Shooting a Local Restaurant..

[sarahle]

Took a photo walk the other night downtown...and got this image. The original image was shot in raw, and needed a little straightening and cropping(which I did in the first process)..the building sits on a slight hill. I'm just learning to apply various photoshop methods and am learning when to apply certain applications to certain photos. In this case, I added the rain and then liked the red glow on the cars from the sign but found the other colors distracting so I did another application to "quiet the color" and I like the mood and ambience of the photo. I would like to know what I could have done better to enhance this photo. Is there a different method that would have fit this photo better?

Exif Data

Camera: Canon Rebel XT
Shot: Aperture Priority w/tripod and remote control
Lens: 50mm
ISO: 100
Exposure 1.3 seconds
F/4

[wulf]

The balance of car lights in colour against the sepia background is interesting and works quite well with the scene. The immediate area I would draw attention too is the blown out detail on the "Tin Lizard" sign (and, to a lesser extent, the "Open" sign). Any chance your RAW file will let you recover some detail in those spots?

Wulf

[sarahle]

I have gone back and looked at the raw file and will do some reading to see if I can find a way to bring in the text on the sign. I'm self-taught in photoshop and just started shooting raw a few months ago. Those two issues you mention is what had me bothered about the shot. I appreciate your time to look and critique.

[Bruce A]

I agree with Wulf. I love the shot and the composition. The PSed rain is a giveaway because there is no splash back on the cars, but I think few would notice that. Still, good work!

[sarahle]

I took both of y'alls advice and went back to see what I could do...there was no fixing the blown-out sections of the sign...that light just really seemed to not help matters in that particular region. I may go back and try and shoot it again in the dark of the evening and see how I come out.

I did work on the puddles(using a tutorial) and think it might be better. I will try and post that second pic later this evening.
I appreciate the comments and encouragement.
Sarahle