“There is strong shadow where there is much light”
― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe


This post is a piece of *failed* homework.
The intention, to recreate the brilliance of this week’s Imagecraft Bootcamp – Shadow Recovery hosted by Mitch and Lucille.
My first challenge was to find a photo worth recovering – then I found this one, a memorable sunset over the rooftops of Amsterdam, taken on a very happy Photo 101 “meeting” earlier this year. There was alcohol involved hence the very poor quality of the original shot.
The second challenge was to edit the original shot in Lightroom CC following Mitch’s detailed instructions.
Of course, I am hopeless at following instructions, and, in common with many men, rarely ask for directions.
So, I gave up, and cheated by pushing the darkened image through HDR Efex Pro 2.
Not happy with the result particularly but at least my effort is better than the old *the dog ate my homework*.
Will try harder next time.
I promise.
(shot with nikon d700 and nikkor 50mm f/1.4 lens at ISO200, 1/250s at f/8.0, edited in Lightroom CC and HDR Efex Pro 2)
Retrieving detail from shadow areas….well, you’re lucky if there’s any there….but here, a touch more contrast would do the trick! The sky works very well. I’m sure you could have used Analog Efex Basic Adjustments – Detail Extraction, and done a good job. Go with what you know…. and with a light touch!
….but then I’m telling an expert how to suck eggs….
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ah yes, the devil in the details 🙂 Iwill have a few more goes at this one, my problem is I just have so little patience when it comes to working on the finer details…and thank you for the comment….
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I really enjoy editing, it’s where you get to make a silk purse out of a real pig of a picture……well, sometimes!
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I need more practice (and heaps more patience), lot to learn from your work in fact!
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Smoke and mirrors….just smoke and mirrors…..
😇
Thanks Andy
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Even smoke and mirrors need an experienced eye and hand to be convincing 😉
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“there was alcohol involved…” Why does that make me love this photo even more? New names: Silhouettes and Brightness. Love it, Andy.
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Thank you Lois, something a little different I guess…
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WOW Wow wow…..!
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Thank you…
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Most welcome.
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you did great bringing out the detail… 🙂
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Thank you Alex, still not very happy with it, but thank you…
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and of course, it’s a fantastic citiscape…
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Amsterdam is a pretty fantastic place, yep…
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I’m not much of a photographer and I didnt have time to do Mitch and Lucille’s photorehab, but I love the cityscape.
those menancing clouds over the city, with those intriguing buildings – for me its a photo I want to delve into.. keep looking at… because there’s mystery in there.
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Thank you, happy that the photo conveyed what I felt!
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