Selective colour statue

[Caz]

I took this on a recent holiday to Spain. This is in Cartagena, and I wasn't happy with the busy background so I've desaturated it.

Suggestions on how to improve it would be very welcome. I was wondering whether to apply gaussian blur to the background, but thought that might be going over the top...

[Autumn]

Re: Selective colour statue

I quite like the effect Carol. You could try a small amount of gaussian blur and then undo it if you don't like it. I do like the patina on the sculpture and the colour.

I got a lot of statues a few years ago when in Oslo and ended up almost lying on the pavement to get them silhouetted without distractions. Now I have them, I don't know what I shall do with them.

Actually, I have just remembered that I used some of them in a competition. We had to have four pictures that were linked somehow and on one occasion I used this one. They were everywhere in this park. Many of them very raunchy.

Now close your eyes

[Caz]

Re: Selective colour statue

I quite like the effect Carol. You could try a small amount of gaussian blur and then undo it if you don't like it. I do like the patina on the sculpture and the colour.

I got a lot of statues a few years ago when in Oslo and ended up almost lying on the pavement to get them silhouetted without distractions. Now I have them, I don't know what I shall do with them.

Actually, I have just remembered that I used some of them in a competition. We had to have four pictures that were linked somehow and on one occasion I used this one. They were everywhere in this park. Many of them very raunchy.

Now close your eyes

Thank you for commenting Autumn. I did try a little gaussian blur on that shot, but preferred the reasonably sharp background. That statue is beautiful - I took it from several angles but thought this one was the best. Unfortunately I couldn't take it from t'other side as I was getting so much lens flare (although I tried!). There was so much distracting stuff around it, too...

The "next best" I did apply blur to - to try and remove something from the back of his neck, but I'm not sure it was a success.



And I'm afraid I didn't close my eyes... did they win the competition?

[Josh Bear]

Re: Selective colour statue

I ,love this picture. my opinion is that the post processing really works. I love the 3d effect of the statue. making it stand out makes the picture different and therefore makes it very interesting to view.

best regards

Josh

[Stephen]

Re: Selective colour statue

If I may offer a suggestion though. The problem with adding the blur is that in reality there wouldn't be blur all the way round the statue, also, I'm guessing you have made a selection round the statue then added the blur, this has created a sort of halo round the figure.

The solution is that when you have selected the statue, Copy it. Then apply the blur to the whole scene. However if you experimented with a gradient, perhaps the foreground could be made to stay sharp. When you have applied the blur to your satisfaction, simply Paste the statue selection back in on top of the whole canvas. There will now be no halo and hopefully the picture will look a bit more realistic

[Barr1e]

Re: Selective colour statue

I found your statue showing great strength (similar to the one outside the British Library) I felt urged to have a go 'at it' and here is my interpretation.

I hope you may like it a little - if not slap my hands.



Regards. Barr1e

[Layers, clone out small section, difuse glow, flatten and crop]

[Caz]

Re: Selective colour statue

Thank you for your suggestions and comments.

No slapped hand Barrie - I like the treatment, particularly the cloning out of the sign and fence! I'm still not that good with a clone tool...

Stephen - were you referring to the second image? I didn't apply blur to the first one - any blurriness is down to camera shake