St. Maarten

[Captn Mike]

Hi all,

This is a first-time image post, so I hope all goes well!

I was in St. Maarten (dutch side only) a few months ago, and I took some shots I am particularly fond of. Unfortunately I knew I wouldn't have access to PP for some time, so these are shot in JPEG.

The first is a little over-exposed, but there is a certain overwhelming energy about being on a Caribbean Beach. I think the blown highlights communicate that.


This image I would like to crop a little off the top so the branches on the right palm anchor the top... and try to pull the red up on the fire hydrant.


C&CC welcome. Let me know what you think, what you'd have done differently. And if there is a better way to upload...

Thanks,
Mike

[bleys]

I like both your shots, but I think for the first there might be a better way to convey the energy of a midday Caribbean beach other than blowing out the highlights. However, I thought your second shot was well exposed, especially compared to the first.

As for composition, I can't really think of anything...I'm still a noob myself. I love both the cannon and the church, though. They make excellent subjects.

I wish I could be more help for you! Maybe my comments will stimulate more from other board members?

Good luck!

[RichMurphy]

Here's how the first shot might look with some adjustment in Photoshop Elements.
dsc0455a.jpg
Click to enlarge.
Or view this:

[Radu Dinu Cordeanu]

Hi,
Now,in my opinion,yours is closer to church and God of course.(lasso and move tool for clouds to cover branches;layers palette-new layer-and brush tool for cross;in the end ctrlJ to obtain "layer 1" then blend mode to overlay and clone tool for wrongs).



All the best

[Captn Mike]

Hi All,

Thanks for the looks and the advice!

Rich, I really like the way the edited exposure brings out the rust on the cannon. That is one of those subtle somethings I hadn't noticed when I took the shot!

Hi,
Now,in my opinion,yours is closer to church and God of course.(lasso and move tool for clouds to cover branches;layers palette-new layer-and brush tool for cross;in the end ctrlJ to obtain "layer 1" then blend mode to overlay and clone tool for wrongs).
All the best

Radu, wow! Just removing those three branches makes a HUGE difference! It really opens up that whole side of the frame! Although, I think it may leave the shot unbalanced... Do you agree? If I had thought of removing the branches I may have tried a different composition for more balance, but you did a great use of PP IMHO.

I'm still waiting for my PP software to arrive (Merry Christmas to me!), so I'm looking forward to fiddling a bit myself.

Thanks again everyone!

Mike

[Radu Dinu Cordeanu]

Hi All,

Thanks for the looks and the advice!

Rich, I really like the way the edited exposure brings out the rust on the cannon. That is one of those subtle somethings I hadn't noticed when I took the shot!



Radu, wow! Just removing those three branches makes a HUGE difference! It really opens up that whole side of the frame! Although, I think it may leave the shot unbalanced... Do you agree? If I had thought of removing the branches I may have tried a different composition for more balance, but you did a great use of PP IMHO.

I'm still waiting for my PP software to arrive (Merry Christmas to me!), so I'm looking forward to fiddling a bit myself.

Thanks again everyone!

Mike

On the left is a street clock which is wrong.I forgot to erase it.Excuse me!