What do you think?

[Elbee19]

Here's one of my earlier post for critique. Some commented on it saying it looked like the yellow brick road so I played around in Photoshop.

Any and all comments welcomed! Thanks!
http://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=lhollimon&AID=1594917&Pres=Y

[rick barclay]

The road needs a border and the bricks need better definition. Why don't
you go to a Wizard of Oz site, or better yet, do a search on "yellow brick road," and then liken your image to the real thing?

[vfilby]

Photoshop is a tricky program and as such needs much time and patience. Here is a few ideas along with a sample.

1. As Rick said, more convincing bricks. Use gogle and search for a photoshop brick tutorial, there are hundreds of them.

2. Perspective, you need to make it match the rest of the picture.

Here is a sample. In your finale image take more care then I did in getting the bricks to follow the direction of the road.

a) used a brick pattern that I made awhile ago and played with noise(filters>noise) and drop shadows(layer blending modes).

b) Filled a blank layer and gave it a yellow cast with lighting effects (filter>render)

c) used distort (filter>distort) to give the brick layer some perspective

d) Use the wand to select the road and then delete everything off the brick layer but that selection. I used a layer mask (layer>add layer mask>reveal selection)

http://www.filbar.org/Pictures/ybr.jpg

[Elbee19]

That's impressive how you changed the photo, however involved steps WAY beyond my capabilites with Photoshop. Once I get a bit more time on my hands, I plan on sitting down and playing with PS more.

[lomond]

That's impressive how you changed the photo, however involved steps WAY beyond my capabilites with Photoshop. Once I get a bit more time on my hands, I plan on sitting down and playing with PS more.

Elbee, your dead right, thats exactly what Photoshop needs, practice and lots of it.
I've been at it since PS 4 and although I've learned alot I still feel as if I'm scratching the surface.
Cameron

[vfilby]

You'll get there LB. Just don't be afraid to look for tutorials on the web, here is one place that I have bookmarked http://www.tutorialized.com/tutorials/Photoshop/Effects.

I have heard people say, 'If youknow half of what photoshop has to offer you can call yourself a pro.' It is immense, but with time and tutorials on the web you'll get there.

Vince

[Elbee19]

I'm treating Photoshop like my photography skills...just get in there and mess around with it. The one thing I am leary of though is becoming too dependent on PS. I really want to get my photography skills better before I delve into PS to deeply. I'm afraid if I get into learning PS before I become a better photographer I'll end up using PS as a fix tool rather than the creative tool I would much rather use it as.

I'm sure there is a way to go about learning both and I do have a good handle on some of the VERY basics of PS, but I really want to hone my basic photography skills before I try to incorporate my limited creative abilities!!!!

Thanks for the feedback and suggestions!

[Jewel]

I LOVE it! Great shot and the yellow brick road really draws you in. Good composition and effort. Good luck with Photoshop - It is mind blowing what you can do to manipulate pictures. I have spent hours and hours and am still also just scratching the surface.

Jewel

[Big_B]

Ok so this is my moan, but here goes. I'm not in favour of making these sort of drastic changes to photos. This is at least partly because I preferred the original, but also because I think it takes away from the essence of photography.

Part of the joy of photography for me is the element of luck. Turning up somewhere and finding that the light is just so. Or doing what you did with the original - turning an otherwise dull concrete path into something with an air of mystery. Tweaking with lighting levels etc is one thing, but IMO these sorts of changes dilute the actual process of taking the picture in the first place.

Anyway, moan over. I'm going to sit in the corner and be quiet now :roll: :)

[vfilby]

Ok so this is my moan, but here goes. I'm not in favour of making these sort of drastic changes to photos. This is at least partly because I preferred the original, but also because I think it takes away from the essence of photography.

For the most part I agree! I only wanted to demonstrate the points that I thought would make it look more realistic (not that I even came close though). Typically I will only desaturate, adjust levels, add DOF or maybe replace the sky. Fake additions are so hard to add to a photo and make it look realistic.

However, it is an essential tool to be able to manipulate photos. Take people out add people in for blackmail or other purposes. ndh had a photo where he cloned out someones ex-boyfriend. Turned a very nice but unusable picture into a nice and usable one.

Ok enough ranting for now.

Vince

[Elbee19]

For the most part I am in agreement too about manipulating photos with computer software. I say that tongue in cheek though. If graphic design, professionally or as a hobby to make homemade invites etc., is somewhere in your future then being able to artistically alter a photography may be a fun way of producing something.

Just my $.02 though!