So this is another variation on my Night Shot entry. I went downtown to take some more pics of this boat. I hung out from 8:30 til just after 10pm to take pics at different stages of sunset. This was one of the last shots I took. I didnt really go by many of the comments as they told me to crop out more stuff. I ended up leaving more in but my sky background made it ok in my opinion. No stupid kids on the boat this evening either so I was able to shoot the whole thing pretty much.
Post Process - Levels, hue and saturation adjustments, dodging and burning, layer mask with another levels adjustment, cloning, unsharpen mask, border, resize for web, Neat Image. After an auto levels adjustment I actually decreased the saturation in the sky. I was really surprised at how deep the blue color was. So glad this was advanced editing rather than basic.
Post Challenge - Thank you all for your votes and comments. I am so pumped to have my first 7+ shot and to be hanging with the images that surround me. Here is a copy of my original.
Statistics
Place: 7 out of 161 Avg (all users): 7.0176 Avg (commenters): 8.2174 Avg (participants): 6.9545 Avg (non-participants): 7.0577 Views since voting: 4261 Views during voting: 305 Votes: 170 Comments: 52 Favorites: 17 (view)
This image has an unreal quality to it, it's almost too perfect:)) Those wonderful glass like reflections are almost as though you slipped a mirror below the boat, as the water is so smooth and flawless.
The lighting too, gives an unreal feeling; it's as if you picked up the boat and put it in a studio, so that you could have complete control of the lighting and colour:)) There is a gorgeous balance to the intensity of the lighting - with the brightest light being on the boat in the middle of the image, and then it gradually fades in intensity as you move away from the middle, at both the top and bottom of the composition. The lighting on the upper masts and sails looks as though it has been painted in oils;)
The whole image creates a feeling of calm and serenity, and as others have said, it's practically flawless, so there is little more I can add;)
Wow, congrats on the PB and 7+ with this great shot.
Slightly different format for Take Two...
Main critiques on original brightness on right, more water reflection/detail, noisy sky, distracting bits (to be cropped out but you've just made them non-distracting)
What you've improved Much better POV, without the teenagers to get in the way. Reflection really adds to it, and colours are more vibrant, without such noise.Because you've not had to crop in so tightly its compositionally much stronger. Also, maybe its just rfom the wider angle, but you've managed to avoid blowing out the brightest parts this time. Because the whole ship is in view, you've captured more of a sense of its grandeur, so it makes much more of an impact. Also, it avoids the clutteredness of the original.
Oh, and I much prefer this border, much neater imho.
What I prefer about the original Whilst I love the reflection of the 2nd, I have to admit I prefer the position of where boat meets sea in the original - I think I'd like to see this one cropped to just below the porthole reflection
Overall, imho Great work, you should be proud of it. Definitely deserved the score/placement, and its nice to see you do so well when I've seen the first photo and really can see the improvements.
Trading post...
Congrats on the top 10 finish! I really liked the first shot, with the improvements it's really polished. The reflections are excellent. I would get this framed and hang it on the wall if I were you! Great job!
This shot is awesome! There is nothing more or less that I would do to it. Sorry there isn't more critique to offer, but this one is great just the way it is. It really is sitting there with some other great images...right up there where it should! Great work!
Excellent score Tim.....Yes, you finally got the seven you deserved as I "LOVED" this image..... Well done, and now you have to try and and get some more sevens..... I know you can do it mate.....
Back to comment, you have done a beautiful job with this. A definite improvement (you started out with a good original). You've managed to turn this into something that much more special by changing the composition, the addition of the lovely reflection and the lovely burst of color. Well done!
Very nicely done, Tim! Exposure is perfect and I love that the reflections are pristine. Well worth the re-shoot as evidenced by your hints on the score. I'm glad you got the angle and perspective you wanted this time!
Good job Tim.
Looks like it was easier to shoot without tons of stupid teens in the shot (not that all teens are stupid - just the crowd on the boat in the previous shot)
Little bit of glare to the right of the anchor is distracting. Give you an 8 anyway.
Hello Timmy! Now this is way better than the first one. The first shot was cropped to tightly. This shows the reflections which truly creates a dynamic image. Way better dude! (8)
Now this one is going to take some beating, and surely will win a ribbon..... I don't know what color but I am giving you a "10" as I feel this is much better than the other one entered in a recent challenge.....
Ha, I was just wondering which was your's SJ. Nice shot. I love the gradient. I'm gonna comeback and compare the top shots to their originals. 7 for now.
Wait, this is Tim, not SJ...I'm back, yes, superior. The zoom out with the reflection adds a whole new dimension. The gradient sky is the best addition. bumping to 8
Stunning. . .mirror reflection!! It's hard to imagine that this isn't better than your first one because this is better than anything :) Looks like a ribbon contender to me :)
Add photograph to your favorites
Add photographer to your favorites
Photographer found comment helpful.
