Cottonwood Autumn in Spring

[David Eckels]

Pushing a high-key version in LR/PS

[John R]

Pushing a high-key version in LR/PS

Two points. The 'push' makes the image look kind of soft as opposed to high key; the yellows appear over the top. Maybe try to desaturate somewhat, then push the brightness tones up and see if that will achieve what you are after.

JR

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

It's a worthy experiment.
I'd like to see a variant using John's suggestions.

[francois]

Luminous… let's look at a version with John's suggestions.
I like this one a lot to be fair.

[David Eckels]

Two points. The 'push' makes the image look kind of soft as opposed to high key; the yellows appear over the top. Maybe try to desaturate somewhat, then push the brightness tones up and see if that will achieve what you are after.

JR

Excellent comments, John, you put your finger precisely on what was "bothering" me about this experiment. I will give it a whack and post it if it seems to be headed rightly.

[John R]

Excellent comments, John, you put your finger precisely on what was "bothering" me about this experiment. I will give it a whack and post it if it seems to be headed rightly.

Something I just tried. Desaturate yellows a bit. Then create white mask or layer. Then blend with overlay or multiple exposure, adjust opacity on white layer until the image looks just right, or high key. You may have to increase brightness using 'levels'. Adjust yellow channel if necessary to right the saturation and/or tone levels of the yellows.

JR

[David Eckels]

OK. Had a try along the lines John suggested. Did a little burning of some of the black areas on trees and found I had a focus problem. I think the intervening branches confused my focus button Anyway, applied Topaz Sharpen AI to remove focus blur and this is what I came up with. Realize it is not really "hi-key" but it is at least a bunch less contrasty than my usual!

[Rajan Parrikar]

Your original image is appealing. But I agree there are several ways to skin this cat depending on one's aesthetic choices.

[David Eckels]

Thanks, Rajan, I agree. That is indeed the nubbin of the problem: one's aesthetic choices! It is hard to move laterally at times.