SunRise

[GTogs]

This is a shot that I took last fall. There was a dark layer of clouds that hid the sun, but it was a thin band whuick created an interesting effect.

Shot with a Sigma 18-125 @ 18mm, ISO 400, Shutter 1/200, f/9.

Let me know how to improve and what you think!

http://members.aol.com/foggie65/SunRise-01.jpg

[roanjohn]

HMmmm........its a tad boring :-(

I would want to see more color in the sky...........and the foreground are just all black!!!

IF you want to do silhouette shots against a nice sunset/sunrise, I would probably pick a more interesting silhouette.........either a lone tree.........or a tree with a bird on it.

IN general.........this shot is just blah.........SOrry :-(

TIP: How about bumping up the saturation a bit....?? Maybe that will give it some more life.

Ro1

[GTogs]

I finally had some time to play with the photo that roanjohn so rightly called boring. I tried to bring out both the sky and the foreground. Still nothing special, but please let me know if it is better. Thanks

http://members.aol.com/foggie65/SunRise01a.jpg

[rammy]

IMHO: Better, but the area of sky on the left has blowen slightly and not much detail on the foreground. You may as well crop out the bottom of the picture and learn for next time.

Next time use an ND grad on the sky and a polariser. Alternatively, take two exposure shots, one metered for the sky, the other metered for the foreground and then merge them in PS.

[GTogs]

I can bring out the highlights in the foreground, but it washes out the sky. I tried to compromise between the two.

I will try the two exposure method the next time I take some Sunrise photos to see how it works!

Thanks rammy.

[tim]

Like RoanJohn said, it's kinda boring. There are so many sunset shots, you need to try something to make it interesting.

[Wazza]

As there is no striking sun cutting through the greenery below, it draws the attention away, and there is no detail in it. My only suggestion would be to keep it as solely a cloud shot, as it's a great sky shot. Yet the bottom does nothing to add impact to the image. I still like the sky. :)

[rammy]

I can bring out the highlights in the foreground, but it washes out the sky. I tried to compromise between the two.

You should be able to do this quite easily in PS. Try the following (I've given you two options):

Option 1 (Destructive- Changes originals):
1) Open your image and make a duplicate of it.
2) On the first layer, change the levels so that the foreground comes out quite well. Either use an S curve or Levels.
3) On the second layer (the duplicate) change the levels to bring out the colour in the sky, ignore what happens to foreground. Either use S curve or Levels command.
4) Now apply a layer mask on the top (duplicate) layer. Mask out foreground to show the one below.

Option 2 (Non-destructive)
1) Open image and add a levels or curves adjustment layer
2) Change the levels or curves on the adjustment layer to bring out the foreground
3) Now add a layer mask on that adjustment layer and mask out the sky that should have blowen.
4) Add another levels or curves adjustment layer. Adjust for sky only.
5) Mask out that second adjustment layer so the foreground below is visible.

With the second option, you can always go back and play with levels/curves and the two layer masks to get the best result.

If you have this shot in RAW then try changing exposure and temperature setting.

Here is my version. I had option 2 applied and a third curves adjustment layer with an S curve on it. I also stopped the left side from blowing. It's become grainy because of the JPEG quality, you should be able to do much better :D

Worse? Better?

[GTogs]

Rammy,

Much more like what I was trying to get to! It just demonstrates I've a lot to learn.

I will give it a try this weekend.

Thanks!

[pcDigiMan]

What are we looking at on the bottom of the image? Is this a farmers field?