Halcyon From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (6 years 1 month 3 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 1366 times:
Well, on a recent-ish trip I took a lot of pictures and I didn't like many of them. I never had time to really look at them until now. Of about 300 or so total, only two caught my attention. Both are very common wing shots, and certainly would never be found on this site, so please don't bash them too hard, as I don't plan them for here. However, I'd like to have them to print and also to use as my background. I was hoping that someone could give me a few pointers on how to fix them up so that they look less like garbage.
First off, and my favorite that I'd love to fix, is this creature:
I like it due to the angle and the clouds, but it looks dark. Although the day had little real contrast, I was hoping that someone could give me an idea of how to fix it without killing the colors completely. When i adjust the brightness, it's Ok, but I lose contrast, so I adjust that, but then I lose color. Can this shot be brightened or should I just hope it prints better?
Secondly, there is this piece of crap:
The main problem with it is that it lacks contrast, but I think I can fix this one my own. Really, with this one, I just want to know why it appears so unlevel. I level the sucker to one side and it tips on the other. If it had been taken with a WA lens, I'd understand. Is it an optical illusion. Anyway, I'd really only concerned with the first one.
Cheers!
Lucas
PS-Remember not to bash my lack of skills, as I fully know that I do not have any.
TedTAce From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (6 years 1 month 3 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 1353 times:
The first one will NEVER be a good background on a typical portrait monitor. I say sharpen it up a little, get a Landscape monitor and live happlily ever after.
The second one, I'd shapen a little and level off the stripes on the winglet. Screw what the background will look like, you are at an odd angle to the range so there is no way to get a 'proper' horizon off it.
Halcyon From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (6 years 1 month 3 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 1337 times:
Quoting TedTAce (Reply 1): The first one will NEVER be a good background on a typical portrait monitor. I say sharpen it up a little, get a Landscape monitor and live happlily ever after.
Well, I want it more for memory's sake than for something that has good motiv. I like the free space it gives me, but it makes my screen appear too dark, and that is what I was concerned about. I'm using it like this:
However, I think that I might just let this one go. It was not properly exposed, and I doubt that I can ever fix that. Oh well.
Quoting TedTAce (Reply 1):
The second one, I'd shapen a little and level off the stripes on the winglet.
I never noticed the winglet stripe. Thanks for the tip. Do you know of a way to make it look less dull Ted?
Quoting TedTAce (Reply 1): Screw what the background will look like, you are at an odd angle to the range so there is no way to get a 'proper' horizon off it.
Yeah, not sure how I screwed that one up so royally.
Awesome! That is exactly what I was looking for. Can you show me how to do it on my larger version? My monitor is 1440x900. Thanks so much! Also, if you do not mind me asking, how did you get the wing to appear so smooth?
I only have APE2, so there is not so much I can do. However, if I can recreate that in a larger size, it would be perfect. Thanks for taking the time to help on this. You're a consistently great and helpful contributor to this site.
Quoting ThierryD (Reply 3): Let me know if that's what you were looking for; I'd be happy to also play with the 2nd one.
If it is even 1/9 as good as you did on the first one I'd be ecstatic. Please do. I fear that it is too overexposed though. Sorry for the hassle. I went ahead and downloaded that pic that you just did in case you don't want to do a larger one, so feel free to take it down now. I think that this will make a nice 5x7ish pic to frame. Anyway, it'll be good to have the memories. Take care and don't feel rushed as I'm off to bed now anyhow.
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Sorry for the hassle. I went ahead and downloaded that pic that you just did in case you don't want to do a larger one, so feel free to take it down now. I think that this will make a nice 5x7ish pic to frame. Anyway, it'll be good to have the memories. 
Take care and don't feel rushed as I'm off to bed now anyhow. 
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