Need some C&C and help regarding Nature shots Post processing

[Thaash]

So here are the two versions of the image

Panorama was combined from 4 vertical shots.

Editing on both pictures:

I used the following guide to bring out some details:

Photoshop Shadow Highlight Adjustment - Restore Hidden Shadow And Highlight Details In Images

Basically I changed the highlights and shadow settings.

When resizing the image I used the Bicubic sampling to make it sharper and I also applied extra sharpening on the 1366x800 image.


On the second image I changed the highlights of the color Cyan so that the blue looks deeper blue.

What else should be adjusted on the image? Which is better, nr1 or nr2? How could I remove noise (due to the sharpening I got some noise now) but keep the clouds sho sharp?

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[gsgary]

Just one problem there is nothing interesting in the shot

 

[Thaash]

Just one problem there is nothing interesting in the shot

yes I know, forgot to add that composition should now not be a matter of discussion, only the technical side.

 

[tirediron]

First, you need to provide the original, un-edited image so that we have a baseline for comparison. That aside, this is not a post-processing issue, this is a 'Get it right in the camera' issue. This is a perfect example of where a 1 or 2 stops of graduated neutral density filter, combined with a circular polarizing filter would have taken the image 'Bleah' to 'Wow'.

 

[Thaash]

First, you need to provide the original, un-edited image so that we have a baseline for comparison. That aside, this is not a post-processing issue, this is a 'Get it right in the camera' issue. This is a perfect example of where a 1 or 2 stops of graduated neutral density filter, combined with a circular polarizing filter would have taken the image 'Bleah' to 'Wow'.

Why "Bleah"?

I used a Hoya ND8 filter but no polarizing filter.

Original image:

 

[Derrel]

Just one problem there is nothing interesting in the shot

So far away...

 

[Thaash]

Just one problem there is nothing interesting in the shot

So far away...

How do you mean?

 

[tirediron]

'Bleah' in the sense that the watery sky and blown clouds contribute to a less than strong image. Rather an ND, you need a GRADUATED ND (G-ND) filter.

 

[Thaash]

'Bleah' in the sense that the watery sky and blown clouds contribute to a less than strong image. Rather an ND, you need a GRADUATED ND (G-ND) filter.

ok, planning to purchase Cokin P GND filters. I guess it is not possible to achieve in PS the same effect that these filters have.

 

[tirediron]

No. You can approximate a lot of filters in post-processing (which isn't a substitute for getting right in-camera) but G-ND and CPOL are two that cannot be, with any remote degree of realism. There are some filter plug-ins which include these, but the results are horrid.

 

[HikinMike]

No. You can approximate a lot of filters in post-processing (which isn't a substitute for getting right in-camera) but G-ND and CPOL are two that cannot be, with any remote degree of realism. There are some filter plug-ins which include these, but the results are horrid.

I disagree. I can, and do, use Photoshop to replicate a GND. Your correct though about a CPOL, you can't replicate that in Photoshop.

 

[tirediron]

I disagree. I can, and do, use Photoshop to replicate a GND. Your correct though about a CPOL, you can't replicate that in Photoshop.

Hokay... 'splain to me how, with post-processing to recover the blown highlights in the clouds of a sunset?

 

[Thaash]

I disagree. I can, and do, use Photoshop to replicate a GND. Your correct though about a CPOL, you can't replicate that in Photoshop.

Hokay... 'splain to me how, with post-processing to recover the blown highlights in the clouds of a sunset?

HDR

not with a single raw file but 2-3

 

[HikinMike]

I disagree. I can, and do, use Photoshop to replicate a GND. Your correct though about a CPOL, you can't replicate that in Photoshop.

Hokay... 'splain to me how, with post-processing to recover the blown highlights in the clouds of a sunset?

HDR

not with a single raw file but 2-3

Exactly.

 

[tirediron]

I disagree. I can, and do, use Photoshop to replicate a GND. Your correct though about a CPOL, you can't replicate that in Photoshop.

Hokay... 'splain to me how, with post-processing to recover the blown highlights in the clouds of a sunset?

HDR

not with a single raw file but 2-3

Okay, but that's a whole different process requiring multiple images a tripod, and potentially, significant time in the pixel room. The advantage to using a G-ND is that it's right the first time.