newbie PS masking attempts

sanaka

My nascent efforts at using layer masks in PS: to 'blue' the sky and 'pretty' the clouds. After I've stared at an image in PS for a while, I lose all perspective as to whether it looks real or convincing anymore, and whether the shot ever had much merit to begin with.

C&C appreciated please!





Peace,
Sanaka

Richard

Hi Sanaka,

I don't see a pic. Check this tutorial about posting on Dgrin.

Regards,

sanaka

Oops, my bad. I hadn't set the gallery to allow linking/sharing. Should be good now.

Peace,
Sanaka

schmoo

I like it! The framing of of the palm is perfect for the dramatic game of hide-and-seek that the sun is playing in that cloud.

If I had to pick something, the tonality of the cloud does not seem quite right. You've preserved the contrast in it very well but my eye tells me that it's a little too dark for the amount of light coming out from the rest of the scene.

Still, no real complaints from me.

WildWings

I really like this one!

Tango

writing out an explanation was hard so here let me show ya...

i thought above the cloud looked a bit off, notice above the cloud here? i sat and dodged...(not that it made it any better, just that the purples just didnt look right...)(too me, humble me...)

Tango

btw, there is a way to make the sun rays stand out far more than you have here...look into how to do it...myself ive only seen it done so i cant remember how its done

dadwtwins

sanaka wrote:

My nascent efforts at using layer masks in PS: to 'blue' the sky and 'pretty' the clouds. After I've stared at an image in PS for a while, I lose all perspective as to whether it looks real or convincing anymore, and whether the shot ever had much merit to begin with.

C&C appreciated please!
Peace,
Sanaka

Hey Sanaka,

I like the composition quite a bit. For the clouds, you might want to desaturate it as well as bump up the contrast.

For the desaturation of localized areas, i like to use the rarely ever talked about sponge tool

sanaka

Thanks so much everyone for the help and eval. I agree with all that you've said.

My reasoning about the contrasty rays and the darkish clouds was that the straight-from-camera shot (see below) pretty much showed this. So, 'reasoning' being pretty much a hindrance here I think I need to treat the PP'd image more as it's own, new representation. My mind still hangs on trying to make things "real" (an impossibility!).

I like your dodging on the over purpleified part, Aaron, and I'll have a look for sun-ray enhancement

OK, dadwtwins, spill on the sponge! How do you use it for desaturation?

Peace,
Sanaka


Straight off camera:

Tango

umm, i went a little overboard here on color...

but its fun...

just lightroom used...

dadwtwins

sanaka wrote:

Thanks so much everyone for the help and eval. I agree with all that you've said.

My reasoning about the contrasty rays and the darkish clouds was that the straight-from-camera shot (see below) pretty much showed this. So, 'reasoning' being pretty much a hindrance here I think I need to treat the PP'd image more as it's own, new representation. My mind still hangs on trying to make things "real" (an impossibility!).

I like your dodging on the over purpleified part, Aaron, and I'll have a look for sun-ray enhancement

OK, dadwtwins, spill on the sponge! How do you use it for desaturation?

Peace,
Sanaka


Straight off camera:

Here is a snap shot of PS. Use a low flow setting at first to get a good idea how strong the desaturation works. Keep the brush at 0% hardness for smoothness. Tinker around and enjoy

sanaka

Sponge: Coolness! Thanks

OK, so here's go #2, using Sponge as per dadwtwins, and another selective color layer for the purply ray stuff:




Not that I think this is such a spectacular or moving image, but the practice is great! Thanks to all again :ivar


Peace,
Sanaka

dadwtwins

sanaka wrote:

Sponge: Coolness! Thanks

OK, so here's go #2, using Sponge as per dadwtwins, and another selective color layer for the purply ray stuff:

Not that I think this is such a spectacular or moving image, but the practice is great! Thanks to all again :ivar


Peace,
Sanaka

Well.... I have to disagree . I think this image is very cool and very unique. The palm tree cradling the clouds has a great look. It is a composition that most would never think of and here you have it done very well.

This was a great capture and the more you practice shot taking and post processing to achieve your original vision before you pressed that shutter button, the more addictive photography gets.

Welcome to the land of photo-holics where we not only encourage your habit, we also insist you continue this never ending quest to capture the perfect shot.

sanaka

Aww, shucks... Thanks 'bro!