Marc MuenchRegistered UsersPosts: 1,420Major grins
edited October 4, 2012
I really like this image! Looks like the guy is walking his boat.....
As great as the colors are, I think the light is not working in your favor.
There are some edits to be made which would guide the viewers eye to the story.
Before I go down that path of post processing I would like to ask for your input.
Did you see a different story here?
Did you shoot this image for yourself?
Do you know this person, is this image staged?
Thanks Marc. Last fall Lauren (Redleash) came for a visit - her first time to Maritime Canada - so we went exploring. This shot was done in the little fishing village of St. Martins and is one of a series I shot that day in and around the village and the Fundy Trail. St. Martins and the Trail border the Bay of Fundy that has the highest tides in the world (over 40' twice a day). Obviously, this is near low tide. I saw this guy working on his boat and it was like seeing the last of a dying breed, so I felt compelled to capture it.
It was 10 o'clock in the morning when this was shot on what is obviously a bright and sunny day. One of my biggest concerns was getting it sharp enough so I wanted a middling-fast shutter speed. I was hand holding the camera.
Settings were: Canon EOS-1D MK IV, Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 IS ISO400, 105mm (I was standing on a dock across the small inlet), f/6.3 at 1/320ss. I focused on the back of the boat - on the lettering of the name.
So, for editing I would LOVE some advice. I generally use a combination of Aperture and PS CS5 for editing. I don't have LR - but the Aperture settings are usually fairly close so I can duplicate what you suggest. As they say here, "Have at 'er!"
Thanks so much,
Ceci
PS: here is the original file before I did any editing - at 50% file size for quick uploading. I can send the full original if you prefer.
I really like this image! Looks like the guy is walking his boat.....
As great as the colors are, I think the light is not working in your favor.
There are some edits to be made which would guide the viewers eye to the story.
Before I go down that path of post processing I would like to ask for your input.
Did you see a different story here?
Did you shoot this image for yourself?
Do you know this person, is this image staged?
Send me the RAW and I'll take it from the top. If you have dropbox that's best!
Hi Marc. I do have Dropbox and I have set up a folder called "Marc" with the original RAW file in it. What I don't know is how to give you access to it. Please PM me and it's all yours
Marc MuenchRegistered UsersPosts: 1,420Major grins
edited October 29, 2012
I finally figured out my new method for sharing screen grabs from Skitch!
Here is the direction I took for your image, soft and moody. The following images show the step by step work in LR. Once, you understand all my steps, I encourage you to "MAKE IT YOUR OWN" by making personal tweaks!
Final
As shot, just wanted you to know this was well done
I finally figured out my new method for sharing screen grabs from Skitch!
Here is the direction I took for your image, soft and moody. The following images show the step by step work in LR.
Once, you understand all my steps, I encourage you to "MAKE IT YOUR OWN" by making personal tweaks!
As shot, just wanted you to know this was well done
Much appreciated!
Steps:
I went through the steps as you described as closely as possible given that I was working in Aperture vs. you using Lightroom. One thing I learned (to my dismay) is that Lightroom definitely has more functionality. The only way I could use masks and brushes to control exposure etc. to specific spaces would be to export to Photoshop.
But, my challenge was to try and replicate what you did as closely as possible within Aperture so I did. One thing I did change was the crop on the right. There was a bright light/reflection in the back window of the red car (across the road near the second hitching post on the dock) so I cropped that out as I found it distracting.
Thank you so much for the detailed description of each step you took in editing the image. For example, it never occurred to me to lighten the area around the man with the rope - but what a difference that made! Attached is my second version.
Thank you again for your suggestions and insight. I guess this means I need to buy and learn to use Lightroom.
Yes Lightroom is different in some ways. I would look hard through Aperture details to find brushes before you ditch it for LR.
Cheers
Thanks.
Aperture has many brushes too, but, for example, it doesn't allow for altering exposure in only one area. However, I did play with brushing in/out shadows, highlights etc. to aim for a similar effect. I really like and am comfortable with that software and, with a few plugins, it has most of the functionality that I need. Hmmm. Decisions, decisions.
