Does this work?

[col4bin]

About a year ago I posted an unedited version of this photo. As I try to develop my pp skills, i like to revisit old photos. what do you think? C&C greatly appreciated. Thanks.

http://fsquared.smugmug.com/photos/118403952-L.jpg

[YosemiteJunkie]

Interesting view of the Chapel in Yosemite Valley :) At first glance I thought there was to much tree space above the steeple but after looking closer I can see where you would have chopped off the top of the pair just to the right of the chapel. I kind of like it though, the way you have it.

[Meaty0]

Selective desaturation is a fun thing to do and in this case, it certainly does make the object stand apart from the background.

I like the photo a lot.

[D. Craig Flory]

I love anything to do with Yosemite since I hiked there in the late 60's. The composition needed a tweak as did the density and saturation. Here is my version. I hope it shows some other possibilities.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/DC47/118403952-LEnhanced.jpg

[JimHejl]

One overall comment: desaturation on organic objects (like trees) always looks a little strange to me. In contrast, the attached image desaturates rock and stone - which is mostly monochromatic in reality. Somehow this seems more natural, and less forced. It is much more appealing to me.

[JimHejl]

Another example... A bit of hyper-reality. It is contrast via saturation - but in a physically believable way.

Just my $.02

[Grace]

very cool jim. i like all the pics posted.

[LBaldwin]

I love anything to do with Yosemite since I hiked there in the late 60's. The composition needed a tweak as did the density and saturation. Here is my version. I hope it shows some other possibilities.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/DC47/118403952-LEnhanced.jpg

Flory I must respectfully disagree with your crop. I do agree with the density and sats though. This is wonderful image that shows the wide open-ness of that particular park. In this image the the OP has conveyed the very feeling of WIDE without resorting to the usual tools of panos or cut and paste. Just the size of the church vs the trees makes the shot. Your crop reduces those feelings and limits the viewer to a small rectangle of space.

It is images like these that need not mats not borders or any decorations (save the color) to convey a warm and inviting scene.

Merry Christmas,

Les

[JimHejl]

very cool jim. i like all the pics posted.

Those are just some images that I found randomly -- I didn't mean to take credit for them. I've attached one of my own.

This image (Mini on Paris) actually doesn't have any post on it -- the color in the photo is exactly how it appeared to the eye.

So, that is actually the point I was trying to make. Unless the image is very stylized, I think selective sat needs to be physically plausible to work. This is all highly subjective (as this is very much an artistic side of photography) -- but that's my opinion.

[JimHejl]

One last example. I watch the movie 'Hero' about once a month. If you have not seen it - get it. It's easy on the eyes.

[Titus213]

Frank,
Lovely image, I really like the desaturation. I prefer the edited saturation and density but much prefer your crop. Very nice capture and post.

[D. Craig Flory]

Flory I must respectfully disagree with your crop. I do agree with the density and sats though. This is wonderful image that shows the wide open-ness of that particular park. In this image the the OP has conveyed the very feeling of WIDE without resorting to the usual tools of panos or cut and paste. Just the size of the church vs the trees makes the shot. Your crop reduces those feelings and limits the viewer to a small rectangle of space.

It is images like these that need not mats not borders or any decorations (save the color) to convey a warm and inviting scene.

Merry Christmas,

Les

I made it a step-mount in order to place the church in the proper location. As I presented it I placed the church on the 1st quadrant golden mean point of composition. If the area to the left of the church had not been cut off in the original image I could have cropped it much less and still have ended up with good composition. I would have actually preferred leaving much more room and more trees but given the way it was presented it didn't work.

[Hellashot]

It does not work for me.

[Paul Tinworth]

Great work, Frank! :)

I must agree with Les about D. C. Flory's crop; it is unflattering to the image itself, and - if you will excuse my brusqueness - appears to be a hack-job by someone getting to basic grips with Paint Shop Pro. Nothing personal, Flory; I simply do not like your borders whatsoever. It's a matter of personal taste, I suppose.

While I disagree with (but can understand) your thoughts on desaturation, Jim, I really do like the "Mini in Paris" shot, too (although I must admit I almost mistook it for a Porsche! :o ) - nice stuff!

Apologies for disagreeing with everyone lately :razz: :D

[D. Craig Flory]

Great work, Frank! :)

I must agree with Les about D. C. Flory's crop; it is unflattering to the image itself, and - if you will excuse my brusqueness - appears to be a hack-job by someone getting to basic grips with Paint Shop Pro. Nothing personal, Flory; I simply do not like your borders whatsoever. It's a matter of personal taste, I suppose.

While I disagree with (but can understand) your thoughts on desaturation, Jim, I really do like the "Mini in Paris" shot, too (although I must admit I almost mistook it for a Porsche! :o ) - nice stuff!

Apologies for disagreeing with everyone lately :razz: :D

Hmmm , ... pretty harsh. I not only teach Adobe Photoshop, in my studio, I've taught it to many professional photography associations. Many pros in my state contact me with Photoshop problems.

It was meant to show proper composition and to enhance the saturation which was a bit lacking. This same kind of "hack job" wins many merits and trophies for pro photographers every year.

[VFTT]

I like the trees better in DC Flory's version better, but the chapel might be a little too saturated. But then he did not have the benefit of the original shot to work with.

As for the comments on what should be in BW and what should be in color, it would be interesting to see the original shot done with color trees and the chapel in B&W. Not sure it would work as well as the OPs one, but would be interesting to see.

- d

[JimHejl]

It was harsh, but as he said, it really is a matter of personal taste. I see plenty of published work that I don't care for. I'm sure they win trophies also. But, knowing they win trophies does not cause me to enjoy their work.

Take a look at Craig's site. He has his own style.

http://www.floryfoto.com/Childrens%20Portraits%20Page%20II.htm

Seeing this explains a lot for me. People with far different tastes are going to have far different opinions. In that respect, any opinion (including mine) should be taken with a grain of salt.

[VFTT]

Take a look at Craig's site. He has his own style.

http://www.floryfoto.com/Childrens%20Portraits%20Page%20II.htm



Wow, that certainly is personal style.

Different strokes for different folks I guess.

- d

[col4bin]

the original scene as seen with my eyes was not that saturated

[JimHejl]

the original scene as seen with my eyes was not that saturated

Sure it does. Wear your polarizing sunglasses.

I shoot with a radial polarizer. The point I was making was that I didn't post the image.

<sigh>