so i took one of my highest rated images and decided to play with it see if i could improve it so i know what to do in future circumstances let me know what you think harshest critiques wanted
i messed with the sky and the tree line also erased the power lines cutting through the center
I´m not a fan of editing pictures in this way. Ok for commercial pictures, because they are fake anyway. Also ok in art photos. If all comes down to making the "nicest" photos, then the photos become uninteresting. Take the challenge to make the best picture at the location, and dont edit in a nicer sky, prettier people, more gorgeous cars, cooler animals and so on.
If you dont get det sky you like, then visit the spot one more time, two times, three times.......................... Plan your picture, and dont put in or delete stuff in postprosessing.
If I want to take a picture og the moon, I think the moon has to be there. So I plan when the moon i up, where it will be, if the weather is ok, if there is enough light on the ground and so one. Its not a challenge to just add in the moon in a beautiful landscape in postprosessing.
My opinion.
very true and you are absolutely correct in planning a photo expedition for a great shot. unfortunately this was a family vacation and as usual not only was i rushed to leave but i took this by hand i stabilized myself against the wall to reduce shake so i could get flowing water. this was more of an editing test but again you are right take a perfect picture not a perfect edit. even in the landscape contest 80% of them were fake and it did honestly bother me.
In terms of the changes made, I think they were well done. They don't make the photo look fake in any way, and they remove unwanted distractions. If you hadn't told me you had added or removed things, I never would have known. That's exactly how it it should be done. I don't agree that you shouldn't delete/remove things from a photo. There is nothing wrong with removing unwanted distractions, especially if there's nothing you can do about them in real life.
That being said, the location itself isn't super interesting. I mean, I could maybe see it on a tour website or a tourist booklet for the area, but that's about it.
But I think this was a good practice run, so keep up the good work.
yeah i see what your saying. i was actually shocked that this was a higher rated image than some of my other shots. it is a bit touristy now that you mention it hahaha. thanks for the advice
Take the ratings with a grain of salt, some of mine baffle me as well. I think some people rate photos a little too hard, and other not hard enough. I get asked on an almost daily basis if I'm a pro (by non-photographers), yet most of my photos are just over a 3 star rating here, without any kind of criticism on how to improve it.
I think you did a good job removing the power lines. I am not to keen on replacing the whole sky but seeing as this is an exercise in learning I think you did a a really good job.
thanks chris!