first picture post!! C+C

[dicky2988]

Hey.
This is my first picture post. These are some pictures from my last holiday in the Maldvies. What do you think??

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c26/dicky2988/HolidayMaldives2006132Medium.jpg



The Pool at night
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c26/dicky2988/HolidayMaldives200695Medium.jpg

C+C welcome.

Rich

[Becca]

I think I want to get on a plane! That first shot is great!

[bigken462]

Very nice,

All the first one needs is a picture of Ken Ken sittin in one of those chairs with a cold Corona. Then it would be complete!

Kenny

[Canonada]

Yea, the first sure does look like a Corona ad. Good shot. Not sure I like what they are doing with the lights in the second. Island paradise meets Coney Island. :)

Welcome to the forum. Excellent start.

Joe

[J T]

The first shot is very inviting. I think what it needs is a slight tweak of contrast (or levels), saturation, sharpening and levelling the horizon. The contrast and levels tweaking might bring out a little more richness in colors. I'd show you, but you don't have image editing selected.

[ram1us]

the first one is great, very travel brochure esque!!!!

[tumblew33d]

Really love #1! Beautiful location and nice composition, well done :) I'd be interested to see what difference J T's tweaks would make.

[Buggbairn]

Welcome along :)

Your 1st shot is fantastic, simplicity and soft colours

[Kevin]

Welcome to the Forum Rich. Your first shot is excellent. Great composition.

[Cleo199]

I think I want to go there.... Beautiful shots.

[mws3]

welcome to the forum

number one is a good shot

[sageone]

welcome! #1 could be a post card for an island resort. I'd look into getting that one posted on a sight like istockphoto or something. #2 is good. I like the colors, but it's a tad bit "hazey" for me, especially around the lights.

[SanderH]

Hey.
This is my first picture post. These are some pictures from my last holiday in the Maldvies. What do you think??





The Pool at night


C+C welcome.

Rich
What an entrance! The colours in the first one a re amazing. Also the composition works very well IMO. Welcome.

[rudgej]

Welcome to the forums Rich, and a nice couple of photos to start off with! A slight tweak to the midtones/gamma slider would give your first one more pop.

[red hot sheep]

Love the first one! And welcome to the forums!

Hope you don't mind, I gave it a quick edit - if you want it removed, just say.

I adjusted the levels and curves, and gave it a little crop. Top image = before (but with crop), lower image = after - It's not a huge edit - it was a great pic to start with!

(I also straightened the horizen)

[dicky2988]

Thanks all for your feedback

Red Hot Sheep - May i ask what you actually did to it? I love what you have done, improves it alot. But i don't know alot about post processing. All my photos are stragiht from the camera, i dont know what 2 do with them. So could any1 help me with that please?

Thanks again for all the comments

[J T]

Well, it seems you don't mind, dicky. And it appears RHS's edit is similar to mine.

[red hot sheep]

Thanks all for your feedback

Red Hot Sheep - May i ask what you actually did to it? I love what you have done, improves it alot. But i don't know alot about post processing. All my photos are stragiht from the camera, i dont know what 2 do with them. So could any1 help me with that please?

Thanks again for all the comments

What software do you have for photo-editing? I use Photoshop CS, but if you have something different, the method may differ slightly, but probably be quite similar.

Firstly, I straightened the horizon. I used the 'Measure' tool which is in the palette under the eyedropper tool. You then drag the measure tool across your horizon (in this case the water). You then click 'Image > Rotate Canvas > Arbitrary'

Then, I adjusted the Levels (Image > Adjustments > Levels). This can alter your 'black point' and 'white point' as well as midtones. You are presented with your images histogram, and you can drag sliders in from the ends to change the black and white points. This can make the image more contrasty, but don't do it too much - otherwise you lose detail (in the extreme whites or blacks). The middle slider adjusts midtones. Give it a slide to taste.

Finally, Curves (Image > Adjustments > Curves). This is effectively an input-output graph for the different shades of your image. I use it to increase contrast. To do this, I click right in the middle at point (128,128 ). This ensures the midtones remain the same. Then I go to the upper right hand corner and drag upwards slightly. You will notice the lower left hand side now moves downwards. With the preview on - you can see what effects you are making. I only do this slightly - it is easy to overdo.

Most of all, play around with these tools - as long as you have an original copy of your image - you can't do anything wrong!

(You can also increase the colour a little (Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation) by choosing the colour to edit (or Master for all) then sliding the saturation up slightly. Don't overdo this step though)

Hope this helps!

[red hot sheep]

You can also use the unsharp mask to add contrast. This article covers this, as well as curves, and may be of some help: (I'm not the best at explaining things!)

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/ps-contrast.htm

[AdamJL]

Yes, the edits work well.. beautiful scenery

[dicky2988]

What software do you have for photo-editing? I use Photoshop CS, but if you have something different, the method may differ slightly, but probably be quite similar.



I have photoshop CS 2. So same as your using. Thanks again for the feedback and the edits. I will ahve to practise these.

Any more feedback is much apriciated!!
Thanks
Rich