Old Shed Under Tree

I tried again to resize to post here. I ended up with 3 different versions. If you dont like any of them, thats ok, I was just trying some things out.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

Here is the third.......

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

Flo wrote in post #5407932
To me I see two seperate photos here.the old rusty vehicle and the grasses.and then the sheds etc?

First thought I had, also.

As far as mechanics, I like the picture a lot, but as others have said I would like to see another angle minus the truck bed. Also for some reason I keep wanting to know what is to the right further, I want to see it in a widescreen aspect. Maybe if there is more field and grass off to the right you could place the tree trunk and shed in the left third of the frame. Now that I look at it again though, I kinda like the truck bed there too. Maybe just play around with the angles a little.

Thanks all for the continued critique and comments.

Right Cranium Imaging wrote in post #5438383
... Also for some reason I keep wanting to know what is to the right further, I want to see it in a widescreen aspect. Maybe if there is more field and grass off to the right you could place the tree trunk and shed in the left third of the frame...

I'll see if I can drop by and take some wide angle establishing shots of the lot.

Right Cranium Imaging wrote in post #5438383
... Now that I look at it again though, I kinda like the truck bed there too. Maybe just play around with the angles a little...

I think it could be incorporated as an additional "element of interest" and perhaps add some depth to the image if it can be kept from becoming a distraction. That's why I wondered earlier if the rusty truck bed could be desaturated a bit in post to blend better with the more muted appearance of the shed. I may be able to do this with different natural lighting, weather cooperating.

Mark

Mr Right Cranium Imaging: I like all 3 arty edits (especially the last two, but I'm a gloomy kind of guy). All very tastefully done, and seem to minimise the distraction of those few niggling compositional issues long discussed. These kind of edits have been around for a long, long time, but you've used them well. Gives us an idea what to expect if the work is sent to one of these print-on-canvas services.

Some thought-provoking crops from MidniteJam too.

Mark: selective desaturation is very easy to do in many software packages. Have you tried it? Could use the Gimp - free for Windows/Mac/Linux - if you're stuck for software. Cheers, Tony

tonydee wrote in post #5440284
...selective desaturation is very easy to do in many software packages. Have you tried it? Could use the Gimp - free for Windows/Mac/Linux - if you're stuck for software...

Sweet. I just purchased PS Elements 6 and will be diving into it soon. Thanks Tony.

Cranium - I swung by the lot this morning. Here's a few shots showing the surrounding lay of the land to satisfy your curiosity:

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

I think the composition of the original shot is perfect. I don't think it's too distracting having the two objects.

My only suggestion: The grass does seem to bet a little high. I'd like to see you on a step stool, back of a pickup or something to give you some height above the grass.

cowboylife wrote in post #5447890
My only suggestion: The grass does seem to bet a little high. I'd like to see you on a step stool, back of a pickup or something to give you some height above the grass.

cowboylife: Thanks for the comments. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get a higher perspective since more height revealed part of the gravel road just in front of the shed (see photos in previous post) and it was somewhat distracting. Guess I'll have to go with the grass...

All: I tried re-editing the original using a number of suggestions. The first is the original posted photo. The second is my first attempt at using PS Elements, my first "real" editing software. Commentary on what I changed precedes the newly edited photo.

Original posted image:

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

The original has most of an "antique" feel to me. I like your edit, but I think the original is still my fav.

cowboylife wrote in post #5456873
The original has most of an "antique" feel to me. I like your edit, but I think the original is still my fav.

Ha! I was just comparing the two (after a good night's sleep) & I'm not convinced that I like the edit any better either. There are elements of both that I would've liked to combine, but couldn't quite recreate in my edit (although its exciting to see how much more flexibility I have in editing now with the new software - before it was just ... global brightness, contrast & sharpening). Thanks again.

Mark

I also like the original.

bill boehme wrote in post #5461186
I also like the original.

"sigh...." I think you're right ... worth trying but ultimately doesn't really work for me either as I scroll back & forth between them. I think some things could be improved - but I'll have to get some more PP time under my belt. Thanks for the comment, Bill. Its what I need.

Mark

I have to add that I like the original, also. Composition-wise, I see no need to separate it into two images. When separate they're incomplete and kind of stale and cliché and, well... formulaic. As one image, even though some 'rules' are broken, a story is told.

PP, I also like the original better, though the updated/sharpened version is nice, too. It's probably simplistic on my part, but the greens 'pop' better in the original.

photoguy6405 wrote in post #5462117
...the greens 'pop' better in the original.

Thats what gets me too, photoguy - I find the green hue much more pleasing in the first. I tried to duplicate that in the edit and I couldn't quite get it.

Thank you all so much for your C&C. The feedback has been very beneficial.

Mark