walking path...too much?

[SaraSue]

Canon EOS Rebel XTi
focal length 18mm
1/200s
f/6.3
ISO: 296

I took this picture today on a walking path near my house. The path has tons of cracks and tar to cover it so I tried to take it all out with photoshop. Can you tell? I'm still really new at all this. My other weakness is overdoing it. I love vibrant and rich, but is this too much? I would also love any other helpful advice. I just got my camera a few months ago and I'm still trying to learn everything I can. I have a few other pictures on my blog, some are less processed.
SaraSue Photography
[IMG][/IMG]
Thank you in advance for any thoughts that you would like to share.

[statichash]

Sara, it's a very nice shot! I love that it's so colorfully vibrant. Without seeing the original, it's hard to notice what you fixed on the road, overall, great job - I probably wouldn't have looked for the image blemishes on the road had you not said anything. Just one other comment, along the bottom of the image, the vignetting could probably be reduced a bit.

Cheers!

[petitours]

Nice shot! The photo looks bright and saturated, but not overly done at all. You could tone down the vignette a little.

[SaraSue]

thank you for the comments! I agree toning down the vignette would probably be better. thanks again!

[Pitrih]

hello

i checked out your blog and i like B. version of this photo better , it looks more natural (i'm not so crazy about over saturation). Also i think that shadows in grass (left side) are too strong.

[sybren]

I like the concept of the photo very much! The interesting sky also helps it along just fine. However, I do see clearly where the road has been edited, and the vignetting is drawing attention away from what would otherwise be a fine picture. I would have kept the cracks, as they add life and interest to the road.

[SaraSue]

thanks again everyone for the comments, I love all the learning!!

[metaldoggie]

Sara,

It's really nice shot.

The only thing I would say is be careful with the clone tool as towards the middle of the path you can see repeat marks.

If you use the healing brush and randomly go over that area you can make it look less blotchy (careful with the edges of the grass though)

For smaller blemishes, I tend to use the healing brush instead of the clone tool.

[vsa]

The clone/healing/whatever is clearly noticeable. Although if you just quickly glance at it you probably won't see it.

I wouldn't change the vibrant colors or vignette. They're awesome. I think the A version beats the B hands down. Just goes to show that people have different tastes.
I think nowadays people are scared to go for strong colors and vignettes just because so many people tell them to tone down everything..... sometimes me included.

Why did you try to erase the cracks in the road? Don't they give it more character and tell a more compelling story?

[SaraSue]

For anyone interested this was one of the originals, (not SOTC) but this was before I started to mess with the road. I agree cracks would have added character to the road but I felt this many and with the filled in tar it took away from the dreamy look of the mountain view. Agree or no? And thanks for the tip of cloning and then using the healing tool.I'll have to try that.