The image I have chosen today is one that I have never been happy with. I thought it may have been because the light was crap, or because it was a horrible overcast bright day. Here is the image.
This image was taken on my birthday, we went into the city for lunch and had yum cha with some friends. While we were wandering around I took lots of photos. The original post is here.
I hated how grey it was, and there seemed to be a plasticness about it It was a HDR image, though it was processed in Photoshop CS5, it was before I had Photomatix Pro. I really like the structure of the bridge, but it just seems a very bland image. So I had another go at it.
It is like a completely different image. I redid the HDR process, with Photomatix Pro this time, and then I did a lot of work on the light in the image. I did enhance the details a little for the bridge in Topaz Adjust 5. Seriously though, all I did was play with the curves on different parts. I did add some photo filters to the wood work on the bridge. That was about it I believe.
My daughter prefers the first HDR image, and I prefer the second. I expect there will be lots of different opinions and I look forward to hearing what you all think. I really like the surreal aspect of the second and also think it is more natural.
I am off to the market at St Andrew tomorrow morning. My daughter has been wanting to go for some time. I am trying to decide if it will be worthwhile taking my camera, I guess it can’t hurt.
Teresa Dickson said:
I much prefer the second image – although the sky looks weird….almost sea like. Enjoy the market!
Leanne Cole said:
The sky is weird, but I swear that is how it was. Thanks Teresa
Cardinal Guzman said:
I prefer the second one and you should definitely bring your camera tomorrow. Always bring a camera.
Leanne Cole said:
Thanks Cardinal, you have are convincing me that it won’t hurt to swing it over my shoulder.
Colline said:
I find both interesting. I would think the picture belongs in a series and it would depend on what you wish to achieve: sombre or light;
Leanne Cole said:
Abandoned, empty, lonely. That is what I always try for, not always possible. Thanks Colline.
Colline said:
Definitely the second photo then.
Cher said:
I enjoy both images. I am captivated by the light in the first image and the clouds and emphasis of light on the deck and windows.
Leanne Cole said:
Thank you Cher, I think my daughter would agree with you.
gardenfreshtomatoes said:
I always liked the perspective in that shot, but I agree – the first one looked kinda’ flat.
It’s alway fun to catch a sky like that – one that makes people ask what you did to it!
Leanne Cole said:
I like the perspective as well. I really love that sky, those clouds were so weird. I don’t know if it was the heat, it was a really hot day or what it was, but they I swear, they really were that strange, though perhaps not that dark. Thanks Marie.
rocket2722 said:
I love the bridge and decking in the second image but prefer the sky and buildings in the first. I really like the perspective you captured with the bridge.
Leanne Cole said:
That’s interesting. I am really starting to see how interesting doing this is and to see how different people like different things. Thank you.
Christa said:
Love the eerie quality of the reworked photograph and the wood planks of the bridge really pop.
Leanne Cole said:
Thank you Christa, I put a lot more work into the bridge in the rework.
Angela said:
I like the second one. I’m partial to warmer tones.
Leanne Cole said:
Same here, thank you Angela.
John said:
I prefer the first image. I feel mean saying that…
Leanne Cole said:
No need to feel mean John, if that is what you prefer, you aren’t the only one.
Val Bridge Digital Photography Biz said:
Look out for a program called smart photo editor…its free, but has some restrictions unless you register and part with cash. However that restriction can be overcome with the use of PicPick….hope you followed all that Leanne.. lol
Leanne Cole said:
I’ve never heard of it, does it only run on windows?
Val Bridge Digital Photography Biz said:
Ok Leanne..its now published..I have provided a link back to your site…would appreciate you providing a link to this post… have visited your site…great work hun..we must communicate more…take care and thanks
Val
Leanne Cole said:
I will try and remember to do that today for you.
Ed Spadoni said:
I prefer the second, and always take your camera!
Leanne Cole said:
Thanks Ed, and I did.
guenbt said:
I prefer the second photo! Look so natural. =)
Leanne Cole said:
That is what I think as well, thanks.
cupKaykes said:
This is one of my favourite bridges in Melbourne
Leanne Cole said:
It is pretty good, there are so many.
rachaelhanel said:
Being the amateur photographer I am, I would have been completely happy with the first photo just on composition alone! But I love what you did with it. I have only Photoshop, but I just put down “tinker with photo” on my weekend to-do list!
