It was Just a Tree

Posted by Laurie (New Jersey, United States) on 21 June 2007 in Landscape & Rural and Portfolio.

But now it's more.

This is the same photo from the other day posted here. I decided to go for some dramatic tones. I'm not a big fan of major post processing, but I think I like this. It's not too over the top. What do you think?

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Comments (24)

ColNed Pictures from Amersfoort, Netherlands

I like the work on the sky and the tree, but to be hones i think the grass is a bit to much, but hey overall, very nice work !

21 Jun 2007 7:36am

@ColNed Pictures: Thanks.

Suby from Milton keynes, United Kingdom

Does look very dramatic now, they both have their charms, but think I prefer this one cause it has more drama to it.

Suby

21 Jun 2007 10:25am

@Suby: Thanks. I knew you would.

April from Santa Cruz, CA, United States

I really like the processing you did here.

21 Jun 2007 11:43am

@April: Thanks.

Evi from Athens, Greece

Almost surreal...

21 Jun 2007 2:20pm

@Evi: Thanks.

Kheoh Yee Wei from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

great dramatic sky and compo and tones ! Brilliant work .

21 Jun 2007 2:27pm

@Kheoh Yee Wei: Thanks.

Viewfinder from Bradenton, United States

Looks something like an eclipse was happening.

21 Jun 2007 6:31pm

@Viewfinder: Thanks. It did have that kind of feeling. That or when those strange colors happen when a wild thunderstorm is coming and everything gets that strange hue.

John Wilson from Monterey, California, United States

Oh my, simple and dramatic.

21 Jun 2007 8:00pm

@John Wilson: Thanks.

Reza from Montreal, Canada

Wow ! You totally have changed the mood of the photograph and I defenitely prefer this one, especially the effect on the gross down there, gives a very dramatic feeling to this picture.

Bye the way, could you share with us what was you magic process?

21 Jun 2007 10:05pm

@Reza: Thanks so much.

Hmmm...Let me think. I was just playing around with different things so let me see if I remember a little.

I started with a copy of the other version of this photo. I used a gradient map layer to convert it to black and white. Then using a layer mask and the brush tool at 25% opacity to return some of the original color. Using the brush several times (more on the sky than the rest of the photo until the sky was where I wanted it). I only left a hint of green in the grass. Then I applied a sort of red brown color layer over the whole image to sort of give it a sepia tone. I was surprised at the color of the sky after that process. I didn't expect it to be so blue. The blue of the sky didn't really match the Sepia of the grass and the leaves on the tree, but I found it kind of interesting. After that I did play with adding a very fine pattern layer and then rasterizing it. The blending mode I used with the pattern layer was overlay (I'm quite certain, but you can play with the others to see which you like best). I also added a motion blur to that pattern layer. I don't remember if I kept the resulting pattern layer or if I tossed it. Looking at the large original it appears that I tossed it or it is so subtle that you really can't tell. It may have just been enough to define the edges of the clouds a bit more especially where the cloud layer was heavier as you look toward the horizon.

The resulting image reminded me of the strange color cast we sometimes see when a nasty Thunderstorm is approaching just as the black clouds are moving in.

Adam Brown from Dallas, United States

i like what you did here

21 Jun 2007 10:41pm

@Adam Brown: Thanks.

Art Monkey from Salt Spring Island, Canada

I really like it because it does make it a lot more dramatic

22 Jun 2007 5:59am

@Art Monkey: Thanks.

Rahul from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

This is fantastic, great processing here, the tones are fantastic and its become more dramatic. Very well done pal. :)

22 Jun 2007 10:25am

@Rahul: Thanks.

objectif plume from Belgium

un beau thème avec un ciel de rêve. j'aime

22 Jun 2007 8:19pm

@objectif plume: Thanks.

HorseRotorVator from Newton, United States

Damn, that's amazing! Great contrast! Bravo! :)

23 Jun 2007 12:18am

@HorseRotorVator: Thanks.

kmf from Kalpakanchery,kerala, India

fantastic shot

23 Jun 2007 12:56pm

@kmf: Thanks.

badala from Leiria, Portugal

Great post processing.

23 Jun 2007 4:50pm

@badala: Thanks.

mahdi from Iran

very good focus and corner ... nice shot

23 Jun 2007 6:39pm

@mahdi: Thanks.

chacha from United States

Now this is lovely.....

23 Jun 2007 7:29pm

@chacha: Thanks.

Nick Passantino from Bronx, United States

i do like the processing you've used here.. the dramatic version is better than the original.. great work

24 Jun 2007 4:14am

@Nick Passantino: Thanks.

Tim from Bratislava, Slovakia

Interesting! And so different from the first shot! I definitely prefer this one, btw. The colours are great.

25 Jun 2007 12:40am

@Tim: Thanks.

Levine from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

I think its great. Im not a fan of major post processing too.

26 Jun 2007 7:48pm

@Levine: Thanks. It's good to step out once in a while though. It can be fun.

littleMatt from United Kingdom

stunning

28 Jun 2007 10:49am

@littleMatt: Thanks.

Celialee from Kyoto, Japan

You did it just right Laurie!

28 Jun 2007 6:29pm

@Celialee: Thanks.

Manon B from Canada

Splendide!!

28 Jun 2007 8:39pm

@Manon B: Thanks.

Angry Buddha from Phoenixville, United States

Very nice. It has a kind of sepia tint to the color to make it a little creepy. I like all kinds of processing, as long as the finished product looks good.

30 Jun 2007 7:52pm

@Angry Buddha: Thanks. It reminded me of the weird color cast that sometimes happens when a storm approaches.

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Nikon D200
1/125 second
F/7.1
ISO 100
24 mm