This is the original photo - a straight conversion to JPEG of the RAW - of an outtake from the Skyscape challenge () . I really like this photo, and was torn about entering it. I tend to be able to realise my ideas composition wise, but my editing skills are fairly basic, and I often feel that I should be able to pull more out of the photos I take. I think perhaps this needed to be a little brighter and lighter. So how would you edit it?
Oh, and yes, it probably is time I invested in an Arctic Butterfly!
Leo, that's definitely an improvement, and close to the direction I envisaged. I will have a play around with it myself tomorrow - may seek some advice from you, if I may. I'll be interested to see any other edits, if anyone has the time to play!
In the mean time, off to bed - its been a long day, and its getting late.
This was a two-minute job here. So quick I didn't even attempt to get rid of the dust. I second that order to clean your sensor. It's a wonderful shot, and I could probably edit it a dozen different ways and love it.
Using Nik Software and Photoshop i did some tonal contrast and some glow on the clouds, some dodging to bring out St Michael's Mount (love it there by the way). Lots of dust removal. Bit more fiddling about with curves and colour etc. I put a very slight gold/blue split-tone on it to warm up parts on it.
I can't top that...I removed one of the islands (I can't help it, content aware fill is the greatest thing since sliced bread), and cropped. Then I applied topaz denoise, and topaz adjust with the smooth and flat setting to the sky and ocean, then again with the photo pop.
And check out the water detail on the tail. I bet if Art had a gallery showing he'd sell some of these. Who wouldn't want an image of a tyrannical godzilla burning down some village over their fireplace?
How dirty is your sensor? After playing with the photo for a couple of minutes I've seen so many dirty spots on the sensor it would take an hour to clone out all the spots. I'm playing with an edit and will upload it in a bit, but you really should consider cleaning your sensor.
