Mayan HDR

[pmurch]

Hello!
I took this photo at the Tulum Ruins in Mexico, with my Rebel XTi.
After I got back, I added what I feel is a fairly subtle HDR effect using Photomatix HDR, then adjusted colour slightly and added vignetting with Aperture 3.

Looking for a critique of my post processing work as well as the composition of the shot... Thanks!

[z0mbina80]

i like it As a lover of archaeology I would have preferred the ruins a little more visable but that's just me being my dorky self haha. wonderful colors though

[pmurch]

Originally Posted by z0mbina80

i like it As a lover of archaeology I would have preferred the ruins a little more visable but that's just me being my dorky self haha. wonderful colors though

I have lots more of the actual ruins, including a few I'm quite happy with, but this was the best of the art-y shots

Unfortunately, I only had my 18-55mm kit lens with me that day (was on vacation) so with you not being allowed to walk on the Tulum Ruins anymore, I was a little limited .

Here's another that features one of the ruined buildings... As it turns out, it also has nearly identical post done on it too :

[sk66]

My question is : what was the desired "subject" of this pic.
My eyes are drawn to the beach because it is brightest and then to the foreground because it is also bright and it has more "going on".
I think the vignette in particular hurts this image.

[pmurch]

Originally Posted by sk66

My question is : what was the desired "subject" of this pic.
My eyes are drawn to the beach because it is brightest and then to the foreground because it is also bright and it has more "going on".
I think the vignette in particular hurts this image.

I'll agree, the photo lacks a specific focus. I composed the photo the way I did because I liked the way the near landscape naturally framed the cliffs/ruins in the distance.

The main reason I went with the vignette because I liked the way it gave an ominous tilt to the coloring of the sky, and felt it complimented the windy look to the palms in the foreground.

Do you think that if I darkened the beach and brightened the cliffs/ruins that the vignette could stand? Or would I be better to kill the vignette and just darken the top right corner to keep the sky colouring I liked?

[stang0011]

I'm probably going to embarass myself with this question. Is the vignette on both photos added or a byproduct of the processing?

[pmurch]

Originally Posted by stang0011

I'm probably going to embarass myself with this question. Is the vignette on both photos added or a byproduct of the processing?

Not at all! The vignetting is intentionally added, and not a by-product of the HDR.

[sk66]

Generally you want the subject to be the brightest area. I think bringing up the ruins and toning down the foreground will help. I will say looking at this image on my Mac (calibrated), as opposed to my work computer, it looks better than what I was seeing earlier.

As for the darkness, I now think the vignette could stand (Mac), but I think a gradient for the sky might work a bit better.

[AvasMom]

I love this picture, and it helps that I have a picture of me sitting on that rock on the bottom right, lol. I think its a beautiful picture of a beautiful place!