City Skyline - Orton Effect

[swmdrayfan]

This shot was a little dark, so I added some Orton Effect to try to bring out some highlights and color. Advice, suggestion, guidance, and comment always welcome.

[Mr Yuck]

great composition, looks like a painting with teh strong orton.

And of course, this would also look cool in HDR :lol:

(I'm saying that a lot, hehe)

[Tyson L. Sparks]

I think you did a good job here,I like the "Orton Effect" on this one. Your composition is good as mentioned above. The way this looks like a painting goes well with the scenery. I would be interested in seeing a copy of the unedited version. You are losing the reflection in the water which I think might have added to the shot but the pastelish look helps. The placement of the fountain is perfect and adds a lot of interest.

Good Job.

[gahspidy]

John, nice composition, Good image for the effect. Looks good. I think boosting the colors slightly might give good results.
Nice work, John

[Greg McCary]

This is nice, the effect worked well. I really like the overall composition. Well done. Very Artistic.

[swmdrayfan]

Thanks one and all.

Yuck -- HDR would have been a consideration if: 1) I had the software and 2) I had the talent to use it.

Tyson -- I liked the composition of this one too, and I took several shots from various places to capture the syline. The main problem with the original is that on this (Win98) system, and this monitor, all of my photos come out very dark, and I find myself struggling to bring up the lighting--which sometimes looks garish. Funny that I don't have this problem on my XP system. Everything is just right as far as lighting there. I can post an original of this later. Thanks for your comment.

Gary -- As always, I'm profoundly grateful for your comments. I'll work at the colors a little bit to see how it goes.

Greg -- Thank you very much. I'd like to be able to have places nearby such as in your 'Early Morning Train' shot, though.

[Overbeyond]

Hello John
I'm afraid I'm the odd one out here John
I just dont find the composition that very interesting and feel the effect does little to rescue it. I suspect the original with some colour and crispness would be more to my liking.

[readingr]

John,

I didn't want to party poop on this but I have to say it doesn't work for me. I see this effect as something that has to have the right picture for it to work and this to me is not the right picture.

The one thing that really puts me off on this is the fountain is in the wrong place and the colours are not saturated enough. I'm not convinced that it would work without the effect because of this reason.

Roger

[freygr]

It hurts my eye's. So I'm going to have agree with readingr on this photo.

[swmdrayfan]

Looks like a 50-50 split on this one. I'll post the original soon.

[Tyson L. Sparks]

It is interesting, the 50 50 split. I am one that is against large amounts of post processing but I still like it.


That is kind of funny "Hurts my eyes" LOL.

[KenB]

Looks like a 50-50 split on this one. I'll post the original soon.

I hate to be the one to break the tie but, respectfully, I have to say it's not working for me either. I think it would be better without the effect.

[swmdrayfan]

Thanks Ken.......I gave it a shot. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. On to something else now

[Don Schaeffer]

Looks too blurry to me.

[mondo1090]

i like the effect but it may be to strong for me, kind of hurts my eyes alittle, but good shot, what city is this?

[Mr Yuck]

Looks too blurry to me.

You crazy? It's not at all blurry!

Just kidding of course.


For reference:
Orton effect is layering the image ontop of itself, and then blurring the top layer some and then reducing the opacity of the top layer, giving it a blurry, dreamy look, while at the same time maintaining some sharpness

[swmdrayfan]

i like the effect but it may be to strong for me, kind of hurts my eyes alittle, but good shot, what city is this?

Kalamazoo, Michigan

[swmdrayfan]

If everyone sees this as too blurry, then I've overdone the gaussian. My bad.

[KyRain]

I think it is too blurry as well, but I really like the composition here, the placement of the water spray and all other factors and colors works very well. Don't give up on this one.

[swmdrayfan]

I think it is too blurry as well, but I really like the composition here, the placement of the water spray and all other factors and colors works very well. Don't give up on this one.

Thanks KY.....check the non-Orton version I posted.
John