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Posted on 23/02/06 8:35:06 PM |
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jimt
Celestial Composer Posts: 59 Reply  |
Which image looks better?
A fellow member in a car forum I'm in posted a bunch of pictures he took of his car. One in particular stood out to me and I decided to do some image correcting. In particular, the posts in the background that were VERY distracting (IMO) to the subject (his car). While I didn't think the yellow lighting looked bad, I felt the white car was lost in the overall yellow saturation of the light. I went to town with the clone tool and also did some color correcting on the car. I also cropped it in a manner that the shadow line in the lower left as well as the wall line in the upper right hit the corner points. I feel the crop alone really helped the image stand out. Anyway, here are the before and after pics. Please give your opinion on which one looks "better". I must add that it was a rush job, so the wall in the background looks a little photoshopped. 
I'll post his comments later regarding what he thought of the new image. |
Posted on 23/02/06 8:41:26 PM |
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trinityofone
Guest Reply |
Re: Which image looks better?
The second one, for definite. I would be tempted to remove the flash hotspots from the body but leave them on the chrome. _________________ It must be Thursday, I never could get the hang of Thursdays |
Posted on 23/02/06 8:49:03 PM |
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jimt
Celestial Composer Posts: 59 Reply |
Re: Which image looks better?
Yeah, I thought about doing that, but never got around to it. The thought was there, so just pretend they are gone.  |
Posted on 23/02/06 9:32:17 PM |
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mguyer
Incisive Incisor Posts: 799 Reply  |
Re: Which image looks better?
I like #2, would get rid of the flash spot at the outside rear view mirror but leave the one on the roof towards the back. Marty |
Posted on 24/02/06 12:42:29 PM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7000 Reply  |
Re: Which image looks better?
A huge improvement. The car really stands out well now. All you need is a reflection of yourself taking the photo… |
Posted on 24/02/06 1:06:18 PM |
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jwhite
Collage Critter Posts: 274 Reply  |
Re: Which image looks better?
Agree with everyone else #2 looks much better. |
Posted on 24/02/06 3:44:42 PM |
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jimt
Celestial Composer Posts: 59 Reply |
Re: Which image looks better?
Well, I appreciate the comments, guys. Here are a couple of comments I got from the photographer/owner of the car: "I don't like that look Jim, why do you think I took those pics like that?" When someone asked why he didn't like it, his reply: "Plain and simple, JT's pic is fake and mine is real.'' My reply to that: "Well, fake wouldn't exactly be the correct term. I didn't add anything to it that didn't already exist in the photo. The original photo contained elements that were distracting to the viewer as well as detracting to the subject matter (your car). It was just a simple exercise in taking a decent photo and making it "pop." Look at this way. You look out your window and see an ugly tree in your backyard. You decide one day to cut it down and remove it. Does that mean the next time you look out your window and see a tree-less backyard that it's a fake view? No. A photograph only captures a moment in time. There's no rule that says it HAS to remain a stagnant image." Uh oh...I think I'm starting to sound like a professional photoshopper! haha Anyway, there is no love lost between the other member and me. We've both been members for a long time and chat online all the time and are actually online "friends", so to speak. I just wanted to spice up one of his photos, but I guess he wanted the yellow look. Oh well, you can't win 'em all. This was also an exercise to practice and try to improve my Photoshopping skills. A few months ago, I probably wouldn't have been as successful with a photo like this, but with the help of Steve's book (learning quickmask, masks, etc), I've begun to realize that tasks like this are becoming easier and easier. |
Posted on 24/02/06 4:21:41 PM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7000 Reply |
Re: Which image looks better?
Some people have a strange attitude towards what's permissible in montage. If, for example, he'd driven the car in front of a different wall, would that have been fake? Or if he'd used a flash? Or if he'd bracketed the exposures and then picked the best one? Strange bunch, photographers! |
Posted on 24/02/06 4:49:18 PM |
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trinityofone
Guest Reply |
Re: Which image looks better?
It only looks fake because the original is there to compare against. Personally, I think the original looks murky and like the photographer had the wrong white balance set. This is a balanced image (assuming the posts in the background are white).  _________________ A happy-go-lucky chap, always dressed in black |
Posted on 25/02/06 01:18:30 AM |
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Whaler
Visual Viking Posts: 330 Reply  |
Re: Which image looks better?
jimt, there's no doubt about it, the second picture is the best one. I don't see why your "friend" thinks that three extra "antennaes" sticking up like that is improving the car styling. Or maybe he's just to biased and doesn't see them at all. And the color of the car has improved vastly after your color correction. The car just looks right in the second picture. Good job! |
Posted on 25/02/06 6:42:05 PM |
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Dek_101
Apocalyptic Artisan Posts: 175 Reply  |
Re: Which image looks better?
Pic 2 looks better by miles |