Leanne Cole said:
What do you mean you “have only Photoshop”? That is great and I hope you do tinker. Thanks Rachael.
tonyahines said:
I like the second : )
Leanne Cole said:
That’s good Tonya, thanks
anyone4curryandotherthings said:
I like both photos, although to be honest, No. 2 is my fav. the sky!!!!! I have seen sky like this, eeri, at the end of a very hot day and just before thunder and rain. It does not happen that often, but when it does, guess what, I do not have my camera handy!!
Leanne Cole said:
That sky really was amazing. I wish I had got more of it. Thank you.
Pat said:
The interesting arch of the bridge looks kind of lost in the first shot. Your editing in the second shot really makes it the dominant feature of the photo. Very nice work.
Leanne Cole said:
I spent a lot of time getting the bridge to stand out in the second shot, so I am really pleased that you have said this. Thank you Pat.
nettrobbens said:
As always awesome pictures, Leanne! Since I have a thing for bridges, (don’t know why or how) I like them both. The first has a contemporary feel to it, while the second has an old-world spin in a futurist sense. How’s that for explanation? Bottom line, they’re both great.
Best,
Nett
Leanne Cole said:
Thank you Nett. I don’t think you are alone in your thing for bridges, a lot of people have it. I like your descriptions of both, though I still prefer the second. Thanks again.
nettrobbens said:
See? I get excited over bridges? (go figure!) The word should have been “futuristic!”
Best,
Nett
Leanne Cole said:
I didn’t even notice, haha,
Curls & Q said:
The second one really focuses on the bridge – makes it pop out! The first one seems to say, “Cross over me into the city and what wonders we will see.” The second one seems to say, “Cross over me into the wonderful unknown. Who knows where we’ll go.” Really like both.
Leanne Cole said:
That is a really interesting way of looking at both, for me the image is about the bridge, and I wasn’t that concerned about the other side, which I think you can tell in the second. Thanks for you thoughts, I really appreciated them.
Tricia's Blogs said:
If you don’t bring your camera, you’ll wish you had, because sure enough, there will be something you want to photograph! I like both images. The first one that your daughter likes actually appealed to me because of the tall blue building behind the cool bridge structure. It brought color to the photo. But I like the fun you had with the editing on the second photo too. ~Tricia
Leanne Cole said:
I did take it Tricia, I will do a post in the next day or so on the market. I think for me the image was about the bridge, and when I reworked it, that is what I concentrated on, I didn’t do anything to the buildings in the background. I did have fun doing it, thanks Tricia.
knod56 said:
I really like the reworked image better. I like the contrast of the bridge with the background buildings. The second image has more feeling.
Leanne Cole said:
Thanks knod56, I like what you said.
writerwannabe2011 said:
HDR isn’t one of my favourite techniques, but I do prefer the second image. I like the warmth of the bridge colour. The first image is a bit dull in comparison. I like that you added the colouration
Leanne Cole said:
Whilst they are both HDR images, I think one of the main differences is that with the first, it was processed as a HDR and then nothing more was really done, whereas with the second it was processed as a HDR but that was only the first step, then I did a lot more to it. I think that is a better way of doing them. Thanks
jiltaroo said:
The first image is so “urban” which I find a bit depressing. The warmth you have injected into it gives it warmth and enables me to enjoy the composition so much more.
Leanne Cole said:
What a lovely thing to say jiltaroo.
jiltaroo said:
But it’s true! It was a striking change of mood. You are an amazing photographer.
Leanne Cole said:
I don’t know what to say, I’m speechless, thank you.
Heather said:
I really like the color of the buildings in the first one, but I like the warmth and focus on the bridge in the second.
I’d take the camera – I always hate it when I leave it behind assuming I wouldn’t have needed it, and I always need it
Leanne Cole said:
For the second one I concentrated a lot more on the bridge, I didn’t even thing about the buildings really.
I did take it Heather. More on that later. Thanks.
Don said:
I just love the way your eye naturally follows the arch of the bridge. I prefer the second one. The buildings, having faded a little in to the background, kind of accentuates the arch which is nice. I also love the light.
Leanne Cole said:
Thank you Don, you have just described what my intention with image was. Fantastic.
Another Thousand Words said:
Prefer the newly-worked image…it emphasizes the architecture of the bridge (your intent?) and de-emphasizes the conflicting architectural styles in the background. Your carefully placed lighting on the walkway “invites” the viewer to advance forward…this is the secret of good shots vs. bad: the good ones are read, like a book or a painting, causing the viewer to stop, and think a bit.