Marc MuenchRegistered UsersPosts: 1,420Major grins
edited November 14, 2012
The light is right. The colors are great. The post work is little, which I think is great since not much is needed.
What I believe could make this better is more black on the bottom. Did you crop this? And if so, might there be more on the bottom?
I'm imagining this is a sliver of light striking the North Rim and everything else dark. I would like to see what the composition looked like with either more sky or canyon.
The light is right.
The colors are great.
The post work is little, which I think is great since not much is needed.
What I believe could make this better is more black on the bottom.
Did you crop this? And if so, might there be more on the bottom?
I'm imagining this is a sliver of light striking the North Rim and everything else dark. I would like to see what the composition looked like with either more sky or canyon.
Marc,
Thanks. I have attached the original file in jpg which was shot raw in Canon. ISO 800, 1/160th,f/14. Captured with 24-105mm set at 58mm. It was very cold and I was actually waiting for sunrise in the other direction when I turned around and saw this. As you can see there is not a lot of black space at the bottom. I think I understand what you are getting at but I certainly did not see that when I was there.
Had trouble uploading the original file in this response. So what you see is a very small jpg.
Here is the original file - jpg for here but shot in raw. I am not sure there is much room to accomplish what I think you are describing. I like the idea but not sure I could have accomplished it without visualizing it at the time of capture.
Marc MuenchRegistered UsersPosts: 1,420Major grins
edited November 18, 2012
Actually this is what I was hoping for,
First I would like to make a suggestion regarding your camera settings. Every lens has a sweet spot, meaning the aperture where the lens optics are at their sharpest. 99% of the time it is 2 stops down from wide open. If your 24-105 is F4 (wide open) then the best aperture to use is F/8.
Of course you need to open up or stop down for certain subjects and specific situations but whenever you are shooting a subject such as this scene where everything is at infinity and the light is low, go to F/8.
Had you used F/8, you would have almost 2 full stops more light to work with and either lower the ISO from 800 to 200 or up the shutter speed from 160/sec to 400/sec. This would increase sharpness, shooting with the sweet spot of the lens and lower digital noise.
Also, the exposure looks a bit dark. It is possible that 160/sec at F/8 would have been perfect at iso 800?
Here is what the histogram looks like:
Here is what I was thinking of:
I hope you try another version of this scene. Even if you find it's not what you prefer. I have found that attempting different aspect ratios and crops of images taken in the past helps me understand what it is I can do while on location in the future.
You are right about the exposure - and thanks for the hint on the lens sharpness. I will try some more versions of this image and see what I like.
Can you tell me what the spiral adjustment you made in PS that I see on the image is?
0
Marc MuenchRegistered UsersPosts: 1,420Major grins
You are right about the exposure - and thanks for the hint on the lens sharpness. I will try some more versions of this image and see what I like.
Can you tell me what the spiral adjustment you made in PS that I see on the image is?
Marc MuenchRegistered UsersPosts: 1,420Major grins
edited January 6, 2013
Happy New Year!
I understand there are many images that have been sitting here for awhile, so I hope to get through this gallery before I go off to Africa in Feb.
I believe I was here when this was taken
This was a dramatic and WINDY afternoon way up above Death Valley. The sun was setting through clouds and as you see here it did burst through for a few moments. However, because there was still a thin layer of clouds between the sun and the camera a great sun star was prevented.
I like the light
The warm light on the FG is great
The composition is well arranged with the view off to the North giving much depth to the scene
The processing is a bit too saturated IMO
There are two ways to improve this scene
Something needs to be included in the FG that would give the scene scale, as it is now I am not sure just how grand that scene is, and having been there, I know how grand it actually was.
The second issue is something that could be improved in post. The sun is a big hole in the middle of the image. There are a few moves in LR that might help.
First, if not done the highlight slider could be brought down.
Second, the brush tool could be applied over the sun area with the clarity slider up.
Yes, you were there and you might remember how windy (and cold) it was - we all had a hard time keeping our tripods up. I agree my memory of the scene is much better than the image I captured.
