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DPChallenge Forums >> Individual Photograph Discussion >> How would you edit this image?
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 02/11/2011 07:14:39 PM · #1
I have this picture of a building that's very plain (the picture's plain, not the building). A friend of mine has an office in the building and wants to show the building on his office's site. What would you do to make this photo more interesting, keeping in mind that it needs to be in color and look professional?



Full size version HERE

Message edited by author 2011-02-11 19:15:12.
 02/11/2011 07:23:33 PM · #2
Topaz the heck out of it! And remember it will only need to be web sized, so you want it to grab your attention.
 02/11/2011 07:23:58 PM · #3
Like this perhaps?



Duplicated layer, changed mode to overlay, set opacity to 80%, added mask and masked out sky area
Combined layers to top, applied topaz with "portrait detailed" on default settings
Created new layer, set to overlay and filled with 50% grey, used this to burn building to the right and dodged the red building and brick paving
 02/11/2011 07:46:20 PM · #4


crop, Nik Viveza adjustments, selective shapening in CS5
 02/11/2011 08:28:24 PM · #5


What about this? HDR in Photomatix followed by crop and adjustments in Lightroom
 02/11/2011 08:34:51 PM · #6
Love the clouds with the Photomatix, Margaret!
 02/11/2011 08:43:51 PM · #7
Thanks, all, for the input!

Really like the HDR edits, but a little concerned it's not "corporaty" enough. Love the way the bricks in the building looks though. Will try something similar, maybe toning down the sky a little. Thanks again!

02/11/2011 08:59:19 PM · #8
Here's my effort. Like the others, I had to use some tonemapping to bring out the brick building from it's own shadow. I tried not to take it too far. Editing steps are in the notes.


02/11/2011 09:02:47 PM · #9
I think Frank's edit looks the most natural, though it does not pop as much either. His might be the most suitable for the need. I see he's the only one who stayed away from tonemapping.
 02/11/2011 09:50:40 PM · #10

Aperture, Viveza 2, Color Efex 3, HDR Efex Pro.

Message edited by author 2011-02-11 22:05:55.
 02/11/2011 09:52:42 PM · #11

.

Message edited by author 2011-02-11 22:43:06.
 02/11/2011 10:17:33 PM · #12
Originally posted by hahn23:

Aperture, Viveza 2, Color Efex 3, HDR Efex Pro.

Good work on the snow. I had problems removing the blue tone.
 02/11/2011 10:19:10 PM · #13
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
I think Frank's edit looks the most natural, though it does not pop as much either. His might be the most suitable for the need. I see he's the only one who stayed away from tonemapping.

Tonemapping brings out detail. Important in architecture shots.
 02/11/2011 10:24:29 PM · #14
Originally posted by marnet:
Originally posted by hahn23:

Aperture, Viveza 2, Color Efex 3, HDR Efex Pro.

Good work on the snow. I had problems removing the blue tone.

Thanks! The big improvement of HDR Efex Pro over PhotoMatix is the ability to use Control Points (U-Point technology). I used to use PhotoMatix a lot. But, now I'm a convert. (I still have a lot to learn, but getting better at this takes practice and experimentation.)
 02/11/2011 10:27:20 PM · #15
02/11/2011 10:31:28 PM · #16
Originally posted by commendatori:
I have this picture of a building that's very plain (the picture's plain, not the building). A friend of mine has an office in the building and wants to show the building on his office's site. What would you do to make this photo more interesting, keeping in mind that it needs to be in color and look professional?

My current conclusion is that if you can retake the shot do it with +1 or more exposure compensation. It will help to get rid of the busy sky, give better color to the snow, and you might be able to bring enough detail on the building by just using Structure in Viveza.
 02/12/2011 12:32:34 AM · #17
Originally posted by Art Roflmao:


We want to thank the city of Tokyo for lending us Godzilla for this photo.

02/12/2011 02:07:00 AM · #18
Well I can't out-do Godzilla.

02/12/2011 02:17:06 AM · #19

My preference is to avoid over-processing. This is my effort using Capture One and Photoshop only. Main points are color correction, subtle enhancement of textures, cropping and subtle vignette which gives it a bit of depth. I would not follow the advice of reshooting to purposely blow out the sky and snow, in fact, the clouds in your sky are already blown out. If you have a chance to re-shoot I would suggest you do the exact opposite with the sky, that is under-expose it by 1 stop and then bracket to properly expose the building, then combine them in PS.
02/12/2011 02:31:33 AM · #20
Originally posted by Art Roflmao:


That made me laugh-cry. Oh man.

Message edited by author 2011-02-12 02:31:44.
 02/12/2011 03:08:28 AM · #21
I rly like Marnet's edit.
 02/12/2011 03:08:28 AM · #22
I rly like Marnet's edit.
 02/12/2011 03:10:51 AM · #23
Originally posted by ApertureJack:
I rly like Marnet's edit.

Thanks. Why?
 02/12/2011 03:31:12 AM · #24
Ok, I gave it a whirl. Ideally a multiple exposure HDR would be good here. I did a little bit of this...little bit of that. :) Looks better on my full res version though.

Dave



Message edited by author 2011-02-12 03:33:24.
 02/12/2011 03:32:14 AM · #25
Originally posted by marnet:
Originally posted by ApertureJack:
I rly like Marnet's edit.

Thanks. Why?


...because he said so damn it! LOL.
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