Break Time

© Stephen Shoff

Break Time

Uploaded: March 20, 2014

Description

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

Comments

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! #11005790

Peter 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.
A gentle memory for me of 25 years ago rafting down a Class lV springtime snow runoff, white water 'group building' exercise up in the Whistler Mountain behind Vancouver BC. on the Elaho river. For Class lV rapids read 'butt-clencher and I still have a scar on my shin to prove it. Perhaps signing the 'blood sheet' on the bus ride up the mountain should have been sufficient warning but you had to work with these colleagues for the rest of the year so there was none chickening out!
Thanks for the memory Stephen. #11006048

Michael Kelly level-deluxe 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. #11006318

Jeff 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. #11006330

Stephen Shoff March 22, 2014

Dales's suggestions
-- yellow desaturation implemented by adjusting white balance to a cooler temperature. I had warmed the image from the AWB camera setting. White balance change impact was similar but probably broader effect than just a yellows adjustment. I didn't like losing the yellow the paddle-boarder's jacket or the kayak paddle. I wanted to retain the vibrant colors of the clothing and equipment
-- multiply blend applied as described. This, along with the white balance shift, probably addresses Beth's suggestion as well.

Micheal'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 suggestions
-- yellow desaturation implemented by adjusting white balance to a cooler temperature. I had warmed the image from the AWB camera setting. White balance change impact was similar but probably broader effect than just a yellows adjustment. I didn't like losing the yellow the paddle-boarder's jacket or the kayak paddle. I wanted to retain the vibrant colors of the clothing and equipment
-- multiply blend applied as described. This, along with the white balance shift, probably addresses Beth's suggestion as well.

Micheal'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. #11006375

Beth Spencer March 23, 2014

Great Improvement! #11006492

Jeff E Jensen March 23, 2014

Excellent! #11006652

Michael Kelly level-deluxe March 23, 2014

Like it. #11006668

Teresa 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. #11008312

Kalena Randall March 25, 2014

Looks great! #11008417

Stephen 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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