Break Time
Uploaded: March 20, 2014
Exif: F Number: 13, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/400 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 640, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 200.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Stephen Shoff March 20, 2014
White water rafting on the Rio Grande.I'm not particularly pleased with the overall image quality of this picture. It seems a bit contrasty and gritty. Shooting conditions weren't optimum -- late morning in bright sun.
I've also included an alternate crop.
Suggestions?
#1567438
Dale Hardin March 21, 2014
Stephen, I prefer the original crop because it shows the complete S curve of the river and gives a more graphic view of the conditions they have just gone through.As far as lighting conditions, I'd suggest aggressively de-saturating the yellows. Then apply about a 50% multiply blend to the resulting image and use a gradient mask from top to bottom to hide the change from the upper area. #11005184
Kalena Randall March 21, 2014
Stephen, love the leading lines of the river in the original crop. It makes me look toe see where the kayakers have been.Nice shot!
#11005530
Kristin Duff March 22, 2014
A agree with Dale in that the first photo's crop leads my eye thru the sceneā¦in the second my eye wanders around with no place to rest! #11005790Peter W. Marks March 22, 2014
I am going with the first version too Stephen. The extended view of the small rapids tells us what we are looking at here; not a peaceful slow glide down some mid-west creek but just maybe a stop- over after some hairy white-water rafting further up stream or yet still to come further down.Michael Kelly March 22, 2014
I like the first crop also for the reasons already mentioned.The only other thing I can see is I might try lowering the contrast a bit - it may just make the shot look dull but would not hurt to take a look.
Does not look to bad where they are but you would be hard pressed to get me on one of these things actuly going through rapids. #11006099
Beth Spencer March 22, 2014
I really like the first crop on these. I would like to see Dales or Mike's suggestion. Maybe it would help to do a levels adjustments, they seem a bit washed out to me. #11006318Jeff E Jensen March 22, 2014
I agree with what's been said, Stephen. I think the first crop is stronger than the second. I'm interested to see what you come up with on the other suggestions. #11006330Stephen Shoff March 22, 2014
Dales's suggestionsMicheal's suggestion:
-- tried reducing contrast using constrast slider in ACR. That helped.
-- but chose instead to implement using NIK Output Sharpener to reduce local contrast (adaptive sharpening turned off; used local contrast to often the shadow lines, which are what I think is the problem in this picture. That helped bring out detail in faces and clothing. I regained sharpness a little using the structure and focus sliders
-- then reduce my original high-pass sharpen layer since that masked the improvements from the NIK layer.
But in the end, at the level visible on BP, there's not much noticeable effect on contrast. #11006369
Stephen Shoff March 22, 2014
Dales's suggestionsMicheal's suggestion:
-- tried reducing contrast using constrast slider in ACR. That helped.
-- but chose instead to implement using NIK Output Sharpener to reduce local contrast (adaptive sharpening turned off; used local contrast to often the shadow lines, which are what I think is the problem in this picture. That helped bring out detail in faces and clothing. I regained sharpness a little using the structure and focus sliders
-- then reduce my original high-pass sharpen layer since that masked the improvements from the NIK layer.
But in the end, at the level visible on BP, there's not much noticeable effect on contrast.
Thank you for the crop comments. I'm pleased that I can keep the broader contest picture. #11006372
Dale Hardin March 22, 2014
Nicely done, Stephen. A marked improvement. #11006375Beth Spencer March 23, 2014
Great Improvement! #11006492Jeff E Jensen March 23, 2014
Excellent! #11006652Michael Kelly March 23, 2014
Like it. #11006668Teresa H. Hunt March 23, 2014
Well that looks like fun!!Your edits look great #11007166
Elaine Hessler March 25, 2014
Wow-what a difference those changes made. The edit is absolutely gorgeous. I am amazed at how much better it really does look. Sorry I am late to this, but had to comment on what a nice job you did on this one. #11008312Kalena Randall March 25, 2014
Looks great! #11008417Stephen Shoff March 25, 2014
Thanks for the suggestions and comments. My final picture will back off on the multiply layer just a little more.I'm pulling a "Peter" on this one...going to retain a little more of the actual experience...a bit brighter and less blue in the water. But even so, the final result is an improvement. #11008447
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