Nebraska sunset

[kerriann85]

Have stumbled across this site and love it. I'm trying to learn how to "compose" rather than just "shoot". At the same time learn how to use all the settings on my my D70.
Can you tell by this picture if I'm getting anywhere? Thanks!
(I couldn't find specific instructions on size of photo file to post, hope this is close.)

[shesells]

Have stumbled across this site and love it. I'm trying to learn how to "compose" rather than just "shoot". At the same time learn how to use all the settings on my my D70.
Can you tell by this picture if I'm getting anywhere? Thanks!
(I couldn't find specific instructions on size of photo file to post, hope this is close.)

Damn that's beautiful! Get rid of the wires and you got yourself a winner.
Kit

[kerriann85]

Thanks Kit. (I was afraid the wires would be a downfall.) I spent a little time trying to clone out the wires without much success. Any help in that magic photoshopping area would be much appreciated!

[Todd Patten]

Here's a go at it. Done in Fireworks. Similar to PS methods.

Stick with a radius of 8 - 10. Keep the "cloner" in the forward top or bottom corner of the crosshairs. In other words, if you are working left to right, have the cloner on the bottom or top right quadrant of the crosshairs. The opposite is true if moving right to left. Occasionally you may simply have to move out of this area, but not often.

edited. had wrong image!

[kerriann85]

Thanks Todd, that looks awesome! And I still can't do it right. I still seem to end up with a line no matter how I change settings. (not sure where to find a "radius" setting) I need more lessons in Photoshop I suppose. And more patience.

[kerriann85]

Here's another sunset. (Different day) Same stupid wires, but they are kind of a part of the picture instead of a distraction. I did manage to photoshop out an annoying street sign, so I'm not totally inept with the clone. Just with wires.

[>JJ<]

Here's another sunset. (Different day) Same stupid wires, but they are kind of a part of the picture instead of a distraction. I did manage to photoshop out an annoying street sign, so I'm not totally inept with the clone. Just with wires.

Your last picture is the best by far!, I agree that the wires are part of the picture and not a distraction; it reminds me of a roadtrip.

[ChaosCubed]

Wow! What a sunset!! I never manage to have my camera near me when such moments occur. I like the second one the best - although the cloned out wires in the first one definitely helps the composition of that one. I like the idea with weatherpane!

[kerriann85]

Kate, luckily I can look out my window and see the sunset. I gave the neighbors a bad time for building that gazebo where they did though. Although last night there were beautiful streaks shooting up from the horizon but by the time I grabbed the cam and walked barefoot half a block to get past the houses (and one set of wires) I was too late. Maybe someday I should try shooting from the same position at the same hour just to document how different it looks.

[plchung]

Personally I can accept the one with wires, but don't feel comfortable with the idea of cloning out them. To me they are part of the scene and cloning out it would be similar to adding something extraneous, imagine, a bird on the wire, to the picture. If you are not happy with the wire, why not trying another position and angle?

[Todd Patten]

I think you would be surprised how many images you see in magazines, on walls, in photo shows where items were cloned out. As is the case in this situation, there is likely no angle that will allow you to aviod the power lines. Cloning is a perfectly acceptable option. One is not altering the story that is being told with the photograph.

[kerriann85]

Thanks for all the comments! Todd's right, there's no way I could get the gazebo and the sunset without the wired. Even with the second picture it's pretty tough to get across the ditch, across the road, across the ditch and over the fence, especially since I was barefoot. Maybe someday I'll try to do that though. I do think there are times when "photoshopping" is acceptable and times when it's not.

[plchung]

I think you would be surprised how many images you see in magazines, on walls, in photo shows where items were cloned out.

If this is the case I will be very disappointed. Not mean to be offensive, but just a matter of principle. Maybe fine with advertising material (cause we all know that it is fake) but not with photo which is supposed to represent a natural scene. Anyway, this is debatable.

[shesells]

Here's my opinion. If there is no problem with cropping, color correction, exposure correction etc, why would there be a problem with removing something that shouldn't be there to begin with. It's not our fault that technology isn't advanced enough to use a different method to help us communicate. Till they do, we are stuck with those darn wires. They screw up everything. Sometimes the most perfect shot is ruined by them (like this one).

If everything had to be done natural, well then I guess we shouldnt use flash because that light source wasn't there to begin with. Also, we better not make the background out of focus, since it wasn't to begin with. It's the finished product that matters most. This shot is wonderful, but it's greatly improved with the wires gone.

Kit