Am I over doing it?

[a.huhton]

Hi,
I have been using the 350D for 2 years now and I haven't done alot of PP.
I thought it was my lack off skill making my pictures look bad or could it be lack off PP?
This is not probably the best picture but here it is.
Here are 2 copies of one picture the first one has had curves and sharpening.
Am I now over doing the PP?
Help and advice please.
Ps the pictures seem to have gone wrong during resizing!

[eddarr]

It's a little hard to tell based on the post quality. The first does have better color saturation and makes for a much more interesting picture. The second is bland and lifeless.

What does your memory tell you is closer to reality. Remember that your eye can see much greater range than the sensor can. You can PP to get to the way it actually looked or to try and improve upon the scene.

The sky is blown out in both that detracts somewhat.

[scot079]

I assume you're using Photoshop, if you are go to: Image>Adjustments and play with all the toys in there. That picture looks a little soft so also look @ unsharp mask.

[René Damkot]

Way too much compression to tell anything about sharoening, but the first looks maybe a *bit* too contrasty here. But that's a matter of taste.

[a.huhton]

Thanks for your comments.
I have tried to get a better photo for you to compare. The first has had PP.

[number six]

I don't think you're doing too much, Andy. It looks like the light was poor (totally flat) and there's only so much you can do. The added contrast and saturation is about what I'd choose.

This picture would be a good candidate for HDR I suspect.

-js

[Suddie1215]

Your skies are blown out in both sets of images...you should work on fixing or entirely replacing the sky.

[a.huhton]

Thanks for your comments and advice.
I just need to spend some time learning photoshop!