What do you think?

[mdaddyrabbit]

Playing aound with my photos and PSCS2 and I came up with this, anyone got some good advice on what I might have done wrong? It looked decent but the longer I look the more I felt disappointed. I am trying to improve my skills.

[Hellashot]

The color seems very weak, the horizon is crooked. The shot might have been better taken landscape orientation instead.

[ArcticEOS]

A wider view would be better. It's still a nice shot though :)

[photog_87]

How did you import this image? It seems that something was lost in terms of colour information... hence the lack of "punch"

[mdaddyrabbit]

It was a Raw file in the beginning and I opened up into PSCS2 did my editing and then saved it for the web. I agree the color is faded or washed out after revisiting it.

I would love to send the original and see what could be done with it?

[photog_87]

You know what, it looks REALLY heavily yellow shifted!!

Have you imported many RAW files with CS2? Some people have been having problems with that.

[mdaddyrabbit]

I started importing RAW with the invention of CS2 about 4k of photos, but that dont qualifly me as know anything. I want to some day take and edit photos that really pop. I mean really stand out.

[photog_87]

and this is the first time you have been hit with this kind of lack of punch in the colours? Well... i can definately suggest taht you need to play with your curves... or alternatively you may have had a problem when you were shooting... possible too much flare across your lens?

[mdaddyrabbit]

No not the first time I have had things to be wrong, I haven't been satisfied with much of anything I have done. I find that my photos are not sharpe and when I do sharpen them they look grainy. As far as my color issue I did run the shot posted here towards the yellow side. I wonder if my problem is my camera and the way I have it set up or does my problem start with PSCS2? I would like to take at least one photo that poped with enough color and sharpness that it could satisfy my eyes.

[photog_87]

First things first, try importing the files in somethign other than CS2, if that does not make a noticeable difference, then there may be something wrong with your camera, either physically, or firmwarely...

oh and congrats on winning the stanley cup!

[mdaddyrabbit]

Thanks for the input, what would you use to import into. Also never watched hockey till this year but I really found it to be exciting and now I want to see a game in person.

[photog_87]

I'll be straigh with you Daddy, i dont work in RAW that often, and when i have, it has been with CS1, and CS1 doenst seem to be plauged with the same RAW import problems that CS2 is... so what i can suggest at this point is search the forums for other memebers recommendations and try a different RAW import platform.

Good luck!

[mdaddyrabbit]

Thanks so much for your time, I wanted to post one more from the same day and series I did.

[photog_87]

see now, these colours are MUCH better...

However, it does look like you are a whole stop under-exposed.

you still have a crooked horizon, and i would point you in the direction of looking at CS2's High Dynamic Range (HDR) function. Cause that is EXACTLY what an image like this could use.