NIK software

[Fogey]

I've been playing around and trying to improve images with the Nik software suite.

Before.

 

After.

Edited February 15, 2022 by Fogey

[Denis]

Looks as if the vegetation needs a little boost, but the sky is much better in image 2 Fogey.

[Clicker]

I think it's great to experiment with  the processing aspect of Photography ... I know  some people are very set against it, feeling that  digital images are being manipulated in a way  that  demeans  the art of photography  and that feel every image should be   judged on  how it comes out of the camera as a  consequence of the  photographer's technical skill .

The fact is  film  was always manipulated the past  as well, by  judiciously dodging and burning selected areas on  an image where the contrast, especially in nature where there  is a wide dynamic range of tones,  is not always possible to replicate  or capture on that medium. Ansel Adams was a  great exponent of  the dodge and burn  method of  achieving a great tonal value to his images as was  W Eugene Smith an American  photo journalist . The trick is  not to overdo it ... a case of where  less is more  can often apply ..at least I have found that in  my experience and it is quite a personal choice  as to what you  find most aesthetically pleasing . 

I  often have to do 3 or 4 edits that are just  slightly different  in their   tonal value  and save and compare them  in   a  folder that I keep   just to enable me to see the  differences by toggling back and forth. The other thing I often do is walk away  from it and view it again an hour or so later  to  ensure my first reaction to the image isn't coloured by seeing too many variants  at the same time and  maybe clouding my  judgement .  Cor ... I bet you wished that you hadn't asked now Fogey ... 

 

[Clicker]

Had a little play to  with  colour Efex and a little  bit of burning  on the  main hill in the background to bring out  the  undulations as it was a bit flat ... lightened the sky  the merest tad as it seems just a bit dark for the  foreground .. and took the slider back a weeny bit in the Structure option in Vivesa 2   soften the clouds just a little .. I hope you  don't mind me posting my edit Fogey ... it's just an alternative ...

 

                         original for comparison 

 

 

 

 

 

My Edit 

 

 

[Fogey]

Not at all Polly.  We'd never learn without other's input.

[Clicker]

The trouble is I usually finish up with at least half a dozen versions Fogey .... and then I  can't decide which edit I like the best ... so it can finish  up where one has too many choices !  Decisions decisions eh ...  

[Fogey]

Taken on board all the suggestions and come up with another edit.

One adjustment layer to selectively apply saturation and vibrance and one to selectively apply brightness and contrast.

 

[JamesT]

It may just be the way my eyes work, but all of the processed versions the edges of the clouds make me feel as if I'm seeing double, to the point where the original is the only one I can look at for any length of time without feeling a little queasy.

[Stravinsky]

My processing usually involved Camera RAW, PS & NIK, normally colourefex

Its an excellent set of progs - using the detail extractor in NIK is good for landscapes