Lighthouse and sunset Please c+c

[bphillips330]

I am starting to play around with Photomatix. Please let me know what you think of these. I am not trying to get the real Artsy look, trying to be as natural as possible. I have seen some pictures like this where the clouds get almost black, How would i accomplish this?

Any other suggestions?

[canonloader]

Boy, that damned fence is just in the wrong place. If you could somehow clone that out, this would be a wallhanger for sure.

I have seen some pictures like this where the clouds get almost black, How would i accomplish this?
In Photmatix, in the Tone Mapping Panel, and assuming your using the latest version, 3.1, darken the clouds in the "Smoothing Settings" section, use the Highlights smoothing slider and slide it down, to the left. Then in the "Tone Settings" section, the White Point setting slider will darken them more, by sliding to the left again. This affexts the whole image though, so you have to watch the preview and don't go too far or you will get halos which are flat out ugly. going higher, to the right on the Black Point slider will darken them more, but also darkens everything, so it's a tradeoff. Maybe the wish list for the next update should be selections layers in PM. ;) Possibly, the Plugin for Photoshop might be able to do this. I don't know. Anybody?

At the bottom of the "Tone Settings" section is the Gamma slider, A higher number means blacker, lower number means lighter. Again, a global effect, it works on the whole image.

So once you get all those, go back to the top half and slide the strength higher, this will really make them black, but again, it works all over the image. Try setting luminocity to -3. Color Saturation won't affect the clouds much, but it does affect grass and rocks, and putting color into them willl make the clouds look more ominous. And once you do get it where you like it, save the settings as a preset.

[cameronlane]

I thought that scene looked familiar- page 60 of Kelby's Digital Photography Book! However, in Kelby's shot, it looks like he clone-stamped the fence out. Out of curiosity, where is this lighthouse located?

[bphillips330]

I thought that scene looked familiar- page 60 of Kelby's Digital Photography Book! However, in Kelby's shot, it looks like he clone-stamped the fence out. Out of curiosity, where is this lighthouse located?


In Acadia, Bass Harbor. this is in Maine. Kinda of funny that he also has same picture. There were 20 or so photographers taking pictures there.

[cameronlane]

In Acadia, Bass Harbor. this is in Maine. Kinda of funny that he also has same picture. There were 20 or so photographers taking pictures there.
Looks like a popular spot for obvious reasons!

[zacker]

man i gotta get up to Maine again... havent been there in like 3 yeaaars now, and its only like 3.5 hrs away!!! lol althought, Acadia is a bit further north.. Great shot, Im liking the way these look.. although, my advice woul dbe to add a bit of a curves adjustment to git it a bit more contrast.

[Avi]

nice...I like the composition alot..

thanks for sharing

Avi

[CameraBuff]

I like that wide angle one the best; even with the post.

[bphillips330]

man i gotta get up to Maine again... havent been there in like 3 yeaaars now, and its only like 3.5 hrs away!!! lol althought, Acadia is a bit further north.. Great shot, Im liking the way these look.. although, my advice woul dbe to add a bit of a curves adjustment to git it a bit more contrast.


Yeah, I was trying to figure out a way to add more contrast. Did not think about curves. I do not like how flat it is between the sky and the clouds.