Approaches to the Lock

[Tom]

Re: Approaches to the Lock

I thinkk Rons work on the approach pathway is good but as you go deep into the image it is very much oversharpened. On the other hand Stephen I feel your reworking has made the approach path too soft and carpet like and the tower at the end a bit faded.
It was never going to be easy, I feel ,to even things up on this one.

[lumix]

Re: Approaches to the Lock

Well I have to say I think you have done a bit of a hatchet job on it Ron
If you compare my second attempt just above yours I'm sure you will agree. Its definitely over sharpened and is too contrasty, so I'm afraid its a thumbs down

I didn't make any claims that it was better. I agree it's oversharpened and too contrasty. I used your original + a lightened version and blended them together. No added sharpening or contrast, it's just how it came out. It dose demonstrate that there is potential in the image if you have the time to work on it.

[Pops]

Re: Approaches to the Lock

I'll accept all those points. Your mention of HDR made me think, so I've run it through Photomatix and tonemapped it in order to beef it up a little. Probably a little OTT now but what do you think

Looks like someone is shining a strong torch in the foreground and at least one section of the hedgerow has got lost in over exposure. The darkness of the structure on the left doesn't look any better.
On the good side the boat has now taken on some character along with the right hand side of the loch at it's narrowest point.

[Stephen]

Re: Approaches to the Lock

Aye, fair enough Pops, I was only playing, I'll admit it ain't great. But here is another attempt with a landscape version taken at the same time. The metal object on the left btw is the sluice gate mechanism

[Pol]

Re: Approaches to the Lock

Aye, fair enough Pops, I was only playing, I'll admit it ain't great. But here is another attempt with a landscape version taken at the same time. The metal object on the left btw is the sluice gate mechanism

[/CENTER]

I like this one. Much nicer more than the portrait mode version imho.

Pol

[Stephen]

Re: Approaches to the Lock

I like this one. Much nicer more than the portrait mode version imho.

Pol

Thanks Pol, at least I ain't completely loosing it

[Pol]

Re: Approaches to the Lock

Thanks Pol, at least I ain't completely loosing it

You're not losing it! As a matter of fact David had commented that he'd have "preferred to have seen it in landscape" when we looked at the original portrait mode version you posted. He likes the landcape version you've just posted

Those distant building do seem to be leaning to one side though - or perhaps it due to the angle of the shot?

Pol

[coupekid]

Re: Approaches to the Lock

Aye, fair enough Pops, I was only playing, I'll admit it ain't great. But here is another attempt with a landscape version taken at the same time. The metal object on the left btw is the sluice gate mechanism

Hi Stephen,

I wasnt too keen on the original image, I too think it was too dark.

However, this one I like very much, I love the dramatic low angle, it definately adds a sense of drama.

[Stephen]

Re: Approaches to the Lock

You're not losing it! As a matter of fact David had commented that he'd have "preferred to have seen it in landscape" when we looked at the original portrait mode version you posted. He likes the landcape version you've just posted

Those distant building do seem to be leaning to one side though - or perhaps it due to the angle of the shot?

Pol

I did try to correct that, but its not 100% so I'm not letting it worry me TBH I'm more concerned about the red CA in the top left. Must be the result of blending 3 exposures to HDR then Tonemapping in Photomatix that has caused it

[Stephen]

Re: Approaches to the Lock

Hi Stephen,

I wasnt too keen on the original image, I too think it was too dark.

However, this one I like very much, I love the dramatic low angle, it definately adds a sense of drama.

Thanks Ben, yep when I look at the original now it was too dark

[Tom]

Re: Approaches to the Lock

I think it's better than the portrait job but unfortunately the landscape has introduced white van man and other cars and that doesn't help matters.

[Stephen]

Re: Approaches to the Lock

I think it's better than the portrait job but unfortunately the landscape has introduced white van man and other cars and that doesn't help matters.

Which is why the original was Portrait it kinda solved the problem, I don't think they dominate or detract too much though.

For those who mentioned the lock itself, this is it

[Guest]

Re: Approaches to the Lock

Yes Stephen - the second landscape version is much more appealing and the low angle gives a certain sense of drama. However that sloping factory and those houses also sloping worries me. Is there some ground subsidense in the area. ?

[Stephen]

Re: Approaches to the Lock

Yes Stephen - the second landscape version is much more appealing and the low angle gives a certain sense of drama. However that sloping factory and those houses also sloping worries me. Is there some ground subsidense in the area. ?

Thanks Dennis. I'll admit the appearance of the buildings is a bit of a problem. I've even pulled the top left corner out a bit to compensate. There is something in excess of a 3 degree slope on the house roofs. Rotation is not the answer, and regular Transform > Distort does not seem to do an ideal job as the knock on effect with the rest of the image is not acceptable. I suspect a lot of the problem rests with the angle of the buildings to the camera. So I'd suggest that like me, don't worry about it, just accept it for what it is, a nice canal scene in a West Yorkshire Mill Town, its never going to win any prizes. But I feel taking it was worth the effort

[Pops]

Re: Approaches to the Lock

Aye, fair enough Pops, I was only playing, I'll admit it ain't great. But here is another attempt with a landscape version taken at the same time. The metal object on the left btw is the sluice gate mechanism

This is much much better. The bowed shape, which has somehow developed with the gate mechanism, adds a lot to the shot.