Haines, Alaska - Revisited - Please C&C

redleash

I revised my shot of Haines, based on comments in my earlier thread. (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=172300

This is a single image, tonemapped in Photomatix, then finished in PS CS4. Somehow, they all look a bit flat to me and I'm not sure how to fix it. Maybe I've looked at them for too long.

I really like this image and would really like to get a good version for print, so any comments/suggestions are much appreciated!

Thanks,
Lauren

1. Second version to decrease blue in mountains.


2. Some folks still thought it was too blue, so here is a third version.


3. B&W conversion of #2. I could use help with this one, as I do think it will work as B&W.

NorthernFocus

I think number one looks fine but number two does look a bit better. IMO some level of blue haze in appropriate on the background mountains otherwise it doesn't look real.

redleash

Thanks, Dan. I agree about needing some blue, as that is what I saw in person. I'm just trying to settle on what I think is the right amount. This is a good shot to work on masking technique, so I'd better try that. I used a little bit but think it would probably help get the colors right.

Art Scott

1 or 2 ....BW just doesn't seem to work here.

Tango

I like #2 also...

Eia

I think #2; the greens look more natural on the mountain side.

redleash

Thanks, everyone.

Candid Arts

I think the green in #2 is a bit saturated based on what the trees actually look like up there. They are quite a bit darker green...kinda like a forest green? So I hope you don't mind, but I played around with it myself just a tad. I took the blues down just a little bit, desaturated the water a tad. Played with the tone curve a little (added a little more contrast), and also adjusted the white balance. I think that's pretty much it... It was all done in LR3. I can tell you exactly what I did if you like the results and want to know more detail...

here you go:


I think it gives it a more natural look this way, it just seemed a little to saturated, mainly in the sky and in the water.

redleash

Thank you, Candid. I'd like to know the settings you used, although I use Aperture and not LR. The two color shots I posted are more saturated b/c I used Photomatix to tonemap them. I think what I saw that day is somewhere between your version and mine. Your WB does look closer to the real thing. This one is going to be an ongoing effort, until I find what I'm happy with. Meanwhile, I'm pleased to have anymore C&C that is offered.

Thanks!
Lauren

Candid Arts

So in LR terms...I adjust WB Temp. +15 towards yellow and Tint +15 towards red. For the Tone Curve, I adjusted Lights +20 and Darks -30. I took -27 from the blues and -2 from the purples. Lastly I desaturated the water only by -29. I'm not sure how that translates into Aperture, or if there is even a need for a translation, but that's what I did.

I also tried a little black and white conversion with a bit more contrast than you did in your sample. I kinda liked the way it looked, but you are loosing those WONDERFUL colors. Hope it helps.