it won't make me a better photographer but will certainly help me with images such as the one you have been helping me on

Thank you