WOULD THIS MAKE A GOOD PRINT? - DPChallenge Forums

Pentax SMC DA 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR

10/07/2006 01:05:05 AM · #1

I'm having a hard time deciding if this photo

would make a good panorama for the wall in my office at work. I really like the colors, but have a hard time deciding if the absence of a central focal point keeps this image from really "popping" out at viewers. What do you think?

Currently I have this photo printed 12x36:

, and I get many compliments on it. Most of the comments are not directed toward the building, but to the colors and textures of the clouds.

Please give me your .02 cents worth, no matter how brutal it may be. If you would print it yourself, great, it's good to hear that too. If you wouldn't, why not? Would there be a PP change that would make it printable, or is there just a lack of interest in the photo, and the bright colors aren't enough to make the photo stand alone?

Message edited by author 2006-10-07 01:05:31.

Prism

Pentax K-30

10/07/2006 01:25:17 AM · #2

Left you a comment. I like the colours the way they are but if you want to try "popping" them, maybe try playing with a levels layer.

jdannels

Nikon D300s

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM for Nikon

10/07/2006 01:39:49 AM · #3

I took a shot at giving your photo a curves adjustment and alittle dodge and burning of the clouds, as I thought it could use alittle "pop". Hope you don't mind.
I think it would make a great print.

Ivo

10/07/2006 01:40:03 AM · #4

Left a couple of comments.

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

10/07/2006 01:45:30 AM · #5

Originally posted by jdannels:

I took a shot at giving your photo a curves adjustment and alittle dodge and burning of the clouds, as I thought it could use alittle "pop". Hope you don't mind.
I think it would make a great print.

You did a wonderful job. I'll have to give it a try with some curves adjustments and see if I can make it pop like that. Thank you!

yanko

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

10/07/2006 02:02:30 AM · #6

I think the fact that that first photo doesn't have a central focus point makes it look more abstract. I think it would look very good as a print.

Tajhad

Canon EOS R

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM for Nikon

10/07/2006 02:18:26 AM · #7

Joe - how about a little teaching here?
I looked at both shots - side by side. Yours definitely has more "pop".
What EXACTLY do you do to it to bing it up. I tend to fuddle myway through Photoshop - often not knowing how to achieve a better result - sometimes it works - sometimes not.
So - what adjustments did you make? If you can step us through it, it would be a great help to myself (and maybe traquin098 as well).
Thanks

jdannels

Nikon D300s

10/07/2006 02:29:15 AM · #8

In CS2. Here is the curve I used for the pano, I masked out in the right side of the cloud to keep it dark. I then copied the pano layer and set the opacity to 50%.(Below the curve layer) And burned the midtones at 7% in the lowest part of the mountains to darken and a few other random spots. I dodged midtones at 18% in the other lighter parts of the clouds. Thats about it :).

Message edited by author 2006-10-07 02:30:08.

Sony SAL-50F14 Normal 50mm f/1.4 Autofocus Lens for the Sony

10/07/2006 10:12:18 AM · #9

Thanks Joe. I'll have to give it a try and see what I can do tonight after I get off of work.

ladyhawk22

Sony DSLR-A700

10/07/2006 10:56:41 AM · #10

I think it would make a great pano! To me, the thing about panos that makes them nice is that it gives you the "overall look" of a scene....so in my opinion you don't need to much of a focal point. They serve to give you a larger taste of the scene as a person saw it.

I think it's a really nice photo. I like the outline of the landscape and the colors you've got really catch the eye.

Pentax SMC DA 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR

10/07/2006 04:31:37 PM · #11

Thanks ladyhawk. I'll keep that in mind about the panos when I go shooting next time as well. As for the colors, I agree. I do think that Joe's version is much better though, so I need to try working on it again tonight.

Prism

Pentax K-30

10/07/2006 06:55:30 PM · #12

I took the liberty of applying an adjustment levels layer to your shot to show you what I meant by playing with a levels layer to add "pop". Hope you don't mind. I may have "popped" it too much but I prefer to use levels over curves as I find curves can add more noise.

It also doesn't require as much dodging or burning for high or low spots, because while you are moving the sliders in, holding the ALT key lets you see the brightest and darkest spots and take the adjustment right to the max before it blows out. The details of the levels settings are in the photographers comments.

Tajhad

Canon EOS R