Any point?

[up-the-dubs]

Hey folks,

I was driving along this morning, looking accross Dublin bay at this scene:


Thought it looked ok, and with the reflections comp in my head I thought it was at least topical. It was taken on my Ixus 4.0, so the quality's not great, but the foreground is annoying. I'm looking at maybe getting PS, would it make much of a difference to this type of pic? Did I at least have the right idea? Or realisticly, are compacts just good for point and shoot. Don't really have the cash for proper camera, But if I can start improvong my tecnique, I'd love to have one.

I've been reading this forum for months but rarely post as I really havn't a clue how to take a good photo (and only having a compact anyway), but would love to learn.

So, harsh replies expected....

[chris.mapey]

Top work, I love it.

Chris

[up-the-dubs]

Seriously though.

[_dobbo_]

It's a good photo. Photoshop might get you a bit more contrast or improve the levels a bit, but wont fix it if you don't like the composition.

I suppose you could clone out the foreground, but I don't think it needs it - what don't you like specifically about the picture?

[up-the-dubs]

It's not that I don't like it. I think the idea is right, and should be a good photo, but it just doesn't look "finished"to me. A bit flat maybe. I'm not sure, as I really don't know what goes into a good photo like this.

I think I got the positioning right, the chimneys are fairly central, and theres not alot that can be done with the fore ground. But I just feel that it's not quite there. It's just another "snap".

[chris.mapey]

up-the-dubs said:

Seriously though.

Yes, seriously, it's a great photo.

Hope you don't mind, I had a tweak...



Owing to the crop it's a bit pixellated but you get the idea....hope you don't mind!

Chris

[GetCarter]

'nout wronng with that mate.

I guess if there had been a convenient old boat on the shore it might have added... but then again it might have cluttered the shot.

Photoshop is always good to have, but if you're strapped for cash, then Paint Shop Pro does 95% of Photoshop for a fraction of the cost.

Having said that, I have an unopened version 5 photoshop if you want it, (came with a computer a couple of years back), e mail me if you want it (FOC).

Steve

[up-the-dubs]

GetCarter, YHM.

Chris, I was thinking a crop alright but I like the better blue. What was it you did? I think thats why I need PS.

[chris.mapey]

up-the-dubs said:

GetCarter, YHM. Chris, I was thinking a crop alright but I like the better blue. What was it you did? I think thats why I need PS.

I use Paint Shop Pro X.

All I did was run the noise removal feature, a pass of the "Clarify" filter, and a tweak of the colour / saturation levels (increased saturation)

Hope that helps.

Chris

[simpo two]

I think the towers and b/g look great, like a painting, but agree the foreground is rather ugly. The main thing is that you saw the shot.

You ask if PS would make much difference. Well, yes it would - PS can do anything; it's only limted by your imagination. PS won't make a bad shot good, but it can enhance and improve one with potential. Quality permitting, yours has potential. I might crop all or some of the foreground out, and/or make that part monochrome (by which I mean a single colour, not necessarily black and white). It's just a question of trying something and hitting Ctrl/Z if you don't like it

[pete_w]

Yes, this is a proper link

www.gimp.org/

A very powerful image processor for free.

[focusonme]

Again, hope you don't mind me having a play. Cropped it and cloned out some of the mess, made it a bit bluer, but not sure it's any better than the original.

Great pic by the way - I'm in the minority on this forum, being without a DSLR, but it doesn't require a good camera to take great pictures, just an eye for them, which you evidently have. Should post yours up more often.

[up-the-dubs]

Thank you very much for the comments folks. I think I knew it was close to being good, but you're comments have actually made me kinda happy I posted it (wasn't going to). Time to start carring the camera more and then look at something better in a few months.

Focusonme... Thats bloody good mate . Promptly stolen and on my computer .

Cheers all.

Edit: and I went out to play for the Drive by shootings thread! This photo malarkey is good fun .

>> Edited by up-the-dubs on Tuesday 22 November 01:05

[cliff123]

Think your right. Great potential pic, and with maybe a different camera you could have cropped out the foreground, which as you say distracts from the colours and the form of the towers. Christmas is coming, so get your letter in to santa for a D70.

[Zad]

Ah, you broke Rule 73 of photography, never split the image in half with a horizon! Fortunately Rule 1 says that rules are made to be broken

Lots of Photoshopping (clone brush) could get rid of the foreground, but here's my version. Looking not unlike an entry for Watercolour Challenge. Compression artefacts spoil it slightly, but it's a pretty ethereal image anyway so it doesn't matter.




Mike

[up-the-dubs]

Zad said:

Compression artefacts spoil it slightly, but it's a pretty ethereal image anyway so it doesn't matter.

Ummm???

[Tall_Paul]

Just 5 mins in gimpshop, with airbrush, levels, and a bit of a crop.



Its suffered alot in compression, but you get the idea.

HTH

TP

[superlightr]

Perfectly good idea for a pic, - we are all learning, as some have show a bit of cropping can make all the difference.

Keep post the pics - and practice is the way to perfection...hence we all need more practice (apart from one highland clud member )

[antonyb]

personally i think your original shot was the best of all the variations above. IMHO. good work.

[Mr Noble]

Just another idea. Love the original, but also love playing!! (who said a little extra "noise" is a bad thing!?

There are so many things you can do to a pic in PS CS, the filter section could be played with for hours!

Good shot there Sir.

Greg