PP critique - am I overdoing it?

[Pat H]

I took this shot off the side of a cruise ship last month. I've included the original and post processed version. Somehow the RAW (image 1) was completely washed out in comparison to the actual sunset which seemed to look more like image 2, which I adjusted quite a bit and rotated to correct the horizon. I'm just concerned that I may have overdone it with this one, especially since it was shot at ISO 200 and there is a little bit of grain apparent in the clouds now, some of which was there in the original though (which makes no sense for that speed, but that's another topic altogether).

And feel free to rip apart the picture itself if you'd like. I don't have a hell of a lot of experience so I'm always looking for advice.

RAW


http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/6403/img1959orighd1.jpg

Photoshop raw processing
http://img355.imageshack.us/img355/3661/img1959lm5.jpg

[Flo]

The last edit is nicely done....I was wondering if you needed all that top sky though?
Not even sure about this crop, but it does eliminate the grainy area, and puts more focus on the reflections?http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/emmaloudawg/img1959lm5.jpg

[joedlh]

Interesting approach, Flo. I was trying to figure out what part of the image was the interesting part. It looked like the photographer's PP work was emphasizing the detail in the clouds. Then I saw your edit and you cropped them out! Oh well.

I think the image suffers because it's just not all that interesting. I'm sorry if this is harsh.

To Pat H, did you PP the image by adjusting levels? This has the effect of spreading the tones of a flat image over a broader range, thereby increasing the contrast. If you look at the histogram, I'm betting that you will see a big peak in the middle and very little spread. Adjusting levels will spread it out.

[Flo]

Lol Joe.....I wasn't sure myself...but thought the top looked so heavy and ominous.while the water looked quite calm..

Try brightening it up,it does help with the feel of the photo, but keep the black points.

[Pat H]

Thanks for the feedback. I know the image isn't overly interesting, so no Joe you're not being too harsh, the criticism wasn't unexpected. I was just messing with colors and wanted to know if the contrast was a little overdone. Unfortunately the trip I was on was somewhat ruined due to overcast skies and fog almost every day. Most of my shots came out drab and lacking. This was probably the only good weather of the week, but unfortunately we were on the ocean so not much to shoot. Just thought I'd make the best of it and see what I could get off the side :D

[midnitejam]

Your shots are beautiful. The first image lacks only in composition. The horizon is a dividing line that is making two separate images of the shot. Use crops to make two separate images. Crop the horizon to the upper 1/3 of the image to create a separate image which emphasizes the forground. Crop the horizon to the lower 1/3 of the image to create a separate image that emphasizes the sky. Otherwise, the saturation, exposure, and focus is rightious.

The edit is too saturated or too dark--maybe both. It pales in comparison