How to improve this landscape

[maria janina]

f/8
ISO 100
1/160
55mm

This was taken in France in 2005. I am learning the basics of photoshop at the moment and was able to make small adjustments in this photograph. What I am asking you 'PP heads' :-), if there is anything more interesting I can do to enhance this photo in PP?

[Photologyst]

I think there is a great deal that can be done to improve this photo to the memory that you must have of the scene, Maria Janina. (Love your name BTW.)

The sky is rather blown. Must have been a grey day? I cropped that sky out to focus on the castle and the reflections.



I like very saturated photos a la Kodachrome and National Geographic. So, that’s how I adjusted it. White balance, blacks, saturation, vibrance as well as individual colours and luminance. Sharpened lightly.

Others will of course give you varying options.

[maria janina]

thank you...looks great! yes without the sky looks much better, it was a rather overcast day, but the scene was so beautiful...I do like the saturation although on the day it was a rather 'dreamy' scene. Thanks again.

[Photologyst]

Originally Posted by maria janina

thank you...looks great! yes without the sky looks much better, it was a rather overcast day, but the scene was so beautiful...I do like the saturation although on the day it was a rather 'dreamy' scene. Thanks again.

You are welcome, MJ.

You could do a light blur over the processed image to keep the colors, but still make is “dreamy” and a bit foggy. Make a layer and use a gaussian blur. Then erase at varying opacities.

[kstiltne]

I agreed with the crop suggestion, though I went a slightly different route, a little wider, eliminating a bit of the water at the bottom as well. There just seemed to be a bit too much boring space at the bottom. Duplicate layer, switched to overlay, light gray mask over all but the water and castle. Warmed the mid tones and highlights a little, cooled the shadows, then burned a little green into the water to match the tones throughout the rest of the photo.

[Photologyst]

Originally Posted by kstiltne

I agreed with the crop suggestion, though I went a slightly different route, a little wider, eliminating a bit of the water at the bottom as well. There just seemed to be a bit too much boring space at the bottom. . .

The problem for me with cropping the water is that it also cuts the reflections.

[MOmilkman]

I used the "equalize" feature in PSE to help bring the dark and light tones closer together then simply played with the 'darken highlights' slider and then followed up with a a contrast adjustment and a graussian blur.

[maria janina]

thanks Kyle, the green in the water is interesting. Did you use the brush tool for that?

[kstiltne]

Originally Posted by maria janina

thanks Kyle, the green in the water is interesting. Did you use the brush tool for that?

Yeah, just a soft brush with a dark green on a new layer...then change to Color Burn and adjust opacity.

[tingeliM]

There's plenty you can do with this photo!

I couldn't help but to try some vintage feel on this - with the old castle and all...=)
I played with the curves a little and added a little vignette and a little contrast.
I also cropped the sky out and a part from the left. There was just too much dark in there and now the castle is in a nicer spot, in my opinion.