I tried to capture something in the foreground but all I saw were dead bushes which kept moving in the wind. Did you find something interesting there for a foreground element.
The sun - yes it was blown out. Nothing there at all. Highlight slider is all the way to the left and a clarity brush did very little. My error in capture I believe. Should I have captured this differently.
I tried some HDR sequences but it was so windy that the frames were slightly different and so the images were blurred.
How would you and did you overcome the elements for this scene?
0
Marc MuenchRegistered UsersPosts: 1,420Major grins
edited January 10, 2013
Jolsen,
I hid behind a cliff..... until the sun popped!
It really was not an easy evening and you did capture the right light.
I have not looked at those files until just now. Here is what I stitched using Nik + some photoshop. I was attracted to the sand blowing in the far distance which really added depth to the visual, but just a bit too small to really show up in this image.
This was a 3 image bracket x 2 with Canon 17mm TSE. Each file 2 stops apart. I also had to compensate what the meter told me by - 1 stop. This helped retain the highlight detail.
Notice how much of this scene was darker below the horizon, which is what made the meter lean to the brighter, as I always have my meter set to evaluative.
I hid behind a cliff..... until the sun popped!
It really was not an easy evening and you did capture the right light.
I have not looked at those files until just now. Here is what I stitched using Nik + some photoshop. I was attracted to the sand blowing in the far distance which really added depth to the visual, but just a bit too small to really show up in this image.
This was a 3 image bracket x 2 with Canon 17mm TSE. Each file 2 stops apart. I also had to compensate what the meter told me by - 1 stop. This helped retain the highlight detail.
Notice how much of this scene was darker below the horizon, which is what made the meter lean to the brighter, as I always have my meter set to evaluative.
Marc,
Ok, I see how you captured much more of the foreground , which I like a lot. Also, I like the position of the sun in your image. Lesson learned on the sun and exposure for sure. Here is another image taken about when your was but not a pano. Closer to what you got. I am not a proficient Smugmug poster so apologize for errors in this string. But thanks very much for the review and critique.
Marc MuenchRegistered UsersPosts: 1,420Major grins
edited April 1, 2013
I'm back, and excited to review some of the great images that have been posted.
Very close!
This looks like an incredible moment. I am thrilled you chose a wide view like this and with a foreground that leads me into the scene.
The contrast is not over done allowing the colors to look real. I really appreciate that!
I like the aspect ratio as well.
What I would change:
Take one step closer to the dock. This would keep the beginning of the dock from showing allowing it to begin under the viewers feet.
Rotate the camera angle to the right a tad. This would eliminate the branches on the far left and possibly move the dock from being in the center.
Marc MuenchRegistered UsersPosts: 1,420Major grins
edited April 3, 2013
This is a perfect example of too much contrast throughout the entire image, or what I would call “global contrast”.
I like the setting and use of black and white
I like the contrast and detail in the area around the tree trunks
Just imagine what it would look like if your eye were guided into the region around the tree trunks! By lowering the contrast and brightness of the FG road and leafy regions in the trees, the viewer would be given a path!
I know it has been months since you posted this so please feel free to reply even if some time goes by
Comments
I really like this image! Looks like the guy is walking his boat.....
As great as the colors are, I think the light is not working in your favor.
There are some edits to be made which would guide the viewers eye to the story.
Before I go down that path of post processing I would like to ask for your input.
Did you see a different story here?
Did you shoot this image for yourself?
Do you know this person, is this image staged?
Cheers
Marc M.
Muench Workshops
MW on Facebook
It was 10 o'clock in the morning when this was shot on what is obviously a bright and sunny day. One of my biggest concerns was getting it sharp enough so I wanted a middling-fast shutter speed. I was hand holding the camera.
Settings were: Canon EOS-1D MK IV, Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 IS ISO400, 105mm (I was standing on a dock across the small inlet), f/6.3 at 1/320ss. I focused on the back of the boat - on the lettering of the name.
