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Gone but not forgotten...

© Kristin Duff

Gone but not forgotten...

Uploaded: May 13, 2012

Description

In one of London's oldest in cemetaries St. john's Wood, tombstones lie buried beneath flowers and shrubs from early spring to late Novemeber. They are hundreds of years old. I often wonder who lies beneath, what their life story was, did they live and love and laugh? Do they know their marker was worthy of catching a photographer's eye?

Exif: F Number: 7.1, Exposure Bias Value: -0.67, ExposureTime: 1/60 seconds, Flash: fired, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 200, White balance: Manual white balance, FocalLength: 41.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS REBEL T3i

Comments

lisa anderson May 13, 2012

Such lovely lighting and composition! #1462707

Dale Hardin May 13, 2012

A lovely compostition indeed Kristin, and a great find.

This is a case where a polarizer would have come in handy since the foliage is so reflective. The ligtt is a bit over powering and you might try cuttng it down a bit. Try this.

Duplicate the layer and then use the shadows/highlights tool in PSE to lower the highlights about 20%. (when you use this tool it will automatically open the shadows by 25%. Reduce that to zero first)

On the resulting layer, use the hue/saturation tool to reduce the yellows by about 50%. Then click on the mask icon to create a mask and use the brush tool set at 50% opacity to brush back a bit of yellow on the tombstone only. Do this in one click. If you release the mouse and start again it will double the effect.

This should make the light a bit more realistic and reduce the glare. #10135740

Michael Kelly level-classic May 13, 2012

I think Dale has provided some great suggestions. This is a case where there is a tremendous amount of contrast which is what is making it all look so harsh. The light on the marker and its' color are beautiful so I think it is definitely worth some work. #10135821

Kristin Duff May 13, 2012

ok Dale, I am trying, please keep the suggestions coming! they were easy to follow and I really appreciate direction. Is this what you had in mind? #10136014

Dale Hardin May 13, 2012

Looks much better, especially the foliage. The flowers still seem just a bit bright but no big deal.

Still think you could cut back on the yellow on the tombstone only.

What do you think of the changes? Do you agree with you've done? When you get the glare and the color the way you want, you can still always change the overall contrast range and brightness if you wish. It's all subjective.

You're doing wonderfully. #10136040

Kristin Duff May 13, 2012

I like it toned down a bit...the tombstone was very yellow and the area very well lit. I guess I I am still having a lot of problems because the course was taught using PS5 and I have Elements, so I am trying to learn 2 programs at once. And for someone who has no computer experience it has been a real challenge. That said, I am on a huge learning curve and I think a year from now I might be dangerous! #10136112

Jeff E Jensen May 13, 2012

I like what the changes did for this. Nice work! #10136124

Rita K. Connell level-classic May 14, 2012

wow Kristin this is a beautiful image. I love the lighting in this one. I really like what the edit did with this one. you are really doing a great job kristin. #10137321

Rita K. Connell level-classic May 14, 2012

wow Kristin this is a beautiful image. I love the lighting in this one. I really like what the edit did with this one. you are really doing a great job kristin. #10137325

Beth Spencer May 14, 2012

I like what your edit did for this one. This does really make you stop and think. You have a great story behind this one. #10137365

Kristin Duff May 14, 2012

Dale, now I have added too much red to it. how do I get the colour yellowout? #10137548

Debbie E. Payne May 15, 2012

Kristin, I like what you "saw" here and the edit looks good but for some reason I like the "edginess" that the first one has to it. Gotta be different. Anyway you go, I like it. You are doing a tremendous job. Most of us have all evolved in the art over a period of years. You are definitely on the "Fast Track!" #10138544

Stephen Shoff May 15, 2012

Try this again sometime when you are back in London on a damp, overcast day (use a polarizer). See if that doesn't help with contrast and color saturation.

Shouldn't be too hard to find that kind of day! #10138738

Carla Capra Anderson May 16, 2012

Very nice, Kristin. It makes me wonder and that makes your image more powerful. #10139087

Peter W. Marks May 16, 2012

Ah Kristin you are making me home-sick again as I although I was born and raised in Cornwall, after I graduated high school I attended an engineering college and I worked for several years just ten miles from St John's Wood, London.
Old burial grounds are fascinating places, particularly when they are somewhat overgrown.
Thank you sharing this, #10139828

Aimee C. Eisaman May 17, 2012

I love visiting these places and I too think about what the people were like and how they lived. I like the fixes on this one although I do miss the vividness of the colors in the first post. :~) #10140242

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