Need your help! (REPOST 2)

It's a beautiful image Bill.

The contrast and sharpness look good to me. With regard to color, My Macbook isn't calibrated and I don't really trust my Dell which supposedly is. In any event, this looks to me like it might have just a touch too much blue saturation but what I'm seeing may be natural. I haven't been to the ocean in years. The whites look good to me also.

pat

I like the composition and the light Bill but there's something off with the colour and contrast IMO. Compared to your usual work at least. The pink/magentas look strange to me and I would like to see the water a touch less bright.

Bill, I like it as is. I would say that it looks pretty saturated on my contrasty Imac (the reds in the snow as well as the blues in the shadows), but this may be what you are after. I like the comp and scene, and I would have to see a less sat version to compare. In my opinion, this would even look good B&W, so I think you could go with less sat. Not sure if I helped.

Bill, I'm viewing this post on a large Mac Cinema monitor which stays calibrated using the same hardware and software you refer to. Here's what I see - First, this may not be the best "test" image to provide, as the pinkish light & blue shadows could easily skew one's eyes.
That said, I do find that the contrast is too much, which is really hurting the highlights. The plant life is plenty dark & saturated, whereas the highlights in the sand, ocean, and sky appear way too bright - The Gulf sand looks more like fresh snow, the ocean appears to have an overall glare on it, and the upper sky seems to hover near screen white.

Thanks all for your comments/opinions! Looks like I still have some progress to make.

Bill, I read the comments, and from what I can see Michael Cothran is seeing just about the same thing I am, hope that helps.
John

Repot - Please let me know if this is improved any. Thanks!

Definitely some added yellows in the second post but the contrast and saturation seems a bit weak now compared to the original image. It's also a bit bright on my monitor . . . or some combination of these.

Not wanting to confuse the issue, but artistically, I actually like the original post just fine. I looks like one of yours. The repost doesn't quite look like one of your photos.

Bill,

On my uncalibrated MacBook which is actually my current reference (smile):

It basically appears like the light is softer. The grasses are lighter and there's more detail in them. Everything else looks a touch washed out and overly pastel to me. I agree that the grasses were too contrasty in the first image but in this one they look more natural to me (except the ones at the very top of the hill) and the color on everything else seems to soft and flat. If I were trying to create a water color effect, I'd be very happy with this result. Again that's on my 13 inch uncalibrated MacBook.

pat

The original looks fine to me, it has a pinkish hue but it looks better than the repost.
I think it need just a tiny bit of CCW rotation as a bit of of nitpick.
I like the comp and scene a lot.

Oh, wow! The high key approach really lets the lighter tones in this sing, while the grasses anchor it firmly in reality. I much prefer the contrast in the original and colors in the original

I like both versions -- a slight affinity for the repost. I think the contrast is spot on given the light mood you seem to want to portray.

Bill, I like this scene very much and it sure has your special touch. Great comp and feel. The original post works quite nice for me as it is. Maybe something in between these two would work pretty well too.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Bill, I love the composition, so, no need to worry about any issues there at all. As for processing, I'm thinking a bit of split the difference with a lean toward the original maybe.
Without a doubt the composition has your classic look and signature to it. Wonderful take......

Beautiful image Bill. With regard to the tonality, on my calibrated Mac Studio Display both versions have a few areas in the snow that could use a bit more detail. With regard to contrast, I think somewhere between the two - more toward the original - would be my preference.

Bill,

I am in the 'somewhere between the two' camp. I am unsure if you'll be able to much texture out of the sand, given how fine-grained it is. The composition is lovely and has your touch.

Nice talking with you the other day.

--P

Thanks for all your comments and opinions; it's been a big help. I chatted with Preston the other night and he helped a lot, and hopefully this repost shows some improvement.

The last repost looks the best of the three Bill.

Pat

The last repost looks spot on to me, Bill. Beautiful scene with wonderful light captured with very artistically. Hope you get every thing where you'd like them to be. I know, it sucks to have doubts as I've been having problems with my monitor and I'm ready to throw it thru the wall at times.

Bill, I really like the last one now! It looks great!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Bill,

Your last effort looks spot on to me.

Color management, with all its variables, is a thorn in our sides.

Gary: If you're having issues with your monitor, post a topic in the Digital Imaging forum. Perhaps we can help.

--P

Last one is looking great!