Leanne Cole said:
Definitely my intention 1000. You have some fantastic ways of looking at things, I love that. I will have to keep that in mind, thank you so much.
David said:
I like the second image as well. But, I can understand why your daughter likes the first one – it sort of has the feel of a painting.
Leanne Cole said:
Thank you David, that is what she said.
SilverStarling said:
I also like the second image. It’s a more creative rendering and has a certain atmosphere I haven’t noticed in urban landscapes before.
Leanne Cole said:
Thank you SilverStarling, I like that a lot.
artsifrtsy said:
I think the though second one does a better job of focussing my eye to the wood – I miss the colors of the buildings in the first though. Nice angle.
Leanne Cole said:
A few have said that, but there had to be a decision, was the image about the bridge or the buildings and for me it was the former, so the buildings were sacrificed. Thanks artsifrtsy
starkwe said:
I definitely prefer the second. HDR leaves me a little cold in general, but I’ve noticed that Photomatix seems to produce much better images than Photoshop does. They look more real, but with an artistic feel to them that Photoshop’s HDR misses.
Leanne Cole said:
I think the trick to HDR is that you can’t just use the presets, you have to play around and you have to work out the best way of doing it for you. Also, I believe, that the HDR process is only ever a beginning step in the editing process. It never ends there. Thanks for your thoughts on HDR I agree with you.
oopsjohn said:
The first one is a very good photograph, the second one is a work of art. Wonderful composition, too!
Leanne Cole said:
Thank you oopsjohn, that is a wonderful thing to say.
Martina Scholtzova said:
Hey Leanne, thanks a lot for popping by and liking my picutres. It flatters and encourages the ammmateur like me that a professional like you likes my attempts.
To your post: I love bridges and I am glad you shared what I experience sometimes too – it is truly amazing how even a “bad” picture can change. In one of my next posts, I think on Monday I played a lot with pictures from Prague. I will not tell you which is my favorite yet
Leanne Cole said:
It really isn’t a problem Martina, it is great to see what other people are doing.
I love playing with my images and seeing what I can do with them. I hope you have had fun with yours.
Richard Guest said:
Love the colour in the second image – it seems to emphasise the drama of the bridge in the composition too. Very nice.
Leanne Cole said:
Thanks Richard, that is what I wanted to hear.
zelmare said:
I prefer the first image.
Leanne Cole said:
Haha, I thought you might say that.
Francina said:
I do like the second image more, Leanne. well done.
Leanne Cole said:
Thank you Francina, that is great to hear.
LubbyGirl said:
that’s cool – you took the people out of the second one. I’ve been trying to do that on some photos without it looking like I did it. So far I’ve not been all that successful image-wise – but fun-wise, I’m a winner!!
Love both of these, actually; first one for the way the bridge leads to that building but the people on the bridge pay no attention, and the second because of the lighting on the bridge.
Leanne Cole said:
YOu are the only one that has commented on that LubbyGirl, that the people were taken out. It is a hard thing to do, don’t look to closely or you will see what I did wrong.
Yes, fun doing the editing, so important, I love that as well. It is funny the comments on both images, I appreciate them and thank you.
LubbyGirl said:
ah – now you’ve stirred up the Nosy Nellie within!
I’m going back to revisit this photo, because I saw nothing done wrong.
LubbyGirl said:
…well, your secret is safe with me. I saw nothing that looked like it was done wrong.
Priyanka said:
This one’s a real treasure. It’s such a post-apocalyptic transformation shot from a sci-fi film, you know? One minute it’s a regular old day, people going about their business, next minute it’s deserted, the sky’s a stormy red, and the whole frame is ominously empty. Lovely!
Leanne Cole said:
Thank you Priyanka, I love the story you have created for the images, it is wonderful.
Paul said:
Removing the people was a very good idea, Leanne. It allows the viewer to focus on the bridge’s structure and the way it contributes to the overall composition of the image. The inclusion of tiny figures (especially in landscape painting of the 19th century) can be very annoying, because it suggests that the landscape itself has insufficient merit as a subject. Our eye is always drawn to these figures, distracting us from the beauty of the main subject, which is reduced to the status of a secondary “background” setting.
