Between Heaven and Earth v2

[Graham Hart]

Been practicing some of the techniques I’ve learnt through the Adam Williams Photography courses. Here’s the version I posted about 5 or 6 weeks ago followed by the new version. I know it’s not a true journalistic representation of the scene but I think it’s far more interesting. Wonder if you agree or think I’ve become a techno junkie?

[beth]

i love the edit!  techno junkie or not, you’ve taken a decent shot that you should be proud of and turned it into a fantastic work of art.

if you’re showing off a photograph as art i really don’t care if it’s a true representation of the scene.  it’s art.  make it look good.  you’ve done that.

how did you enjoy the course?

[Graham Hart]

Thanks Beth. Appreciate your words. I know some members here are true serious practitioners of the art of photography and was a little worried I might upset those who may not care too much for manipulations like this. I was hoping that by “owning up” to the fact that it was heavily edited, it might be more readily accepted.

I am only two thirds of the way through the course so I haven’t even seen the really good stuff yet but I am absolutely 1000 (yes, one thousand)% happy with it. There are a squillion little things that no text book tells you about PS that I am learning in the courses.

 

[beth]

don’t worry about upsetting people.  if they have a problem with what you do then they’ll always have a problem.  you can’t make everyone happy so make yourself happy.  there are far worse things that can happen in life than seeing a well edited photograph that isn’t true to life.  i love what you’ve done with this photo and can’t wait to see where you go with your skills.  keep at it.

i saw he had a free course, your before and after edits have convinced me to check it out.  i’ve never heard of this guy, but he seems to be right up my alley.

[Graham Hart]

Not sure if it’s OK to spruik products here but FYI:
There are three levels of courses ‘Essentials’, ‘Accelerator’ and ‘Turbo’. I did the free Essentials course first and jumped right in and bought his ‘Ultimate Bundle’. I’m only halfway through the Accelerator course so can’t wait to see what’s next. I would certainly recommend having a look at the free stuff at least.

Here’s a link to the website if you want to check it out.

https://www.easywayphotography.com.au/

[Rob Eyers]

I prefer #2 Graham. I’m in agreement with Beth that your images are your art and whatever you decide to do is fair game. Any craft requires a deep technical understanding and great photographers of the past were masters of the technical craft they practiced. One can never know too much.

The detail in #2 is more to my taste but there are some elements of light in #1, such as the water, that I miss in #2, but hey…it’s not my image is it. 😉

 

[Graham Hart]

Thanks Rob. You’re right about the light in the water. I fussed with it for quite a while and after finally making a suitable luminosity mask of it, I made some changes to the hue, light etc only to discover some weird artifact in the rock face afterwards which I couldn’t fix. In the end I abandoned the change and left it as is.

As one of the most technically brilliant photographers in this space, it’s good to know you’re OK with those of us trying to make silk purses out of sow’s ears 🙂

[Rob Eyers]

Don’t kid yourself Graham, I do more with some of my sow’s ears than I would like to admit, but thanks a lot for the compliment.

Here’s a trick for you that you may not be using yet. If you make a luminosity adjustment layer and only like what it has done to parts of the image, you can put that adjustment layer in a separate group by itself. At that point you can apply a black mask to the group and paint white on the mask where you want the adjustment. The flow and opacity of the brush plus the opacity of the group gives you tons of control. The process is referred to as masking the mask.

[Graham Hart]

Thanks for the tip Rob. I was trying to work out how to do that very thing. Copied and pasted into my “PS tips” file 🙂

[Patrick]

Can only add i like what you have done Graham , really nice job and would be well happy if this was my own , great stuff mate.

You posted a photo with lots of power lines not that long back now and i thought that was also stunning , that photo was in my thoughts when i shot my own power line mast.

Nice work graham and share.

[Graham Hart]

Thanks P71. That power line shot still irks me a little though, even now. It’s missing something and I just don’t know what. I tried to composite a kangaroo in but it looked ridiculous, then I tried a camping tent but that was even more silly. It’s on the shelf for now, ready for when the right idea pops up 🙂

[Anonymous]

Interesting how the edit can change the image so much. I like the contrast, Drama and “starkness” of the second edit, but prefer the water in the first. I’m not sure the two would match in the same edit tho. I agree with Beth, the final image is to your preference, artistic taste and photographic vision. As to your question, Yes I think it is more interesting and No, I don’t think your techno junkie. Use the tools to accomplish what your after. 😉

[Graham Hart]

Thank you Craig. Another water comment. Reinforcement like yours and everyone’s is why LS is the best forum on the web. I’m so grateful for the words of encouragement but the helpful advice and ideas are what really matter. Thanks again 🙂
(So how do you make the winking emoji?)

