Sun Moon Lake 2

[mikemeister_admin]

After I darkened the sky I selected the lake and lowered the lightness then a bit of sharpening.

[ggroess]

Looks good.  I always have issues with the far background...I want to see more of the lower mountains but when I push this image too far I run into problems...

Greg

[imported_ganna]

I have a blue tint in my picture, but it almost give one a polorising effect.

[ggroess]

Hello Ganna,

You need not curve the mask.  The idea is that you want the mask to be all black or all white.  Think of the mask as a "silk screen"  the only parts of the image that are effected under the mask are the white parts. 

I think you might be combining channel blending and masking or at least trying....the clouds should be black in your mask and that will protect them from the blue sky adjustment.

Greg

[imported_ganna]

Greg, thanks for your answer. I'm a bit unsure as to what is happening when you curve a mask. Do you then get grey areas in between black and white? I saw "Luminous masking" tutorial a while ago where you get detail out of the shadows without affecting the highlights. I presume that having grey in a mask would have a gradual effect in that case. Do you sometimes use a curved mask in CM?

[ggroess]

To me...
Masking is a black and white process literally...I use a mask to protect something.
 
If I want to sort of protect it I would go with a channel blending. 

I think of masks like a sheet of Rubylith just as the text describes it.  When you use real Rubylith you cannot cut part of the ruby layer off.  It is an all or nothing process, like stripping paint from a window...
I recently saw a color selection process for skin tones that sounds similar to what you are talking about. I have not played with curved masks.  So far I have seen no direct need but I'm open to suggestion.

Greg

[mikemeister_admin]

Here is my rendition:



The hard part was generating a mask that excluded the hazy (smoggy?) areas around the background mountains and below the blue sky, so that when I pumped up the colors it didn't accentuate the smogginess.

  -- Russ 

[ggroess]

Russ,
I'm seeing a slight red halo around the clouds. 
You may have pushed the saturation too far...

I think the red cast is in the greens too...Check your neutral and see if it get a better result.

Greg

[mikemeister_admin]

How's this?  I pulled the M end of the a channel in a touch.



  -- Russ 

[ggroess]

better...

I think it is getting used to seeing the details that takes the longest time. 
I was taught by a very good photographer many years ago so I do sometimes see too much in the images...

I usually do a visual check on the images when i am done to make sure everything makes sense. 

I am completely aware that it is easy to sit here and arm chair quarterback you guys...I always do a "re-correction of the images along with you so I remember the stuff that I need to make you aware of.

Greg