Leave No Photo Undoctored

[Jeremy]

http://www.maysvillexplorer.com/downloads/pics/autumn.jpg

I was driving through Old Washington near dusk and saw an amazing cluster of autumn leaves lining Main Street... I just had to snap this picture!

[Jeremy]

Yeah right. Reality is seldom as cool as it could be and digital cameras often botch the job even further.

To get what you really saw when you went to take the photo (or even make it better than what you originally saw), be prepared to do a little doctoring after you download the photo to your computer.

The image in the first post was actually taken mid-day when the sky was overcast. Here's the raw photo of Old Washington's Main Street as it arrived directly from the digital camera:

http://www.maysvillexplorer.com/downloads/pics/autumn_raw.jpg

As it was meant to accompany an article talking about the changing leaves and how you should go see them, a lot of work needed to be done to bring out the colors to create an autumny feel.

The point: Leave no photo undoctored. Reality unenhanced is boring!

[Jeremy]

How it was done

Every photo is different so the doctoring changes each time. In this case, we wanted to create a warm, autumny feel out of a picture that was anything but. This was accomplished in 3 steps that took a whole of 5 minutes.

Step 1: A light yellow overlay from the top to bring warmth to the photo and enhance the color of the leaves.

Step 2: A light coffee colored overlay from the bottom to again, create warmth, and also a shadowy dusk-like feel that the picture was lacking since it was taken mid-day.

Step 3: A simple lens flare created the sun peaking through the trees, doubly reinforcing the illusion that the picture was taken at dusk and explains why the sky is yellowish.

[Jeremy]

So what's wrong with the picture?

There's something wrong with the picture's layout. See if you can guess what it is.

[Foxy]

I know the answer, but either way, it is beautiful!!

[kcredden]

Well done! That'd be a great piece of wallpaper.

- Kevin

[ponto]

Can I guess????????? or just answer the question...........

[Jeremy]

I guess if anyone knows, they can just blurt it out. Then the contest isn't to guess what it is, but rather be the first to get it right. :)

[ponto]

My guess is there are no tourist in the picture.

[Jeremy]

My guess is there are no tourist in the picture.

Bah, the tourists all go home after 4 pm anyway :) No, it's not something missing; it's something out of place.

[Foxy]

The sun is in the wrong place??

[Jeremy]

Yay! Give the girl a cookie. Technically there's nothing wrong. As an artist, you can do whatever you want. But locals would know that Main Street runs north to south. The sun sets in the west.

[kcredden]

[hehehs] Good one, Jeremy. I suspected that, but wasn't sure. Knowing me, I'd stick my hoof in my mouth, if I said anything :)

- Kevin

[Foxy]

Ty Ty Ty!!
And I only like home made chocolate chip cookie.