The Way Life Should Be

[Xia_Ke]

The title is Maine's state moto. This is an idea I'm working on LPS#10, the theme this round being "Surf or Turf". Other than the remnants of some quick spot removal in the lower right that still need some additional cleanup, what do you guys think?

[jkriminger]

cool shot...try and tweak levels of course...then isolate blue in a layer and see what that does to the sky.

[Xia_Ke]

Thanks jk I wasn't sure which direction I wanted to go with the blue in the sky. Part of me wanted to bring it out, the other part really liked the hazy, sorta foggy sky. I'll try pulling the blue more and see how it comes out. Thanks again!

Aaron

[Xia_Ke]

Okay, so I cleaned up the the flares in the lower right and played with the blue levels. There actually wasn't much else for blue present in the shot because of the clouds, haze, and fog that hadn't been burned off yet by the sun. This any better?

[Greg McCary]

Nice shot Aaron, Looks like a postcard.

[Xia_Ke]

Thanks Greg Which do you think works better? Can't decide which would work best for the sky.

[Greg McCary]

#2, I like it better......

[Xia_Ke]

Thanks Greg Here's another version with some more levels adjustment play.

[jkriminger]

looking good aaron...I think the browns of the beach and rocks can, and do provide a nice contrast to the sky..and a very tiny dodge tool..3-5 pixels..can bring out those climbers

[Frog]

I think your first one is great and the rest look....well its obvious they are tweaked.

[Xia_Ke]

Thanks Frog. I know what you're saying. On one hand I think the extra blue really makes it pop but, it does have a definite processed feel to it

[drg]

Aaron -

I think the blue tone of this sky works best of the three images. The sun dog looks the most impressive in this one (on this monitor anyway).

By the way, did Maine change its motto??? I thought it was one of those weird latin phrases or something? I had to memorize them all at one time and I didn't remember that one being so normal.

Or is that the latest 'advertising for tourist motto'. In Illinois everyone thinks the motto is "the Land of Lincoln". It is on the license plates and everything. That is not it. The Illinois motto is about sovreignty and something. Hmmm. . . I should look these both up.

Good photograph.

[Xia_Ke]

Thank you very much for the input drg

And you are very good. Dirigo is the official state motto that's on the flag and means "I lead". "The Way Life Should Be" was started as a tourist slogan 5 - 10 years ago but, most of us here have kind of adopted it as our unofficial motto now. At least that's the case in Southern Maine where tourism plays a HUGE part anyway. Then there's a third slogan/motto/whatever on our license plates which is Vacationland.