(cheating) shadow play

Image | | andy townend

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

atownend_2015_04_16_6091-Edit_HDR
after
atownend_2015_04_16_6091
before

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)

19 thoughts on “(cheating) shadow play”

  1. 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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    1. 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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  8. 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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