Learning Thread — Landscape Photography

09/16/2006 08:10:06 AM · #1127

Here is 2 of my versions

Before

After

My version 1

My version 2

Message edited by author 2006-09-16 08:21:12.

09/16/2006 02:00:42 PM · #1128

Originally posted by maggieddd:

Here is 2 of my versions

Your images are nice... Looks like you did some individual color channel 'Levels' adjustments in the second one.

Levels makes a good first adjustment for an image. You can actually do quite a bit with it if you want to. Then you can build on it with other types of adjustments.

I use it as the first post processing step after duplicating my background layer, but usually only to establish a full range of pure black to pure white for an image and just in 'luminosity' mode.

09/16/2006 02:14:49 PM · #1129

That's a hell of a tutorial, Steve! Thanks for taking the time.

Robt.

09/16/2006 03:59:27 PM · #1130

Thanks for a new assignment Steve! I did my adjustments using PSPX which doesn't have some of the extras you get with CS2:
Original:

Levels Adjustment Layer:

The exact adjustments I made are listed in the photographers comments.

09/17/2006 07:20:43 PM · #1131

Originally posted by Prism:

Thanks for a new assignment Steve! I did my adjustments using PSPX which doesn't have some of the extras you get with CS2:
Original: Levels Adjustment Layer:

The exact adjustments I made are listed in the photographers comments.

I like what you did to get the solid black silhouette. I see you made color channel adjustments. Colors look a little overdone but I am on an uncalibrated monitor. I will check that later at home. Going more golden or going with other colors like you did works either way for me.

It is unclear if you added a layer mask (or even if you can with PSP) to get your effect, but you were able to tone down the highlighted area and that is the important part. :)

Have fun... go forth and Level! lol

09/18/2006 01:02:50 AM · #1132

Originally posted by stdavidson:

...

It is unclear if you added a layer mask (or even if you can with PSP) to get your effect, but you were able to tone down the highlighted area and that is the important part. :)

Have fun... go forth and Level! lol

Not a layer mask, just a levels adjustment layer, then directly on the levels layer, applied a black brush at 50% opacity over the brightest spots.

edited to add: I went back and changed the settings for the red levels to tone down the magenta and bring back more of the blue

Message edited by author 2006-09-18 10:11:02.

09/18/2006 09:20:01 PM · #1133

Originally posted by Prism:

Originally posted by stdavidson:
...It is unclear if you added a layer mask (or even if you can with PSP) to get your effect...

Not a layer mask, just a levels adjustment layer, then directly on the levels layer, applied a black brush at 50% opacity over the brightest spots.

Gimp is a free photo editor that supports layer masks. It 'Levels' the playing field between those who have Photoshop and those who don't.

09/19/2006 12:40:11 AM · #1134

I think we have a terminology miscommunication. Going back and reading the description again of what you are calling adjustment layer masking, it describes what I did on the levels adjustment layer. While the levels adjustment in PSPX does not show the graph in the same way that CS2 does, it has the same effect.

In PSPX, you slide the diamonds instead of triangles to make the adjustments. You can select the channel RGB, red, green or blue from the drop down list and make adjustments just as you can in CS2. You then select the paint brush and "Paint" on the adjustment layer, just like in CS2.

I have CS2 at work so I used your directions to re-edit my shot to the same settings that I had used in PSPX and then did the mask thing. (I think I like this crop better though) This is the result:

I really appreciate the detailed "how to" instructions that you and others have provided as I find that using CS2 is definitely not as intuitive as using PSPX, and there is a lot more to learn about it. There are some features in PSPX that I prefer to CS2 and vice versa. I have not tried GIMP as I have access to both other programs but I have heard that it is a great program.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

09/19/2006 12:21:35 PM · #1135

Originally posted by Prism:

I think we have a terminology miscommunication.
...
I find that using CS2 is definitely not as intuitive as using PSPX, and there is a lot more to learn about it. There are some features in PSPX that I prefer to CS2 and vice versa. I have not tried GIMP as I have access to both other programs but I have heard that it is a great program.

You are correct, it is just terminology. You did the same thing w/ PSP as I described with CS2. We just verbalized it a little differently.

I also agree that CS2 is NOT very intuitive for a lot of things. You are not alone in that view. CS2 is the culmination of many year's of software evolution. Those things always result in counterintuitive features because they come as add-ons to a previous design.

