Landscape Post Processing help

[Mongwopman]

Need some help or pointers in PP work on landscape pictures. I did some reading up and followed someones workflow from a thread here on CiC. Im using Light room 3.2 and Adobe Photoshop CS 5. Not sure if im getting the levels correct, seems a bit burned for my eyes. Anyone want to try and do some tweaks and posting examples?

This is the original :


My attempt:


Alse would like to try with these shots :







I know I need to create a border/frame for them too. Will be following some guides on this process.

looking forward to any input.

[bambleweeney]

How about this ? Fairly subtle with quite a few small adjustments to just bring out the character of the landscape - and a crop.

[Mongwopman]

Thats cool, however I still find it a bit dark/grey?! In my mind im trying to make the cottage and the grass in front of thr cottage the main focus of the image. I was hoping to capture that windy effect in it too, know what I mean?

[bambleweeney]

This better ?? Problem is the image started off a bit flat and dark and you can only push it so far before you ... break it

[Mongwopman]

Im guessing my PP work was waaaaaaaay off the mark! HAHA!

Could anything be done to other ones I uploaded? i particulaly like the B&W one and the trees one.

[jiro]

...In my mind im trying to make the cottage and the grass in front of thr cottage the main focus of the image. I was hoping to capture that windy effect in it too,

Damien, here's one possible edit on the 1st image:



and here are my Lightroom Adjustment Values:

WHITE BALANCE:
Temp = +11
Tint = +19

TONE:
Fill Light = +25
Blacks = +5
Brightness = +14

PRESENCE:
Clarity = +82
Vibrance = +61

TONE CURVE:
Custom tone curve applied: Reversed S-Curve

HSL Adjustments

RED +49 saturation, -48 luminance
ORANGE -15 saturation, +41 luminance
YELLOW +37 saturation, +30 luminance
GREEN +47 saturation, +15 luminance
AQUA +28 saturation, +43 luminance
BLUE +85 saturation, -10 luminance
PURPLE +77 saturation, +11 luminance
MAGENTA -24 saturation, 0 luminance

SHARPENING
Amount = 109
Radius = 1.2
Detail = 78
Masking = 57

CAMERA PROFILE ADJUSTMENTS:

Shadows Tint = +32

Red Primary:
Hue = +68
Saturation = +20

Green Primary:
Hue = +69
Saturation = +44

Blue Primary:
Hue = +18
Saturation = +38

Edit in Lightroom done. Exported the file to Photoshop.

In photoshop;

1. Copied background layer to a new layer.
2. Applied motion blur to the copied layer and shifted the image 5 pixels to the right to simulate wind movement on the grass.
3. Applied a mask on this layer so that the motion blur would only affect the grass areas leaving the house, the road, and the sky untouched.
4. Combined the two layers.
5.Copied the combined layer again to a new layer.
6. Applied curve adjustment on to add contrast on the sky by adding a mask layer on this layer and selecting only the sky areas.
7. combined the two layers into one.
8. Added frame and copyright signature.

END.

Here's the image just right after editing in Lightroom and before adding any processing in Photoshop:

[jiro]

...Could anything be done to other ones I uploaded? i particulaly like the B&W one.

Here's one possible edit, Damien:

[FrankMi]

Hi Damien, you have some excellent shots to practice PP with. I particularly like what Paul is able to do to bring out the interesting patterns in the clouds. The wind blowing throught the grass also adds character.

When I want to add a border in CS5, I use the Set Foreground Color, then Edit/Stroke and pick a border width that looks right, usually between 50 and 100px and set the Location to Inside. Sometimes I will do this a second time with a different color and smaller size to get a border within a border. Most typically I use a dark border first then a white border. If you want to add a little more interest you can use the Eyedropper Tool to pick up a color in the image for the first Stroke, then Black, then White. For more options, take a look at:

How do I put a "frame" around an image?

Damien, here's one possible edit on the 1st image and here are my Lightroom Adjustment Values.

Hi Willie. I find it immensely helpful when you post the before and after edits along with the steps you took to achieve the results. Seeing what you adjust and by how much provides a real sense of how to use the tools to get a desired result.

Thank you for the learning experience.

[xalupa]

[Mongwopman]

WOW thats fantastic! thanks so much! Really inspired me to get cracking on experiment more!

[Donald]

WOW thats fantastic! thanks so much! Really inspired me to get cracking on experiment more!

Damien

When you sit down to PP your images, always ask yourself - 'What did the finished image look like in my head at the moment I pressed the shutter?' That way you will, I believe:

1. Look at what's in the viewfinder much more closely before you press the shutter
2. Be guided in your PP work once you start it

[chauncey]

Please allow me to share this free site that may exhibit what others are doing with LR
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...d.php?t=684360

[Steve S]

How is this damien............




Nice shot.

[Pebal]

[Mongwopman]

Took this shot over the weekend and did some PP work.


"Alone in the park"

[Mongwopman]

no comments?

[jiro]

Damien, I was hoping that others would give their subjective opinion first on your b&w image but no one has done it yet so I'll try to give mine. Kindly take my opinion as constructive criticism so you can make your succeeding photographs stronger and better.

1. The crop was too tight. I would assume that the fallen, dark leaves at the foreground was your main subject due to its strong position inside the frame. However, taking some cues from your title, I am not so sure it the leaves are really the main subject. I am more inclined to assume that it was the empty park chairs at the top right. Unfortunately, it is too close to the border and makes it position weak and even unnoticeable immediately.

2. The single dark, barrel on the top left does not seem to have significance on the whole scene. Although is creates a triangular impression with the leaves and the empty chair, I still see so definite significance why it was there in the first place.

3. The texture of the grass on the top bright part does not have definite textures on them so I guess the exposure is a bit blown on that area.

4. The horizon is a little bit tilted to the left.

and lastly, the gradient border effect does not seem to help much to the image.

I know you can take better pictures than this one. Though I may be brutal with my comments right now, I just want to be very honest so I can tell you the weaknesses on your image. It's not bad to practice the rule of thirds until you got the principle where to position your main elements inside the frame. After getting the hang of it, then that's the time that you can bend these rules at will. Kind regards.

[Mongwopman]

Hi Jiro, thanks for your reply. I do take your responce as constructive so dont stress.

I made the crop tight to give emphasis on the leaf in the forground and not the empty chair. I see what you mean about the drum (trashcan) I was trying to make the leaves out to be the only thing on the ground and thus "Alone in the park" i realize my title is misleading!

the border i did quickly in like 3 minutes as I was at work. LOL!

[Amhornedomd]

I know you can take better pictures than this one. Though I may be brutal with my comments right now, I just want to be very honest so I can tell you the weaknesses on your image. It's not bad to practice the rule of thirds until you got the principle where to position your main elements inside the frame. After getting the hang of it, then that's the time that you can bend these rules at will. Kind regards.

IMHO this comment is not at all "brutal" or offensive to that effect. We all learn from our mistakes and I am glad that there are so many people here that are more than willing to lend a hand and spend time with newbies, like us. Well said Willie!

[Mongwopman]

And another PP one that I've done. Sadly no border.



Here is the original :



Not a great shot I know, but tidying up on the PP practice.