Abandoned home

[readingr]

Taken on a foggy day

Roger

[Don Schaeffer]

Very dramatic. I think it may be a bit dark but it is an interesting shot.

[readingr]

Don,

Yes, I agree about the darkness and wasn't sure which to put up, how about this version

Roger

[skyline315]

They're both cool, in their own way. In general, I like the lighter version better, but the first one could work if you are really going for something dark and moody. It almost looks like something out of a Tim Burton film...Sleep Hollow, maybe?

[CLKunst]

Roger ~ I have been looking at this one on and off for two days. Are those frosty spider webs? I just can't tell. I prefer the first one of the two. I think the darkness carries a more ominous mood that I associate the title with. I like the path leading off behind the bars.

[readingr]

Skyline,
Thanks for looking. That's what I was trying to get with this while emphasising the fog and frost on the old abandoned web, but not sure I achieved it with that particular shot.

Tried to bring out the web with flash but it brought out the barrier too much. Took 20 shots not happy with most of them.

Roger

[drg]

Not crazy about the title but I like the concept with the fence and the signs of disuse displayed by the web.The fog in the background just adds the right amount to the lonely feeling brought forth by the photograph with its subtle coloration.

[SmartWombat]

Roger, try back-lighting the web.
I was driving into work in all that lovely weather (and without camera) and the most spectacular webs I saw were hanging off a road sign that was backlit by the rising sun.

As I scrolled the page down, I wondered if you'd considered a square crop at the top of the fence, losing the busy tree branches.

[Ronnoco]

What you need is the railing from the second one with the background from the first one or use Photoshop to arrive at an image in between the two, in terms of lighting and mood.

Ronnoco

[gahspidy]

Roger,I like the mood alot in the original version. I agree that the rail in the original needs to appear to have light hitting it, even just a bit . I think dodging areas of the rail, and perhaps painting a bit of light on the walkway/path in the bg would help the mood and visual aspect even more.

[Seb]

What you need is the railing from the second one with the background from the first one or use Photoshop to arrive at an image in between the two, in terms of lighting and mood.

Ronnoco

I must say that I pretty much agree with Ron here. The railing of the second shot put in the first one would be a little too much but the railing of the first one does need a little more light and texture.

Nice capture though. I like your composition and the gloomy mood.


Seb

[readingr]

Thanks to all for looking and commenting.

CL - they are frosty spider webs, I was trying to get in camera shot which was a combi of both.

Drg - I know what you mean but its the best I could come up with - any ideas on a better title; if I can get the photo to work?

Paul - Wish the weather was still here to go back and take it again with back light. I would need portable lighting equipment, which arrived at christmas in the form of a 430EX flashgun, as the whole path is dark thanks to the tree covering at 0851 in the morning. I like the idea of the crop - Looked at it in the camera but never took one, not sure why. Paul thanks for the e-mail please feel free to have a go at changing it or merging them. If you want the originals I gan zip them up and e-mail them to you.

Ron and Seb - I totally agree and tried to get what I wanted out of PSP but couldn't find a way to get the combi photo to work as I wanted a toned down version of the fence from the lighter view. My PSP/PSE skills aren't that good and I must find time to practise these at some time. I got a book for Christmas so will start reading and experimenting sometime in the new year.

Roger

[SmartWombat]

Roger, here's my PS attempt.
Is it too subtle?

PS experts no doubt you can tell me how I should have done it

I used 8 adjustment layers for this.
Firstly, enlarge to 400% and use a 1 pixel wide dodge tool at 50% to brighten up the web, drawing over each strand individually.
Then zoom to put the fence only in the window and use level adjustments, with rectangular selections.
In the background image, select the top few pixels of the top rail, then refine the selection and feather the edge so it blends in.
Then Layer, New Adjustment Layer, Levels to create an adjustment layer - making sure to check the "" box so it only affects that feathered selection.
Then in the levels dialog, move the grey point to the left until it looks frosty on top of the rail. That gives it some separation from the background.
Another rectangular selection for the race of the top rail, from the shadow line up to just under the top edge. Another adjustment layer. This time not moving the level slider quite as far for a slight lightening of the rail.
Now the hard part, on each vertical rail of the fence, imagine where the highlight would be if lit from left of the camera. Then select that and create another adjustment layer and shift the grey point left a smidge to highlight the curve of the rail.
Oh and on the right hand three it needs a polygon because the rails aren't vertical, to keep the highlight believable.

[SmartWombat]

Wish the weather was still here to go back and take it again with back light. I would need portable lighting equipment, which arrived at christmas in the form of a 430EX flashgun

Should do the job, I was thinking of getting another 580EX for Xmas for the second body.
Then it's either the Canon IR trigger or some PW to work remotely.

[Jaedon]

personally I prefer the darker version. The web seems to get lost in the lighter version and from the title of the picture I am sure you wanted the web to be the focal point.

Just my 2cents

[readingr]

Paul,

Thanks for that - I'm going to give it a go. I think I need to take a week of just playing with PSP to figure this sort of stuff out. My feeble attempts didn't even come close to what you achieved.

Jaedon - Yes your right, but I also wanted the barrier to stand out a little from the background.

Roger

[Greg McCary]

I also prefer the first, Maybe brighten it just slightly. I too have looked at this several times and thought at first my monitor was to dark. The compostion is great.
Greg

[Jaedon]

Just saw SW's PS work .. helps when you keep scrolling before making a post :blush2:

I like what he did with it a lot more than the 2nd imagebut I feel he went a wee bit too far on the web... over all though it's almost exactly how I would've done it... and I am far from being a PS expert.

Great shot over all though. Most people would walk right on by a scene like that and not even take a second look... amazing how much different the world looks through the view finder.

[readingr]

Well,

I played with this again using some of Paul's methods and add a few from some instructions I got on a CD from Digital Photo.

Have I gone far enough?

Roger

[readingr]

Greg, Jaedon,

Sorry missed your comments.

I have just added a new version, concern is that I haven't gone far enough with the barrier, but I think its better than the original.


Jaedon, I was walking the dog and had to go home and get the camera to get the photo.: I'm glad you like the composition.

Roger