Your second photo is significantly improved by their deletion; and, with your photo-manipulation skills, it’s now not only more distinctive (i.e. no longer a “snapshot”) but also more evocative…
Leanne Cole said:
Thank you Paul. I like photos without people for many reasons, and for the ones you have spoken about. They can be distracting and the image does become about them. I like the idea of a world without people and that is the main focus of my work.
I have worked hard on my editing skills, which I hope are improving all the time. I am so glad you like it Paul, thanks again.
VeronicaThePajamaThief said:
I like the first one for the surreal quality… the colors in stark contrast to the grey sky and the monochrome of the bridge arch with its sweeping curve and sharp angles.
There is a certain dystopian feel to the second image. I love the sky in this one.
I take my camera with me a lot more now – I have captured some really neat images (don’t miss my post for September 25!), things I wasn’t even looking for and would have regretted missing if I hadn’t my camera with me, so yes… definitely take to market!
Leanne Cole said:
I don’t like the first image, to me it is too surreal and too grey, too symptomatic of bad HDR images. That is me. I like the second one, even though it is very definitely manipulated, it is also more natural and is a scene that could be found. I do appreciate your thoughts though, and thank you Veronica.
I am starting to do that a lot more as well, taking my camera. It is quite good when you get something great. I went to look today, it being the 25th, but I forget it isn’t the 25th everywhere else yet. I will try and remember to look.
Heather aka Sugar Free said:
With the first image I focused on the buildings in the background which is probably not what you were after. With the second image I focused on the woodwork of the bridge and not the metal framework. Both images made my head explode with their awesomeness. Fabulous work, Leanne!
Leanne Cole said:
Thank you Heather. I think where ever you looked on the bridge would be fine.
tchistorygal said:
I agree with one of your friends about the color of the second one. I like the drama and the warmth of the second one best.
Leanne Cole said:
Thank you Marsha, I am so glad you like that one as well. I love drama in images.
Stephen L. Tyler said:
still at it I see (ha ha)! I agree that there is more drama in the second image than the first – maybe because with the people in the shot it looks more like just an interesting snapshot…. great work, as usual!
Leanne Cole said:
Thank you Stephen, I have been amazed that not many people have made mention of the removal of the people. Oh and yes, I’m still at it.
Stephen L. Tyler said:
Stephen L. Tyler said:
P.S. – happy belated birthday!
Leanne Cole said:
Haha, thank you, it is almost time for it again.
neverphoto said:
It’s an enigmatic framing, which feels uncomfortable. If you get that sense from the photo, the first is a bit too clean, maybe, but the absence of people in the 2nd and the very dark background leave it a bit vacant feeling. I think if you left the man on the bridge in the 2nd image and left some depth with more of the background, I’d like the 2nd. Because of the way they are processed, they don’t even seem like the same photo to me.
Leanne Cole said:
They were processed at different times and the intention of the processing was different for each one. The firsts intention was to learn how to do HDR images. The second was to turn it into an image that would go along with my theme of abandon, if I had left the man in the second image, then the image would have been about something different and I would not have liked it. I can’t say I am disappointed that they look like two different images, I am actually happy about that. Sorry you don’t like either, but I am happy with the second image.
neverphoto said:
Sorry, I wrote that rather poorly and it came off wrong, especially now that I read your reply. It does seem like I liked neither, but that wasn’t my intention in my writing. I should have given it more thought before scribbling out a comment. I often prefer “uncomfortable” compositions… those that are atypical in terms of framing. You can see a photographer’s eye in something that is smart but challenging. I quite like the first photo, I was simply commenting about the thought in your post that you maybe disliked it (“one i have never been happy with”) and felt it needed reprocessing because it missed the mood you were going for. In the second, I just missed the man, as he was a focal point for me personally in the first, and for my eye would give context to the vacant background. I’d like the second, as in like it even better than the first, if you had Mr. Man still there
And by saying they don’t seem like the same photo – I mean they don’t. It’s really a complete departure from the first. What’s not to like about that?
Well done…
Leanne Cole said:
Yeah that happens, thanks for coming back and clearing that up.
I really don’t like that first image, all I see is grey, grey grey, too much grey and much of that is because I had no idea what I was doing as I was processing HDR images. I love editing, really I do, that is what I take photos for, so I can get them on my computer and transform them into something else. Part of that transformation is nearly always removing any people that are in the images.
Thanks for coming back and clearing that up. I do appreciate that.