Photo Saved?

[kpiela]

If I could just take the photo right, I wouldn't have to go through 2 days of editing to make it look "decent"! To the non-professional eye (ie, grandparents who don't own cameras) is this photo passable? Btw, I cannot even stand to open my PSE2 anymore due to the delay and the occasional complete shut down! I used MS Digital Image Pro to do these photos.

First the original:

34124

My attempt:

34125

[zacker]

good job! the after pic is great!
-zacker-

[kpiela]

Thanks Zacker. It isn't perfect but it could pass for it's purpose!

[photodd]

I agree, nice job bringing the ocean and sky in. What's causing the PSE2 to crash?

[kpiela]

I agree, nice job bringing the ocean and sky in. What's causing the PSE2 to crash?

I wish I knew! I just added 1gb memory but from what I've read about PS it is quite the memory hog. I have tried a few adjustments, but to no avail. :roll:

[zacker]

whats system are you on? XP? I have PS/CS2 but I dont crash i just have a hard time opening it up once in awhile, I will open but i get a message saying something didnt open up so the program will close its self! it only happens once in awhile though so its not too bad!
-zacker-

[kpiela]

Yeah I have XP and my computer is brand new! Very frustrating!

[Robert_Lay]

I may be wrong but it sure looks like you were taking the pictures into the sun.
A good way to avoid the necessity of trying to salvage such images is to never shoot directly into the sun or to shoot a backlit subject. I know, you were on the wrong coast.

Another suggestion would be to hold a large card or hat above and forward from the lens to shield the lens from direct rays of the sun. You can tell when your sun-blocking device is too low, you will see it in the viewfinder. Properly done, it will eliminate the forward scattering of light into the less that is dramatically lowering contrast and causing problems.

[Tlee05]

maybe if u re-install the program its worth a try Hehe love the sea your gonna fool the oldies with that image.

[kpiela]

I may be wrong but it sure looks like you were taking the pictures into the sun.
A good way to avoid the necessity of trying to salvage such images is to never shoot directly into the sun or to shoot a backlit subject. I know, you were on the wrong coast.

Another suggestion would be to hold a large card or hat above and forward from the lens to shield the lens from direct rays of the sun. You can tell when your sun-blocking device is too low, you will see it in the viewfinder. Properly done, it will eliminate the forward scattering of light into the less that is dramatically lowering contrast and causing problems.

Sure was shooting into the sun. Everyone wanted the ocean in the background so I just had to bite my tongue and shoot. I did what I could! Thanks for the suggestion about blocking the sun. I will try it out sometime. Thanks Bob :)

[kpiela]

maybe if u re-install the program its worth a try Hehe love the sea your gonna fool the oldies with that image.

Thanks. I should try to reinstall, I just don't have the time!
I haven't heard any complaints yet from the family, so I guess they're okay w/the shot. :)

[maderito]

Very well done.

Sure, it's a backlit shot; but the initial exposure is good for the subjects who look terrific with the backlit highlights on their hair. I also like your editing of the subjects which preserved good skin tones.

Not a lot of options at the time of shooting. If you position your subjects in direct sunlight, you get a lot of squinting and harsh shadows. There are typically no large shaded areas on an open beach; and you can't realistically ask everyone to return at sundown for a reshoot. In other words - you did good under the circumstances.

My only minor nit is that the sun is coming high from the right and your reconstructed background looks like the sun is coming from the left.

How did you recreate the ocean? clone/stamp?

[kpiela]

Very well done.

Sure, it's a backlit shot; but the initial exposure is good for the subjects who look terrific with the backlit highlights on their hair. I also like your editing of the subjects which preserved good skin tones.

Not a lot of options at the time of shooting. If you position your subjects in direct sunlight, you get a lot of squinting and harsh shadows. There are typically no large shaded areas on an open beach; and you can't realistically ask everyone to return at sundown for a reshoot. In other words - you did good under the circumstances.

My only minor nit is that the sun is coming high from the right and your reconstructed background looks like the sun is coming from the left.

How did you recreate the ocean? clone/stamp?

HA... I hadn't noticed the sun angle! I cut it from another photo, pasted and then blended them. Thanks for the comments!

[mysubaruimp]

A little saturation adjustment, contrast, brightness.

And a lot of JPEG artifacting from saving and resaving so many times.

[Robert_Lay]

HA... I hadn't noticed the sun angle! I cut it from another photo, pasted and then blended them. Thanks for the comments!

Shades of J. Aubrey Bodine - I think we've been had!

[kpiela]

A little saturation adjustment, contrast, brightness.

And a lot of JPEG artifacting from saving and resaving so many times.

Looks bright. I don't know what you're talking about....saving and resaving... hahahaha!

[kpiela]

Shades of J. Aubrey Bodine - I think we've been had!

I don't get it. I don't know who J Aubrey Bodine is. Sorry :)

[rfreschner]

I don't get it. I don't know who J Aubrey Bodine is. Sorry :)
Perhaps Bob meant A. Aubrey Bodine, a well known photographer in the Baltimore area who was known for his skills in the darkroom and his propensity for changing images to suit his whims. More info at A Legend In His Time (http://www.aaubreybodine.com/books/legend/).

[Robert_Lay]

Different Era.

J. Audrey Bodine was the most famous photographer of his day, working as "the" photographer for the Baltimore Sun. He published several books of pictures of Central Atlantic tidal areas. He was also known among his friends and colleagues as a skillful manipulator of his images. There was one picture in one of his books for which he was quite famous - it showed a beautiful set of clouds in the sky and a completely different set of clouds in the reflection in the water.

Sound familiar?

[Robert_Lay]

Perhaps Bob meant A. Aubrey Bodine, a well known photographer in the Baltimore area who was known for his skills in the darkroom and his propensity for changing images to suit his whims. More info at A Legend In His Time (http://www.aaubreybodine.com/books/legend/).

Dear Rick,

You caught me on the first initial. My memory isn't what it used to be, but you are correct - it is A - not J.

[rfreschner]

My memory isn't what it used to be

Neither is mine Bob, neither is mine. Thank the stars for the Internet and Google!! :D Even though I had heard of Bodine, I needed to brush up on him a bit before posting my reply.

[kpiela]

You learn something new every day! Thanks for the info Bob & Rick. I will pay more attention to shadows and other details more carefully now! :)