Mossy Wall

[adrock2001]

I took this photo and made a few changes. I cropped it down from the original to what it is now and saved. In the second photo, I used the auto-color feature in PS CS3 and then adjusted the contrast and color levels to get the effect I wanted. Please critique and let me know what you think would make this a better photo.

[Addies Granddaddy]

Hmmmmm...interesting angle here. Did you take any straight on shots? I think the color balance might be better in #2.
John

[Frog]

#2's color does seem better. I like the angle and composition. What bothers me some is the overexposed rock and flowers in lower left. They could be cropped out but they do also add to the composition. No expert but I think this would have been a good one for hdr.

[jkriminger]

I think you did well with the color. A very pretty scene. I think it could use something in the foreground with a stronger more prominent subject matter. You could darken the rock with the burn tool a little.

[adrock2001]

Wow! Thanks for responding! The photo was taken while walking to a temple. That wall is along the path but there's a handrail blocking it off, so couldn't get a straight-on shot of it, though I'm more biased towards angled photography anyway. I agree that the color composition is better in the second one, but the first is what it actually looked like. The vegetation there is unbelievably green and lush. I toned it down a bit and added a little magenta to bring out the stones a little more.

The rock. Believe it or not, it is a quartz rock with some type of pearlish stone in it that makes it look like that. Even in real life it looked "different". The Himalayas are LITTERED with quartz and other mineral and crystal stones. So it's more of a giant crystal than a stone, but lemme see what I can do to get rid of some of the over-exposed look to it. I'm no pro with PS though, so may take me a bit. heh

[adrock2001]

Okay, well, this is the best I could do with the rock. I used a 10% exposure and zoomed in to 1200% and just clicked in the "too bright" areas with the burn tool. Anything more than 10% though and the rock turns purple? :\ Or black depending on whether I try to burn the highlights, midtones or shadows. Told you it was a funny rock. heh Here's a SMIDGE improved I think, though still not what I believe you're looking for.