Can these be tweaked?

[Theo Moore]

I took these the other day. I was really hoping for a winner, but I was rather disappointed with the composition in all of them.

Also, the first (naturally) suffers from some distortion problems. I'm wondering if this can be fixed using something like PTLens and how. I tried playing with the Lens Distortion feature of Photoshop, but there is just so much distortion going on, it's difficult.

http://philsproof.com/img/2008/03/cchurch.jpg
http://philsproof.com/img/2008/03/bod.jpg
http://philsproof.com/img/2008/03/bridge.jpg
http://philsproof.com/img/2008/03/futile.jpg

What can I do differently next time? Can these pictures be improved through (more) post-processing?

Really sorry for the tiny samples. I made them for use somewhere else, and am at work at the moment. If you'd like to see a larger image, let me know.

[R8JimBob88]

I think your being a bit harsh on yourself there imo.

Non of them strike me and say something is wrong, keep up the good work if you ask me :)

[HanC]

:agree:

[Theo Moore]

I think your being a bit harsh on yourself there imo.

Non of them strike me and say something is wrong, keep up the good work if you ask me :)

Not wrong, mate. Just not spectacular :'(

The second and forth confused me a little bit. "How should I be composing these", I thought while taking the pictures. For the second, should the building be more centred (probably not) or should it be more abiding of the rule of thirds?

For the forth, I think I made the right choice going in at an angle, but was disappointed by the fact the light behind the bars is masked slightly by the doorway.

I must have taken about 30 pictures of that darn bridge in the second picture, but in the end, I couldn't find the right composition for that one, either.

[CraigF]

The first one is potentially quite stunning m8.
If you can upload the original RAW file of that one to somewhere i would love to work on that.
Actually come to think of it the first three have a lot of potential.

[Theo Moore]

The first one is potentially quite stunning m8.
If you can upload the original RAW file of that one to somewhere i would love to work on that.
Actually come to think of it the first three have a lot of potential.

I'll upload some larger specimens of the first and second when I get home (not RAW though -- the exposure is pretty okay, with nothing blown out). The third, if I really liked the composition (I don't, it's a bit lame), I could combine exposure and see if I can get the sky darker and bluer.

[dolomitefan]

Definately too harsh on yourself, you've got a good set there especially the last one.

[james_death]

Good set

[a1ex2001]

Only thing I'd say is the one with the bridge needs a bit more sky for me and the first one would be better if you hadn't chopped off the first chimney and the point of the roof. The colours in the first three are excellent and I really like the idea in the last one.

[Chappers]

I take it you want to correct the verticals in the first shot! It's in fact easy in photoshop using the "Free Transform Tool"

1. First give yourself a big canvas to work on by dragging the canvas( not the image) to give more space around the subject

2/. Now "Select All" normally Control + A works

3/. Select "Free Transform." If Control +T doesn't work, ( you'll get the text tool up if the defaults have been set that way ) its under Edit> Free Transform.

4/ You will find a target type icon in the middle of the picture, drag this vertically to the bottom of the frame

5/ Grab one of the "handles" at the edges of the picture, and holding down the control key stretch the image until your happy with the verticals. You will lose some of the image as you drag it out of the frame, but you can't have everything.

6/ When your happy, double click on the image and accept the transform.

7/ Save with a new name, in case you want to go back to the original.


When I need to do this I try to shoot so that there is a bit of space around the subject so I can transform it. I find this option better is some cases than PT lens as you can if you wish only affect one aspect of the image.

Have fun

[Theo Moore]

Thanks guys. I took all your suggestions (don't chop off the chimney, use free transform for the distortion) and tried to change the first one up a bit. First of all, this is the old:

http://philsproof.com/img/2008/03/churchgrey.jpg

This is the new one:

http://philsproof.com/img/2008/03/churchblue.jpg

One thing I did was add in a blue photo filter, turning the skies blue. Oddly enough, I think I like the grey (original colours) version better (what do you think?). If indeed the grey is better, I'm going to have to try and reverse-engineer the picture to find out how I got the grey so dark while the buildings so bright -- the idiot in me never saved the .psd file -- just the jpeg.

Edit: I definitely like the grey better. *sigh*.

[Chappers]

Try using the quick selection tool in CS3 ,if you have it, to select the sky. Then duplicate the selection to a new layer and add the blue filter then. By keeping the sky on a layer, you can reduce the opacity to "mute" the filter effect

I prefer the grey sky as well

[dcash29]

In my opinion your original was better, im not keen on the blue sky or what youve done to the building. I think you have lost the tree (left side with straightening verticals...shame really) but i'd do something with the distracting house window.

2-4 i'd

In 3 id straighten and bring back detail in the sky which will reduce the colour fringing at the same time.

[Theo Moore]

In my opinion your original was better, im not keen on the blue sky or what youve done to the building. I think you have lost the tree (left side with straightening verticals...shame really) but i'd do something with the distracting house window.


1. You prefer the building with the slant/distortion? Or were you referring to the colour?

2. I'll have to find a way to get that grey sky back.

3. I actually cropped out the tree on the left, thinking it was better.

[dcash29]

No i dont mean the slant its the lighting im not keen on although others might?

Maybe its just me but the tree holds your eye in the shot, i'd crop the car out left of it though.

I too think youre being hard on yourself which 'could' prove negative if you dont watch it

[oldfart]

prefer the darker building with grey sky basically the 1st with straightning in 2nd lol

you also have dark dot & white dot in sky (1st ver)