The blue nile falles retouched

[Yisehaq]

I uploaded this photo some days a go on assignments section. From the Comments I got I tried to learn burning and dodging in cs2 and did the second one. Your C & Cs please.

[tirediron]

Nice; thanks for posting both the before and after. I like the levels adjustment you've done; I would suggest that the one major area which could still stand some work is the perspective/level. The image looks too me very much as if it's running down hill toward image right. Other than that however, looking good!

[Yisehaq]

Nice; thanks for posting both the before and after. I like the levels adjustment you've done; I would suggest that the one major area which could still stand some work is the perspective/level. The image looks too me very much as if it's running down hill toward image right. Other than that however, looking good!

Thanks tirediron. Could you please elaborate a little bit? And your advice how I should correct please.

[Marko]

This before and after shot is a PERFECT example of how advanced printers fuss and fuss until they get it right.

For me I like the majority of the elements of the second shot better...but there is still room for improvement.

I think the line of trees toward the horizon is now too dark. perhaps the trees at the left edge (mid to upper left edge) are also a BIT too dark.

The sky could also still be burned in a bit more... just a bit...more in the central part of the image where the edge of the photo is weak.

The goal is to get every print to 'sing'. What we mean by singing here is a wide range of tones in many areas of the photo. This is hard to achieve and this is where the learning comes in. It also helps separates good photos from great ones.

Hope that helps....the good thing about digital printing is that once you find your 'recipe' it can be reproduced almost flawlessly each time.

In terms of the perspective you can correct it with the transform tool in CS2. Edit - transform - perspective

You can also use free-transform and just move the image counterclockwise a touch. Then crop a wee bit of the excess.

[Yisehaq]

The goal is to get every print to 'sing'. What we mean by singing here is a wide range of tones in many areas of the photo. This is hard to achieve and this is where the learning comes in. It also helps separates good photos from great ones.

Hope that helps....the good thing about digital printing is that once you find your 'recipe' it can be reproduced almost flawlessly each time.

Thanks Marko. I really am learning here and I am very happy. I am feeling that I can resurrect my pictures.

If you could explain a bit when you said "once you find your 'recipe' it can be reproduced almost flawlessly each time"

Can you see any improvements?

Hope to get the tune of the song soon.

[Marko]

Good job! this print is starting to sing

I realize that there is a lot to be aware of and i see a vast improvement in the tones of this shot...but you ALSO want to guide the viewer's eye often toward the lightest or most interesting element in the shot. In this case it's the waterfall and its mist. So you'd want to be careful and not make the foreground bushes the star of the show by making them too light.

If you could explain a bit when you said "once you find your 'recipe' it can be reproduced almost flawlessly each time"

All I meant to say is that the dodging and burning you do in a digital print STAYS in the file when you are done. So if you choose the same printer or printing route - all prints will be 99.5% identical. This is TOTALLY different than darkroom printing where the 'recipe' is subject to the dexterity of your hands.

[kiley9806]

good editing job! i really like the texture on the water now, and the straightening of the shot has helped tons! learning post-processing takes a while, and lots of time playing around... you'll only get better from here!

[Yisehaq]

Thanks Marko and kiley9806.

Marko thanks for explaining about the recipe. I had misunderstood completely.

So, this is my final processed image after including your comments and my likings. I have learned a lot. Hope to get better as kiley9806 said.

Now I have to think designed my copyright signature eh!! hope that will not be very far

[Marko]

I am glad that you learned from this Yisehaq and I like your final result. I think that you yourself can see how much stronger the final shot is compared to the first shot you posted.

I LOVE concrete examples like this and I'm glad you took the time to 'play'.

Almost all of the great photography printers spent hours and often days meticulously looking for their dodging and burning recipe in every photograph they printed. 99% of the excellent photographers that I personally know fuss over their images in this way and it shows in their results....and in my own printing, unless it's a pure snapshot, I dodge and burn some part of every single image I take/make.

Just curious Yisehaq - I think this is a very good teaching thread - can I use these images as examples in a future podcast?

Marko

[Yisehaq]

Thank you very much Marko. This forum has really opened my eyes. I have been so curious about all those nice pictures and how they were taken.

"Just curious Yisehaq - I think this is a very good teaching thread - can I use these images as examples in a future podcast?"

I couldn't possibly recieve a better compliment that this. With lots of pleasureeeeeee.