Luminous Landscape Forum

The Art of Photography => User Critiques => Topic started by: Chris Calohan on October 31, 2012, 09:29:07 pm

Title: Breaking Storm
Post by: Chris Calohan on October 31, 2012, 09:29:07 pm
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8021/7102227639_b13da984f4_o.jpg)
Title: Re: Breaking Storm
Post by: IanBrowne on November 01, 2012, 12:14:10 am
i feel the image needs a point for the eyes to knock onto. This sort of photo really needs a Graduation filter to darken the sky

fiddled around in LR to add more impact (not sure I have it right) Used PS to remove part of the sky to bring the attention to the waves but please note rework edits are usually done in a minute or so on a laptop in a room with variable lighting and will not be perfect and must be seen and read as a editing/photography guide only.
 
All comments must be taken as just my personal thoughts and how I read the image. I was not there when the photo was taken and I can only guess the colours, conditions and the reason the photo was taken in the first place


 
Title: Re: Breaking Storm
Post by: stamper on November 01, 2012, 05:45:43 am
I agree with the darkening of the sky and then the image would live up to it's name Breaking storm. The foreground certainly works well. :)
Title: Re: Breaking Storm
Post by: francois on November 01, 2012, 07:24:58 am
I agree with the darkening of the sky and then the image would live up to it's name Breaking storm. The foreground certainly works well. :)

I agree too, the image is much more dramatic.
Title: Re: Breaking Storm
Post by: sdwilsonsct on November 01, 2012, 11:29:59 am
i feel the image needs a point for the eyes to knock onto.

I had the same reaction, and the same with churly's storm picture over on the landscape forum: nice dramatic lines but they tend to lead my eyes out of the picture....
Title: Re: Breaking Storm
Post by: Chris Calohan on November 01, 2012, 11:34:43 am
I went back to the original NEF and started over. I did darken the sky and went with a 16:9 crop. What are your opinions on this version?

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8472/8144898377_85b73f8f44_o.jpg)
Title: Re: Breaking Storm
Post by: sdwilsonsct on November 01, 2012, 02:46:11 pm
I think the sky is less realistic. On the bright side, the composition feels more weighted.
Title: Re: Breaking Storm
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on November 01, 2012, 03:12:25 pm
I went back to the original NEF and started over. I did darken the sky and went with a 16:9 crop. What are your opinions on this version?

The sky looks terribly artificial - almost as if you'd applied too harsh a gradient mask to it  ;). A lighter touch would be beneficial, I think.

Jeremy
Title: Re: Breaking Storm
Post by: Chris Calohan on November 01, 2012, 03:48:40 pm
I was afraid I'd gone too far..back to the drawing board.
Title: Re: Breaking Storm
Post by: Chris Calohan on November 01, 2012, 05:36:07 pm
I went back to the original and went with what was really there rather than trying to reinvent the wheel...thus, the new title is

"Rough Seas"

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8330/8145934740_27bac2cf71_o.jpg)
Title: Re: Breaking Storm
Post by: Tony Jay on November 01, 2012, 06:37:53 pm
Chris, sorrry to say but that iteration of the gradient filter still looks as artificial and unnatural as ever.

Regards

Tony Jay
Title: Re: Breaking Storm
Post by: Chris Calohan on November 01, 2012, 06:44:31 pm
There is no gradient filter. There is not much involved in this image other than a LAB treatment, and my normal workflow which in this case was quite minimal.
Title: Re: Breaking Storm
Post by: Ed B on November 01, 2012, 08:18:16 pm
Out of all the samples posted here, I think I prefer the first one. The others seem to make the sky and sea struggle for attention and I find the rough water deserves all the attention it can get.
Title: Re: Breaking Storm
Post by: Tony Jay on November 01, 2012, 10:59:29 pm
There is no gradient filter. There is not much involved in this image other than a LAB treatment, and my normal workflow which in this case was quite minimal.

Granted, but the point is that the sky does not look natural unfortunately due to the gradient in the sky howsoever created.

Tony Jay
Title: Re: Breaking Storm
Post by: francois on November 02, 2012, 03:27:32 am
Granted, but the point is that the sky does not look natural unfortunately due to the gradient in the sky howsoever created.

Tony Jay

I share your opinion about the sky. It looks like a bad use of a grad filter. It shouldn't be too difficult to correct.
Title: Re: Breaking Storm
Post by: Chris Calohan on November 02, 2012, 10:29:21 am
Hmmmmmmmm but now I think the clouds have taken on a bit of a yellowish tint....this is one of those I probably should have shot with my .9 gnd to start with but I was just out and about and saw these neat waves and shot what I had with me.

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8328/8147760176_9f8d2f907a_o.jpg)