Old Mausoleum

[Judy Howle]

This was also made in Jan 2011 in our local cemetery. A very old, crumbling mausoleum. I used Topaz Adjust, Simplify, Detail, and Color Efex pro contrast and a light vignette.

[Anita Bower]

Nice! I like how you framed the mausoleum. Your processing enhances it and makes it stand out. Interesting textures and details. Well done.

[denise ippolito]

Hi Judy, I like the blue cast on the Mausoleum, I might reduce it on the snow and sky a touch if it were mine. But it is your vision so I'm not sure what you had in mind. I love the stuff growing on the roof!

[Dennis Bishop]

I like the composition and the fact that the mausoleum is in a shadow while everything to the right is in bright sunlight. It seems like there could be a story, there. I agree with Denise about the blue. Following her suggestion would give the sky and snow a more natural look and make the mausoleum stand out even more.

[Judy Howle]

Thanks everyone. The strange thing is that after I used pro contrast (I think that's the one that has the color cast removal) much of the blue disappeared on my monitor plus I desaturated it by 10 points and it did not look this blue but maybe the transformation to jpg caused it. I'll work on it today.

[Judy Howle]

Less blue repost

[Dennis Bishop]

How did you make it less blue?

[Judy Howle]

I waved my Magic Wand over it! Seriously, I used hue/sat with the eyedropper sampling the color and brought it down about 25 points, but I also had to use the Sponge tool set to desat on that right edge of the opening and a few other spots that were too blue. But posted here the edge still looks pretty blue! That's my last effort, I think. It isn't too obvious I hope.

How did you make it less blue?

[Dennis Bishop]

When I have a scene that's too blue, I wave a Photo Filter adjustment layer over it. The default choice is a warming filter, and it usually does the trick. In addition to toning down the blue, it adds some warmth that you don't get by just desaturating the blues in a Hue/Saturation layer. The result is probably closer to what we'd see -- or what our brains would tell us we see -- in real life.

I wouldn't have worried about changing the blueness of the mausoleum, and I think that was Denise's take, too. Instead, I'd mask the Photo Filter layer off the mausoleum.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Judy, I like them both. I especially like the falling down sign on the mausoleum and the vines on the top. It's a nice wintry scene.

[Steve Adkins]

Judy, Very interesting subject. Agree with Dennis that there must be a story or two here. Great job dealing with the blue!

[Judy Howle]

Thanks for the suggestion Dennis. I don't know why, but I've not had good luck with the photo filter several times I've tried it but I have used it successfully on some images. I often end up trying a color balance adjustment layer instead. I liked the mausoleum with less blue but if I get ambitious I might try it again with the photo filter and sponge tool where it was too blue because that bugged me.

When I have a scene that's too blue, I wave a Photo Filter adjustment layer over it. The default choice is a warming filter, and it usually does the trick. In addition to toning down the blue, it adds some warmth that you don't get by just desaturating the blues in a Hue/Saturation layer. The result is probably closer to what we'd see -- or what our brains would tell us we see -- in real life.

I wouldn't have worried about changing the blueness of the mausoleum, and I think that was Denise's take, too. Instead, I'd mask the Photo Filter layer off the mausoleum.

[Judy Howle]

Thanks Cheryl and Steve! I'm sure there is a story and I probably heard it years ago but have forgotten.