the girl and the gulf, on a menancing sky

[anvilman]

What do you guys think of this shot? Is the sky too strong, or do you like the power? Does it look fake (it isn't, but the exposure for the sky is different from that of the foreground)?

http://www.robinryan.ca/girlsmall.jpg

[rc65428]

I think it's too dark in the middle.
I made a quick edit (I hope you dont mind), I've changed the sky exposure (-0,5) and the water exposure (+1).

From dps

[Samanax]

I actually think this image may have worked better if the girl were sitting on the right side looking at the dark menacing clouds on the left side of the picture.

The horizon line is right in the middle of the image which makes it a little static looking. 1/3 or 2/3 of the way up the image would work better (Rule Of Thirds).

The rock outcropping seems to be cutting the girls head off at the neck. Watch your backgrounds.

The white top of the wall the girl is sitting on looks out of place...shadows from the sun but a dark cloudy sky?

The amount of sidewalk shown in the foreground bothers me...especially that white blob by the seam.

I would have liked to see the girl bigger in the image and maybe a profile of her face.

[fletch]

Originally Posted by Samanax

I actually think this image may have worked better if the girl were sitting on the right side looking at the dark menacing clouds on the left side of the picture.

Hate to disagree bit the way you have it is the best way IMO. It fits "the rules" as well. Our eyes like to travel from left to right in an image. Therefore we start at the girl and follow into the shot to see what she is looking at.

Originally Posted by Samanax

The horizon line is right in the middle of the image which makes it a little static looking. 1/3 or 2/3 of the way up the image would work better (Rule Of Thirds).

To me this actually quite a thirdsy shot. The girl is well positioned on a thirds line. Maybe you could have gone all out and put the horizon on a third as well but I don't think not doing this really matters.

Originally Posted by Samanax

The rock outcropping seems to be cutting the girls head off at the neck. Watch your backgrounds.

Good spot! If the angle of the shot was slightly more to the left you could have eliminated the spur all togther for a cleaner composition. Since this is the PP fourm one sugestion would be that it wouldn't be to hard to clone it out.

Originally Posted by Samanax

I would have liked to see the girl bigger in the image and maybe a profile of her face.

Horses for courses but I love the composition with her looking out to sea. IMO move it from snapshot at the beach to well thought out arty shot!

As for the PP I think its really good but I would go with RC65428 did.

(For refernce next time you post a shot if you put IMG tages round the photos URL rather than URL tags you will get a lovely embeded image that will be a lot easier to critique)

[ShepherdLady]

I really like the shot!! I also like how the other poster lighted up the middle a bit.

Good job!

[anvilman]

thanks for your thoughts guys. ive made some big edits - what do you think? *really* would love to clone out that rock outcrop as well as raise the horizon so that her head doesn't cut through it, but sadly my PSing skills aren't up to the task. If there's anybody here who is skilled enough and interested, I'd be happy to send you them the .psd so they can work some magic. Also, her hair is still a bit ****ed up since I am a bum at photoshop.



here's the image a bit bigger: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink

[richerimage]

Hi Guys

here's my thoughts:

1. Changed the composition by cropping

2. Moved up the horizon by mask>copy>stretching the top and then cloning around the head
3. masked out the girl and the wall and then increased saturation and contrast in the sky and sea.
4. Added a gausian blur to sky and sea
5. Added lens flare and reflection to sea.

What do you think? I think this would look great if you mounted it onto a canvas.

[fletch]

Originally Posted by richerimage

Hi Guys

here's my thoughts:

1. Changed the composition by cropping

2. Moved up the horizon by mask>copy>stretching the top and then cloning around the head
3. masked out the girl and the wall and then increased saturation and contrast in the sky and sea.
4. Added a gausian blur to sky and sea
5. Added lens flare and reflection to sea.

What do you think? I think this would look great if you mounted it onto a canvas.

Have to say i really don't like this edit. - It's just a bit wahhhh!

Anvilman - I'd be happy to have a go at cloning out the spur. I'll PM you with my email so you can send the file.

[richerimage]

Originally Posted by fletch

Have to say i really don't like this edit. - It's just a bit wahhhh!

Hi Fletch

Thanks for your thoughts. All taken in the right spirit.

I agree with the 'Wahhh' comment. I gathered from Anvil that he was new to photoshop so I wanted to give a different angle on what can be done in photoshop.

Anyhoo here's a less 'Wahh' version in greyscale.

For me the image/colours where a little flat in the original, so I feel the image needs to be either arty B&W or a 'Whaa' to give it a bit more interest.

But then Photography is all about opinions isn't it? Eye of the beholder and all that...

What do you think of the crop?

[Ginger Pixie]

Originally Posted by anvilman

thanks for your thoughts guys. ive made some big edits - what do you think? *really* would love to clone out that rock outcrop as well as raise the horizon so that her head doesn't cut through it, but sadly my PSing skills aren't up to the task. If there's anybody here who is skilled enough and interested, I'd be happy to send you them the .psd so they can work some magic. Also, her hair is still a bit ****ed up since I am a bum at photoshop.



here's the image a bit bigger: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink

I love this edit. Looks stunning