Advice on PP for printing

[mudder]

G'day all,

After winning a voucher towards a canvas print, I was wondering whether to print one of my shots from Tassie or one from the Craig's hut workshop...

Anyway, while playing with a Tassie shot I was frustrated that the sky was so plain in the shot I liked with nice light on the mountain in the distance, so thought I'd have a play and paste in a sky from another shot... I just wanted some more drama and mood in the sky... Never done this before but what the heck eh?

Wondering whether you guys think I'm on the right track or just leave it alone...

The one with the pasted sky is still in the middle of PP (it's a bit rough at the moment, I'm yet to tidy it up and crop etc.) but your thoughts would be much appreciated... Any advice or suggestions eagerly soaked up

Original:


Modifed:

[Alex]

Andrew, I think the pped version looks fantastic!! Very contrasty. I can't fault it. You are deifinetly on the right track.

Alex

[avkomp]

definitely on the right track.

the sky looks much better with the PPed version.

outstanding.

Steve

[blacknstormy]

I loved the original - but the second one sings !!!!

[Marty]

Hey Andrew,
the pp on the second image really improves the image.
Definately the one to print.
Just work a little more closely on the halo between the mountain tops and sky, it will be more evident if you got this printed in a large size.
Great work.
Marty

[firsty]

I like the PPed version but I think you need to darken up the reflection in the water as it was the darkness in the water that drew me to your original when you first posted it

[rooboy]

Normally this sort of thing can be spotted in a second, but you've done really well here. The 2nd is fantastic, obviously you'll have to be meticulous for the large print but it looks great

Would you mind sharing your method for us PP beginners? I'd particularly like to know how you did the reflections so well, as long as it's not a trade secret

[firsty]

also just noticed that you need to move the reflection as you have missed all the fluffy clouds just above the mountains in the background

[johnd]

Hi Andrew, my 2 bobs worth.

I actually think the original is such a great shot it doesn't need the extra impact of the dramatic sky. In fact I think it works better without it. The original says to me "tranquil wilderness". The modified one is just not quite as tranbquil, almost but not quite.

And now a little bit of technical nit picking: In the modified one, in the reflection, the curling up whispy clouds on LHS are too close to the coloured mountain top. In the sky there is an almost solid block of cloud above the coloured mountain top before you hit the curling up whispy clouds but in the reflection the solid block is missing and the curling up whispy clouds are almost touching the mountain top.

Print it on canvas as it is.

Cheers
John

[mudder]

G'day,

Thanks for the comments and advice all...

...Just work a little more closely on the halo between the mountain tops and sky, it will be more evident if you got this printed in a large size...Marty

The PP's only half done... Note the reflection of the snow on Cradle mountain is blown in the reflection as I haven't fixed that up yet, and there's a halo of about a pixel width along the mountain edge I've yet to tidy up...

...I think you need to darken up the reflection in the water as it was the darkness in the water that drew me to your original when you first posted it

Thanks for the tip, I'll fix that up, ta...

This was just trying out the idea to see what it might look like, I need to do it properly and line up the pasted sky layers with the reflection properly, twas a quicky to try it out...

...Would you mind sharing your method for us PP beginners? I'd particularly like to know how you did the reflections so well, as long as it's not a trade secret

Not that tricky really, just a little fiddly... All I did was:
- First grab an image with a nice sky (this one was from the same spot just at a slightly different time but only minutes though, not hours or a different day etc) where the sky was fantastic but the water was really choppy so there was no reflection.
- Then I just paste the sky into a layer UNDERNEATH the original image
- Then a pasted a vertically flipped copy of the same sky into the original image, again UNDERNEATH the original
- Then select the sky in the original and delete it (feather the selection though by a pixel or two)
- Then using masks on all layers I masked out the original reflection and softened the blend between them
- Add some curve and levels adjustment layers to each (when you add an adjustment layer and only want that adjustment layer to affect the layer directly beneath it, go to layers, create clipping mask, then that adjustment layer will only affect the image layer directly underneath it)
- Then play with the opacity of the pasted reflection layer and season to taste

[PiroStitch]

The second image to be printed for sure! Love the mood and atmosphere created by the swooping clouds.

[stubbsy]

Andrew

At first glance the second image grabs me so my gut reaction was to say it was better. Then I read John's comment and flicked between the two a few times. Having done so I've decided I prefer the original. The clouds in the PP remind me of a bright sunny day, but the rest of the image looks dark & cold, not sunny so it breaks the mood of the image completely. And the sky isn't just boring flat blue. It has texture and wisps of cloud that match the dark serenity of the vista before the viewer

If you were to keep the PP version, I'd suggest that the little bit of white cloud nestling in the hollow to the left of the leftmost mountain should be removed as it seems unnaturally low on the horizon for a fluffy white cloud IMHO.

[owen]

I have to say the original because of the clouds in that one. It is a much more tranquil photo and I think that mood suits the photo. The sky in the second is more dramatic but I don't think the scene is a dramatic scene... does that make sense?

You captured perfectly the tranquil scene... I don't think the dramatic clouds suit it.

Just my opinion... but I know what I like

[radar]

Hi Andrew,

I must say that I prefer the first one, looks tranquil, peaceful, it's just a beautiful photo.

Cheers,

André

[marcotrov]

The original for me too Andrew. Original offers IMO a more consistent mood with the subject, the reflection is once again showing consistency with the heavens above and once again the general mood that I find attractive and thirdly the hut, in particular the roof shows more detail, slightly overblown for me in the second. Either way it's a brilliant image Andrew
cheers
marco

[Bodak]

If I was to look at the two images separately without seeing the other, I would think that both worthy images.
On seeing them together I tend to prefer the first as I feel that it seems more natural,
in the second I find my eye being drawn to the clouds before dropping down to the mountains and foreground.
Just my thoughts.

[MATT]

I prefer the second,

Your PP of the sky and reflections is very good.

MATT

[rookie2]

the original one for me too.

contrast and richness seems more natural to my amateur eyes.

as soon as I saw it I wanted to be there

tranquility captured in a stunning shot

well done-

rookie2

[Oneputt]

I think that both images are fantastic, but I also think that I would prefer the second with not as much cloud. It might also make the PP easier.