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Classic British Tractor

Moderators: Bob Andersson, Bjorn van Sinttruije, Thomas, Kenneth Skou

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JHM

Post subject: Classic British Tractor

Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 4:10 pm

Joined: Sat Aug 01, 2009 4:19 pm
Posts: 100
Location: Lancaster

Classic ford Tractor looking a bit worse for ware, filter; dry brush and new sky to look more cloudy. C+c welcome

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pgtips

Post subject:

Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 4:56 pm

Joined: Mon May 12, 2008 6:00 pm
Posts: 2781

I'm not a fan of the post processing done. The angle is decent, though not unique. One suggestion would be to go closer.

_________________
PhilipGoh.com

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PhilDiggle

Post subject:

Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 6:03 pm

Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2009 7:35 pm
Posts: 207
Location: Manchester, UK

pgtips wrote:

I'm not a fan of the post processing done. The angle is decent, though not unique. One suggestion would be to go closer.

I agree on the comments about Processing on this picture. There are certain filters in Photoshop that can make an image look quite cheap.

It'd be interesting to see what the original photo was like however!

Thanks for sharing

_________________
Phil Diggle - Freelance Graphics Designer, Full Time University Student and Novice Photographer!

Camera Kit - Sony A200K 18-70 DT | Minolta 70-210 AF 'Beercan' | Sony 50mm f/1.8 | Jessops Flash Gun

http://www.phildiggle.co.uk | Flickr Photo Portfolio - Working Progress

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Bjorn van Sinttruije

Post subject:

Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 6:09 pm

Moderator

Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2007 6:30 pm
Posts: 6595
Location: The Netherlands, Ridderkerk

The picture has potential, don't ruin it by processing it this way. :idea:

- Bjorn -

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JHM

Post subject:

Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 6:30 pm

Joined: Sat Aug 01, 2009 4:19 pm
Posts: 100
Location: Lancaster

Thanks for your comments, i see what you mean now about the processing. Here is the original minus the branding and cropped slightly.

Last edited by JHM on Mon Sep 07, 2009 6:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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PhilDiggle

Post subject:

Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 6:35 pm

Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2009 7:35 pm
Posts: 207
Location: Manchester, UK

Do you mind if I take a look at processing the image? I've got an idea in mind, and if you like it I could write you a tutorial

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JHM

Post subject:

Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 6:36 pm

Joined: Sat Aug 01, 2009 4:19 pm
Posts: 100
Location: Lancaster

Please do that would be great

thanks

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PhilDiggle

Post subject:

Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 6:54 pm

Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2009 7:35 pm
Posts: 207
Location: Manchester, UK

I personally prefer this image to be in colour, but Black and White is an option. Also note that everyone has their own ideas so mine may neccessarily not be the best. Some may find the blacks in the colour image too heavy.

Ok, for the colour image I did these steps:

Boost Levels and Curves for contrast boost
Duplicate the layer, set to Multiply Mode. Duplicate layer again, set layer to pin light mode
On the first layer, convert image to Black and white.

Then for the Black and white image, I converted using the Lab Colour method. If you're not familiar with this I would suggest using the desaturate feature to make to black and white. However I find this gives a flat image. If you're familiar with Lab then this is how I converted to black and white:

Image > Mode > Lab Colour
In the channels window select the Lightness Layer, and copy the image.
Convert image back to RGB colour
In the channels window, paste into each channel (excluding the one that says RGB)
Boost levels and curves as neccessary to boost contrast.

Hopefully thats shown you some possibilities?

I would also advise shooting in RAW format if you don't already - helps expand possibilities easier in my opinion.

Edit: Fixed image link

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JHM

Post subject:

Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 7:05 pm

Joined: Sat Aug 01, 2009 4:19 pm
Posts: 100
Location: Lancaster

WOW

THe first one is amazing, thanks for the tutorial too, im currently using photoshop elements 2.0 lol im going to upgrade to 7, I imagine a similar affect can be done in elements?

I do shoot in RAW also but im still learning, this image has really inspired me

Thankyou very much for your time and help,

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PhilDiggle

Post subject:

Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 7:12 pm

Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2009 7:35 pm
Posts: 207
Location: Manchester, UK

JHM wrote:

WOW

Thankyou very much for your time and help,

Glad you found my processing helpful.

Of course the key to photography is being able to take a picture that requires little processing

I've never used elements so I'm not so sure how the setup works. I'm using photoshop CS4. Wow, Photoshop 7 - that's a really old version, think that was the first version of Photoshop I started to use which was about 6ish years ago!

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JHM

Post subject:

Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 7:14 pm

Joined: Sat Aug 01, 2009 4:19 pm
Posts: 100
Location: Lancaster

Quote:

I'm using photoshop CS4. Wow, Photoshop 7 - that's a really old version, think that was the first version of Photoshop I started to use which was about 6ish years ago!

Sorry i mean photoshop elements 7.0, ill have a look on the internet about the techniques you gave me to see if i can replicate them, thanks again

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JHM

Post subject:

Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 8:29 pm

Joined: Sat Aug 01, 2009 4:19 pm
Posts: 100
Location: Lancaster

Well he is my attempt using elements 2.0 so not quite as good as phil'd but im quite pleased with the results.

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PhilDiggle

Post subject:

Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 9:32 pm

Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2009 7:35 pm
Posts: 207
Location: Manchester, UK

JHM wrote:

Well he is my attempt using elements 2.0 so not quite as good as phil'd but im quite pleased with the results.

Looks ok - my only critism would be that the sky is too washed out. If you compare mine with yours, mine has the clouds in it. But other than - it's an improvement from the first image!

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Kenneth Skou

Post subject:

Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 12:29 am

Moderator

Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2008 5:35 pm
Posts: 1985
Location: Vancouver, Canada

Hi JHM,

As indicated by others here, there are some post processing that may make your image a little more enticing.

The overall composition is a little bland though. If you think of it as a vehicle shot - the approach that car-enthusiasts take, may show some alternate approaches. If you think of it as a grungy agrarian tool that's seen weathering and wear, another approach may come to you.

What I feel holds the picture back is the angles. You may have tried to cover too much in the frame. Excluding the sky and anything else than the tractor might offer something that draws more interest.

Examining why you want to take this picture - what you want to accomplish with it, may be a way to convey some of the same interest you feel about it.

Thanks for sharing - hope to see more!

Cheers :-)

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lowliferider

Post subject:

Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 6:29 am

Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2009 7:59 pm
Posts: 729
Location: Canada

Great tutorial, thanks I needed to know how.
I did like the effects of the first attempt, but phil did something really nice, the darker shadows and a heavy cloud feel.

About PSE I would wait for the 8, should be coming out soon.

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