Pics from today - Comments/Advice?

[Alphamazing]

My father and I took a ride today because it was absolutely gorgeous out. Highs in the mid 80s, warm and sunny, with a nice breeze all day long. In late November??     We didn't ask why or how, we just rode. He went a bit slower than I liked, but it was fun overall  :lol: . I took these pictures at some lake somewhere in Texas. I forget where. Somewhere off 29, I think.

The last two are also my first attempts at making a photo better by using Photoshop. It didn't come out as nicely as it could have, so I'm asking you Photoshop experts for advice, tips, hints, tricks, whatever.

My dad on his FZ1:


That parking permit is so hideously big:


Before Photoshopping:


After Photoshopping:


So, have at it. Comment, critique, advise, post whore, whatever.

[average]

You changed the color of the water. If you hadn't mentioned it , i wouldn't have noticed it. You didnt go overboard, that's a plus

[Alphamazing]

Well, I upped the hue and saturation, did some highlighting, brightness/contrast adjustments, and level balancing. I don't like how the sky came out though, and I'm sure there are some cool tricks I could use.

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

well, you started out with some glare, which would have made the sky hard to focus anyway... just google search photoshop tutorials.. there's some really awesome stuff out there, for free! FREE! free is good!

[dbNnc]

A polarizing filter on your lens is what you really need to get the effect you're looking for. It would increase the blueness in the sky, pick up any puffy clouds and reduce the glare on the water.

A fill flash would also reduce the shadows on your bike and in the first photo (of your dad I assume).

Here's information on polarizers:

http://www.offrench.net/photos/articles/polarizing_filter.php

Polarizers are available for some point-and-shoot cameras (may need an adapter) if that's what you're using.

[luksi]

It was beautiful.  Sorry I couldn't make it out...somehow I think we'll have some more of this "winter weather".

[Roadstergal]

Ja, I was just about to say polarizing filter.  It's the only solution to blow-out sky.

Well, the annoying solution is to take two pictures with the identical frame, one at an exposure that gets the sky, one at an exposure that gets the foreground, and combine the two in P/S.

Center and zoom in on the object of interest in the picture.  There's a lot of space on the sides of the first two pictures - especially the left on the second - that just distracts the eye.

Photoshop should be for tweaking when you already have the shot you want.

[JetSwing]

the ground and water looks like plastic on #4    :lol:

some basic stuff here:

1. straighten up the horizon.
2. avoid shooting into the sun. you had your back to th esun in #2. it came out nice.
3. don't shoot during mid day. if you must, shoot under a shade using flash (filler).

[Roadstergal]

1. straighten up the horizon.

Ja, that's a biggie.  We can't always shoot straight, but that's what Rotate is for.

[JetSwing]

[Alphamazing]

JetSwing... that's freakin' awesome. How did you get the clouds? I like the blur, too.

Maybe I should just find a tutorial and take a photography class...

[JetSwing]

JetSwing... that's freakin' awesome. How did you get the clouds? I like the blur, too.

Maybe I should just find a tutorial and take a photography class...

i guess the wind blew them into the shot?  :dunno:

[JetSwing]

[Alphamazing]

...That's really really impressive. I gotta learn how to do that sorta stuff.