So, for editing I would LOVE some advice. I generally use a combination of Aperture and PS CS5 for editing. I don't have LR - but the Aperture settings are usually fairly close so I can duplicate what you suggest. As they say here, "Have at 'er!"
Thanks so much,
Ceci
PS: here is the original file before I did any editing - at 50% file size for quick uploading. I can send the full original if you prefer.
I really like this image! Looks like the guy is walking his boat.....
As great as the colors are, I think the light is not working in your favor.
There are some edits to be made which would guide the viewers eye to the story.
Before I go down that path of post processing I would like to ask for your input.
Did you see a different story here?
Did you shoot this image for yourself?
Do you know this person, is this image staged?
Cheers
Marc M.[/QUOTE]
http://www.imagesbyceci.com
http://www.facebook.com/ImagesByCeci
Picadilly, NB, Canada
Send me the RAW and I'll take it from the top. If you have dropbox that's best!
Muench Workshops
MW on Facebook
Hi Marc. I do have Dropbox and I have set up a folder called "Marc" with the original RAW file in it. What I don't know is how to give you access to it. Please PM me and it's all yours
http://www.imagesbyceci.com
http://www.facebook.com/ImagesByCeci
Picadilly, NB, Canada
Here is the direction I took for your image, soft and moody. The following images show the step by step work in LR.
Once, you understand all my steps, I encourage you to "MAKE IT YOUR OWN" by making personal tweaks!
Final
As shot, just wanted you to know this was well done
Steps:
Muench Workshops
MW on Facebook
http://www.imagesbyceci.com
http://www.facebook.com/ImagesByCeci
Picadilly, NB, Canada
Yes Lightroom is different in some ways. I would look hard through Aperture details to find brushes before you ditch it for LR.
Cheers
Muench Workshops
MW on Facebook
Thanks.
Aperture has many brushes too, but, for example, it doesn't allow for altering exposure in only one area. However, I did play with brushing in/out shadows, highlights etc. to aim for a similar effect. I really like and am comfortable with that software and, with a few plugins, it has most of the functionality that I need. Hmmm. Decisions, decisions.
http://www.imagesbyceci.com
http://www.facebook.com/ImagesByCeci
Picadilly, NB, Canada
The light is right.
The colors are great.
The post work is little, which I think is great since not much is needed.
What I believe could make this better is more black on the bottom.
Did you crop this? And if so, might there be more on the bottom?
I'm imagining this is a sliver of light striking the North Rim and everything else dark. I would like to see what the composition looked like with either more sky or canyon.
Muench Workshops
MW on Facebook
Marc,
Thanks. I have attached the original file in jpg which was shot raw in Canon. ISO 800, 1/160th,f/14. Captured with 24-105mm set at 58mm. It was very cold and I was actually waiting for sunrise in the other direction when I turned around and saw this. As you can see there is not a lot of black space at the bottom. I think I understand what you are getting at but I certainly did not see that when I was there.
Had trouble uploading the original file in this response. So what you see is a very small jpg.
Here is the original file - jpg for here but shot in raw. I am not sure there is much room to accomplish what I think you are describing. I like the idea but not sure I could have accomplished it without visualizing it at the time of capture.
First I would like to make a suggestion regarding your camera settings. Every lens has a sweet spot, meaning the aperture where the lens optics are at their sharpest. 99% of the time it is 2 stops down from wide open. If your 24-105 is F4 (wide open) then the best aperture to use is F/8.
Of course you need to open up or stop down for certain subjects and specific situations but whenever you are shooting a subject such as this scene where everything is at infinity and the light is low, go to F/8.
Had you used F/8, you would have almost 2 full stops more light to work with and either lower the ISO from 800 to 200 or up the shutter speed from 160/sec to 400/sec. This would increase sharpness, shooting with the sweet spot of the lens and lower digital noise.
Also, the exposure looks a bit dark. It is possible that 160/sec at F/8 would have been perfect at iso 800?
Here is what the histogram looks like:
Here is what I was thinking of:
I hope you try another version of this scene. Even if you find it's not what you prefer. I have found that attempting different aspect ratios and crops of images taken in the past helps me understand what it is I can do while on location in the future.