[Kent DuFault]

Saw this first over in the members picks. Excellent, Graham!

[Graham Hart]

Thanks heaps Kent. Didn’t know it was in the MPs until I read your reply…Wow! Appreciate it.

[Dahlia Ambrose]

I love the second image a lot Graham. The dark and dramatic skies with the slightly illuminated golden mountain really makes it 🙂

[Graham Hart]

Thanks Dahlia. I was putting into practice exactly what you describe. The course I’ve been doing emphasises the drama aspect of landscape photography so I’m glad it worked.

[Robert Apple]

This is an interesting edit Graham that really catches the eye, I should probably keep it to myself, but the first thought that went through my somewhat twisted mind was, “If Godzilla crawled out of the sea and took a dump on the shoreline, this is what it would look like.” I can hear his scream now.

And there is this as well.

Your Photo was recognized in the Members Picks Week of June 17 Forum  ⬅ Click Here

[beth]

yes.  this needs godzilla photoshopped in it.

[Graham Hart]

Robert, I just recovered from a fit of hysterics. I think some pee came out. That’s so hilarious…………………or is it? Hmmmm, now where can I get a picture of Godzilla royalty-free?

A thousand thank you’s for the MP post as well. Its the last thing I expected.

[Robert Apple]

That was Beth that gave you the honor Graham,  though I agree in her choice.

[Tersha]

Both stunning Graham, but the second shows what can be done!

[Graham Hart]

Thank you Diane. Can’t wait to get deeper into the course as I have yet to hit the really advanced stuff.

[Frank]

Very nice work!

[Graham Hart]

Thanks Frank. Appreciate it.

[JasenkaG]

Great work and I find the second one even more appealing 🙂 Techno junkie doesn’t have to mean anything bad, you’re simply exploring all the options!

[Graham Hart]

Cheers Jasenka. Gots lots of exploring still to do!

[Frank]

Rob suggests,  “….you can put that adjustment layer in a separate group by itself. At that point you can apply a black mask to the group and paint white on the mask where you want the adjustment. ”

Or, instead of the black mask add a Levels adjustment layer above the Group.  You could then lighten the image to lighten the lake.  The Levels adjustment layer is a white mask, so you could then paint in with a black brush the darkness over the rest of the image, sky, cliffs, and foreground, leaving the lake bright.  Just another way of gaining more light control over your image.

[Graham Hart]

Thanks Frank. I suspect there’s a myriad of ways to achieve anything in PS. I’m getting there bit by bit 🙂

[Graham Hart]

This pic has been promoted to the Easy Way Photography’s facebook group image.  Not a contest winner I know but still, I’m so chuffed 🙂

[John Thompson]

You should be chuffed (I think that is the first time I have ever used that word!).  You have created a very powerful image with you edits.  This is POTW material in my opinion.  Great work Graham.

[Graham Hart]

Can’t say that I use that word too often either John but it seemed an apt choice 🙂 .
Don’t know about POTW but nice of you to mention it. Thanks for your kind words.

[Dorothy]

Graham: So many kudos and all deserved hard to add to what everyone is saying.  Love, love, love the edit.

I must say though that when i first saw it in the members pick i held back from mentioning that the rock looked like a sweet puppy all tuckered out after a day of play, body sprawled out behind him with his head lowered and his chin on the ground.  now, darn that @robert apple, that is not what i am seeing, lol.

I think you are doing a great job and are in the process of developing your own personal brand.

[Graham Hart]

Thank you Dorothy. The reference to a personal brand is high praise indeed and greatly appreciated.

I can’t imagine a greater gap in interpretation than that between a sweet puppy and a Godzilla dump. I’m just so happy that this image stirs up such vivid imaginations 🙂

[Rob Wood (Admin)]

Dunno how I missed this awesome shot. A belated “well done” on that newer edit @diripics

 

[Graham Hart]

Thanks ROb, it’s been nice to revisit this old image. Seeing it again after so long, I see a few things I would like to change yet again 🙂

[Peter Nowak]

Great mood.
The second one is more interesting, more dramatic and I like it more. However on the second look it seems a little bit over in some parts (halo along rock horizont, sea near rock lightened). However I like it.

[Author]

Posts