Monumentous

[echoback]

this was my first attempt at using the cloning tool hehe. I cloned out some branches on the top lefthand corner and lower right (although i think I missed some on the bottom left). i also increased saturation +10. One thing I was unsure about was the monument itself, the left side looks slightly washed out. I tried messing with the brightness/contrast, but increasing/decreasing it didn't do much, IMO. Any suggestions on how to deal with this? also, are the three clouds too much? thanks!

~Sam

[markg740]

I think you did a nice job on the cloning, you know its good when someone can't tell where you did it. The clouds look good, maybe you could clone them at the top to better frame the monument? As for the monument, try dodging and burning it.
Theres my two cents, hope it helps.

-Mark

[Anbesol]

awkward composition, needs a foundation - looks like random floating objects and makes the viewer, or at least me, feel lost and quickly uninterested. i would try again at a different angle to get the base of the monument in the shot.

[echoback]

thanks for the comments! mark-what do you mean when you say "dodging"? i'm unfamiliar with that term, still getting used to PS and such.

anbesol-thanks for the comment. i agree that a foundation would probably serve this picture well, lol. i'll try again. although i sort of liked the way it turned out.

[Lava Lamp]

Not a bad job with the photoshop. I tedn to agree that it is maybe not the most compelling picture, photoshop or not. Don't feel bad, though, its a hard thing to shoot. I've photographed the momument on a few different occassions and its hard to get a good picture. My favorite shots are fom the Lincoln Memorial. I've also had some limited success trying to tie in something in the foreground.

[gimp]

It's very difficult to hold detail in both the highlights and shadows of a high contrast scene such as this. I think you did well in your exposure in holding the detail in the tree branches.More detail in the left side of the monument would not make much of an improvement in your composition. Good job in a tough situation.

[echoback]

thanks again for the comments.

Lava Lamp: yeah, that monument is one of the hardest to shoot! i took about 40-50 pictures of just that one and I didn't really like any of them. I'm doing an internship at UMD right outside of D.C. this summer though, so I'll have plenty of practice time!

gimp: thanks! i think you are right about the exposure. It was also really bright that day, so not sure if anything else would have worked anyway.