It’s time again for Stacy’s One Photo Focus, where we are given a photo to edit as we see fit. I’m always astounded at the variety of creativity that we find from the entries. Click on the link above to see all of the other submissions.

Here is August’s original image, supplied by Katie Prior. What a great scene! Those waves crashing, the texture in the pier and those clouds overhead. I really couldn’t wait to get started.

The Cobb before

 

Here is my dramatic black and white version:

Desley_OPF_August-1

I felt that the composition lent itself nicely to a square crop. It enabled me to get the bottom right edge of the photo to meet that rough and rocky pier. I think it really highlights the crashing waves. I also used a graduated filter to darken those clouds, enhancing the stormy mood of the shot.

Of course, I had to have another try. I wanted to do another edit with a more traditional crop and also in colour. I wanted to see what was hiding in the side of the pier where the waves are crashing in and boy was I happy with the gorgeous colours that emerged. I haven’t adjusted the colours at all, except for desaturating the red coat that the person on the left is wearing as it distracted from the gorgeous greens, golds and blues. The colours were only enhanced by increasing overall contrast and clarity in the basic section of Lightroom. 

Desley_OPF_August-2Absolutely a fabulous challenge to sink your teeth into. I highly recommend it. Thank you Katie for a wonderful shot and thank you Stacy for organising. This is fun!

x desleyjane

 

 

Posted by:desleyjane

photographer, blogger, planner, scientist, dog lover, frequent flyer, daughter, sister, BFF, human

38 replies on “One Photo Focus – August”

  8. I much prefer the first crop, the second one leaves no room for the top of the image to breathe in my opinion and I LOVE your BW conversion, esp the deep contrast on the stones in the foreground and the dark wall vs the waves.

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  11. The first crop leaving the sky in gives more balance and I love the B&W, very dramatic. btw Thank you for putting me on to LR I’m having a lot of fun with it, much better and easier to use than PS

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  12. Nicely done on the monochrome, Desley. Wonderful, moody sky adds to the overall drama of the scene and I really like the square crop! I do love the colors of the second, but miss that awesome sky. I love that you usually submit a few versions – always interesting to see what you come up with. It’s like a mini One-Four Challenge a la Robyn G 🙂

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  14. Great job, Desly. Love the contrast in your black and white and how you emphasized the clouds. The One Four challenge is fun. Give it a try some time!

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  16. Really cool edit, love the black and white and good idea to crop square. The colours on the second edit are really nice too, lovely and rich and I like that you changed the red coat green, it stops it from taking over so much. Nice work Desley!

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