Message edited by author 2006-09-19 12:22:24.

tsheets

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

09/20/2006 04:42:50 PM · #1136

Originally posted by Prism:

Not a layer mask, just a levels adjustment layer, then directly on the levels layer, applied a black brush at 50% opacity over the brightest spots.

Holy crap!!! I have really been doing things the hard way!!! Somehow I never knew that you could paint/mask directly on the adjustment layers in PSP!! I have been creating a separate mask layer (which creates a new group) when I wanted to do this.

This may have been an unplanned tip, but it sure helps me! Thanks!!!

BTW, it seems as though it is a built-in layer mask. Paint black/white/shades of grey which mask the effect.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

10/17/2006 01:38:43 AM · #1137

My entry

Since the challenge, I have used the commenters suggestions and lopped about an inch off of the top. I also deleted my original adjustments and tried using just levels and curves.

Re-edit

If anyone else would like to play with editting this shot, and post up the results to this thread along with the processing steps, I think it would be an interesting learning experience. PM me and I'll send you the original to work with.

editted link as there doesn't seem to be any interest in this...oh well, it was fun while it lasted.

Message edited by author 2006-10-29 10:46:41.

samchad

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

10/22/2006 08:02:29 PM · #1138

Been away a couple of months (sneaking back in at the back of the class.)

Tamron 70-180mm F/2.8 Di III VXD

10/31/2006 02:59:14 PM · #1139

whoops wrong thread!

Message edited by author 2006-10-31 14:59:45.

MadMan2k

Sony Alpha a6400

11/05/2006 01:04:27 AM · #1140

Here are a couple landscapes that I had scanned from film.

Comments/criticism appreciated :)

justin_hewlett

Canon EOS-1000D Rebel XS

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

11/05/2006 01:40:12 AM · #1141

Originally posted by Prism:

Anybody interested in reviving this thread? I conducted a little experiment on my entry for Free Study XIII just to see the what differences applying different methodologies can make to the final result. For my entry, the main adjustments I made were with colour balance and saturation.

My entry

Since the challenge, I have used the commenters suggestions and lopped about an inch off of the top. I also deleted my original adjustments and tried using just levels and curves.

Re-edit

If anyone else would like to play with editting this shot, and post up the results to this thread along with the processing steps, I think it would be an interesting learning experience. PM me and I'll send you the original to work with.

editted link as there doesn't seem to be any interest in this...oh well, it was fun while it lasted.

I'd really like to keep this going if possible. Personally I like the re-edit better. Oh, and a PM is on the way, I'd like to have a go at the original.

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM for Canon

11/05/2006 11:16:57 AM · #1142

Let's do a shout-out and see how much interest there is in starting the third edition of this thread. I think I can talk Steve Davidson into co-mentoring it with me.

How many would be interested in starting a new landscape learning thread? What suggestions do you have for the new thread, re: topics, areas of focus, how to structure it, etc?

R.

james_so

Canon EOS 77D

11/05/2006 11:21:43 AM · #1143

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

aye!

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

11/05/2006 11:24:25 AM · #1144

Originally posted by james_so:

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

How many would be interested in starting a new landscape learning thread? What suggestions do you have for the new thread, re: topics, areas of focus, how to structure it, etc?

R.

aye!

Running List Please "quote" this post and add your name to the list:

1.

james_so
2. (your name here)
3. etc etc

Message edited by author 2006-11-05 11:25:57.

dsidwell

Canon EOS-5D

11/05/2006 11:28:04 AM · #1145

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by james_so:

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

How many would be interested in starting a new landscape learning thread? What suggestions do you have for the new thread, re: topics, areas of focus, how to structure it, etc?

R.

aye!

Running List Please "quote" this post and add your name to the list:

1. james_so
2. David Sidwell (dsidwell ~Sounds fun and enlightening!)
3. etc etc

Message edited by author 2006-11-05 11:30:30.

MadMan2k

Sony Alpha a6400

Tamron 70-180mm F/2.8 Di III VXD

11/05/2006 12:10:51 PM · #1146

Originally posted by dsidwell:

Running List Please "quote" this post and add your name to the list:

1. james_so
2. David Sidwell (dsidwell ~Sounds fun and enlightening!)
3. MadMan2k
4. etc etc

I'm in if that's ok, I like the idea of these threads.