When I took this particular shot, I had a feeling it would be a good looking photo. Imagine my chagrin when I got the slide back and it was blurry! I checked my notes. Slow shutter. Wide aperture. Standing on a floating dock. Where was my head? Had it been kidnapped by seagull from the wrong side of the inlet? Guh.
So I tried to work with it and go for the "painterly effect". PhotoShoppery = colour balance, grayscale, channel mixer, blur, history brush, blur, burn, smudge, burn, smudge, blur, smudge, smudge, lasso, feather, colour balance. In that order. Sort of.
Dunno about the end result. I think it's okay, though the foliage on the bank is kind of a mess. The water wasn't recoloured - it really was that green.
Hello Becky. Enjoying your abouts: the struggle to get the image, the disappointments. Like the colour here. Pretty mess, at least the stairs are still stairs.
Thanks everyone. Kim - I don't know when I'll be back, but judging from the state of the dock and boats, I don't think they're going anywhere anytime soon! I completely understand your comment about the rail distortion; it was something I thought long and hard about. It's difficult when altering a photo in this way to strike a balance between photograph and "painting". I distorted both sets of railings because I felt the photo didn't look painterly enough if I left them as is. No one could draw lines that straight with a free hand (unless they used a ruler!)
This is such a well seen capture... and the light on the foliage and the boats is breath-taking. I like what you've done in PS, although I wonder if maybe the smudging is a little too heavy? The railings have a weird movement to them, and although it fits with the theme I find it perhaps a bit too much, because those railing are what guide my eye into the image from above. Still, what a magical moment, caught on film. Even if you do go back, I'm not sure if you'll be able to capture all these wonderful elements again. Very peaceful and serene.... makes me want to sit on a cabin dock for hours!
I think your salvage job went pretty well. I am kinda dense sometimes, but I just don't know what that thing (with the red spot in it) on the dock is. It is bugging me no end. The good news for the blurry look is that we get to see the big patches of color that form a harmonious and well-composed scene.
I can just imagine how beautiful and peaceful this scene was when you photographed it. I certainly can understand why you wanted to salvage it. The colors are beautiful...and the green in the water unbelievable...your composition looks very good...if possible I would go back and try it again.....Gloria
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