Muench Workshops
MW on Facebook
Can you tell me what the spiral adjustment you made in PS that I see on the image is?
Here is where I set the golden spiral option:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/89364750@N03/8200711122/" title="Original GC File.jpg @ 100% (Crop Preview, RGB/8*) * by MJMuench, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8060/8200711122_372846ffd6_c.jpg" width="800" height="670" alt="Original GC File.jpg @ 100% (Crop Preview, RGB/8*) *"></a>
Have fun and hope to see more of your work!
Muench Workshops
MW on Facebook
I understand there are many images that have been sitting here for awhile, so I hope to get through this gallery before I go off to Africa in Feb.
I believe I was here when this was taken
This was a dramatic and WINDY afternoon way up above Death Valley. The sun was setting through clouds and as you see here it did burst through for a few moments. However, because there was still a thin layer of clouds between the sun and the camera a great sun star was prevented.
I like the light
The warm light on the FG is great
The composition is well arranged with the view off to the North giving much depth to the scene
The processing is a bit too saturated IMO
There are two ways to improve this scene
Something needs to be included in the FG that would give the scene scale, as it is now I am not sure just how grand that scene is, and having been there, I know how grand it actually was.
The second issue is something that could be improved in post. The sun is a big hole in the middle of the image. There are a few moves in LR that might help.
First, if not done the highlight slider could be brought down.
Second, the brush tool could be applied over the sun area with the clarity slider up.
Muench Workshops
MW on Facebook
Yes, you were there and you might remember how windy (and cold) it was - we all had a hard time keeping our tripods up. I agree my memory of the scene is much better than the image I captured.
I tried to capture something in the foreground but all I saw were dead bushes which kept moving in the wind. Did you find something interesting there for a foreground element.
The sun - yes it was blown out. Nothing there at all. Highlight slider is all the way to the left and a clarity brush did very little. My error in capture I believe. Should I have captured this differently.
I tried some HDR sequences but it was so windy that the frames were slightly different and so the images were blurred.
How would you and did you overcome the elements for this scene?
I hid behind a cliff..... until the sun popped!
It really was not an easy evening and you did capture the right light.
I have not looked at those files until just now. Here is what I stitched using Nik + some photoshop. I was attracted to the sand blowing in the far distance which really added depth to the visual, but just a bit too small to really show up in this image.
This was a 3 image bracket x 2 with Canon 17mm TSE. Each file 2 stops apart. I also had to compensate what the meter told me by - 1 stop. This helped retain the highlight detail.
Notice how much of this scene was darker below the horizon, which is what made the meter lean to the brighter, as I always have my meter set to evaluative.
Muench Workshops
MW on Facebook
Marc,
Ok, I see how you captured much more of the foreground , which I like a lot. Also, I like the position of the sun in your image. Lesson learned on the sun and exposure for sure. Here is another image taken about when your was but not a pano. Closer to what you got. I am not a proficient Smugmug poster so apologize for errors in this string. But thanks very much for the review and critique.
Hope to see you at another workshop this year.
John
Very close!
This looks like an incredible moment. I am thrilled you chose a wide view like this and with a foreground that leads me into the scene.
The contrast is not over done allowing the colors to look real. I really appreciate that!
I like the aspect ratio as well.
What I would change:
Take one step closer to the dock. This would keep the beginning of the dock from showing allowing it to begin under the viewers feet.
Rotate the camera angle to the right a tad. This would eliminate the branches on the far left and possibly move the dock from being in the center.
If you like post the un cropped frame.
Great image!
Muench Workshops
MW on Facebook
I like the setting and use of black and white
I like the contrast and detail in the area around the tree trunks
Just imagine what it would look like if your eye were guided into the region around the tree trunks! By lowering the contrast and brightness of the FG road and leafy regions in the trees, the viewer would be given a path!
I know it has been months since you posted this so please feel free to reply even if some time goes by
Muench Workshops
MW on Facebook