Does anyone find this image to "stick out?"



Thanks for looking. If you're curious, EXIF is available.

[incitatus]

Don't know what you mean by stick out, but it's a pretty cool photo except for the fact that the tree in foreground on the right ruins it.

otherwise would have been a real winner

[Mike Cash]

I like it just fine, foreground tree and all. I'm very fond of photos with large amounts of black in them.

[HowLowCanYaGo]

Thanks! Me too.

[SCGushue]

Hi HowLo,

I like the concept of the picture quite nicely. The positioning of the trees is certainly satisfactory. I do feel that the true impact of the image is falling short of what it could be though.

My suggestions are that you make a copy of the original or the image above and increase the contrast by adjusting levels. In this image you can move the right level adjustment nearly halfway to the left and the midtone level to the left slightly to produce an image that contains pure whites and blacks and removes the (muddy) midtones (but retains important and crisp midtones) that block out the detail in your original.

I tried it with the image you have above and found it really added considerable punch and impact to the image. But opening up the copy above is not the same as working on the original.

Nice eye!

Stephen

[HowLowCanYaGo]

Thanks for the kind suggestions. I'll give that a try.

EDIT:

I've updated a new and improved version...Levels were adjusted thanks to SCGushue's advice (thanks!). Also, here is another shot taken the same day:

[SCGushue]

Thanks for the kind suggestions. I'll give that a try.

EDIT:

I've updated a new and improved version...Levels were adjusted thanks to SCGushue's advice (thanks!). Also, here is another shot taken the same day:

Better But this is more of what I had in mind. The reason: The heavy tones totally compress the dynamic range and contrast. That causes a lack of movement within the image and it oppresses the visual imapact of the image. By increasing contrast, reducing the "mud" of excessive dark tones, a greater visual impact is produced... and in this case is probably closer to the b&w equivalent of what you originally saw in color.

Since I was working with your finished image, the range that I could get out of this image was somewhat limited but I hope it is of some help.

Stephen

Attached Images

 

[Buddha Jones]

There is def more depth in Gushue's optimized image... pretty impressive explaination and rendering.

[HowLowCanYaGo]

Agreed. Thanks a bunch for posting an example!

[HowLowCanYaGo]

Well, not knowing what Pentax or voter's want, I said what the heck and submitted this to the "official" gallery. I've got nothing to lose.

EDIT: declined