Desert twilight, desert road b/w.

[Boojum]

I'm lucky enough to live in the desert southwest where spectacular sunsets are a dime a dozen. This was a strange one, eerie. We have two rainy seasons here, one in the winter (when the first pic was taken), the second in the summer during the monsoon season. I can't wait for monsoon season. Incredible storms. Unfortunately, 85% of the rest of the season there's not a cloud in the sky. It makes for nice weather, but not interesting lighting.


http://www.members.cox.net/cdbrehm/twilight.jpg

http://www.members.cox.net/cdbrehm/road.jpg

[Boojum]

A couple more. Any suggestions? All welcome.


http://www.members.cox.net/cdbrehm/sunset1.jpg

http://www.members.cox.net/cdbrehm/sunset2.jpg

[Meerkat17]

http://www.btinternet.com/~David.Lewins/g5/images/sunset2.jpg

You have some great shots there - I've altered the last with the art history brush in Photoshop as there are some lovely rocks in the foreground which give the picture a little more depth - hope you don't mind

David

[Boojum]

Not at all. Could you tell me how you did this? It's a big improvement.

[dphoto]

WOW! The first two shots are breath taking! Simply awesome!

How did you get the clouds to look so rich in the first shot? That yellow is great. I'm guessing you did a heavy adjustment with the levels. Am I close?

The second is a great use of black and white. The other shots are nice, but the first two really grab me. OK... the last one with the rock up close has some serious merit as well. Great job! :)

Dang... I need to get some "winning" shots going here. I think I will take my camera out this weekend. Hopefully I will have something to post. :)

-Deva

[Dawg]

Boojum

Fantastic shoots!!!!!!!!!! Awsome B/W

Meerkat, your changes make the hole scene just POP. Great job and thanks for sharing. I hope to develope your keen eye.

Dawg 8) 8) 8)

[dphoto]

Oh, I hadn't noticed that was Meerkat's modification that produced the picture of the rock. Excellent job, Meerkat! I don't think I would have seen that, and it toally makes the shot!

BTW, if you don't mind sharing, how does the art history brush help with something like this? I never did understand that brush. To do the same thing, I would probably use an adjustment layer with a layer mask, but I would love to learn something new! :)

Thanks,
-Deva

[Meerkat17]

All I did was take it into Photoshop and used the Levels I over exposed the shot till the sky was almost white and the rocks showed through.

In the history pallet I took a snapshot of that image (Press Alt and click the camera icon)

Then I undid the levels (Ctrl+Z) I selected the Art History Brush, Selected the Snapshot I'd taken and then painted over the dark area of the picture.

I did this very quickly and it needs more care taken with it otherwise you will get white marks on the horizon.

Hope it helps
David

[dphoto]

Hey David,

Wow, thanks for the instruction. That history brush is interesting. It's a lot like using layer masks, but it's also very different. After using it, I feel like I just took off someone elses glasses and my eyes are still trying to adjust. That was wild! :) I can see how that tool could be very useful, and I can also see how it requires a whole different way of thinking. I'll try to keep it in mind when I'm doing future projects. The ability to take a snapshot might come in handy. :)

So that was the "history brush tool" I was using. As for the "art history brush", that tool just seemed to blur and warp things. Is that tool even useable? I don't see where history came into play at all. Do you use this tool as well?

Thanks again! I'm forever a student... :)
-Deva