Bridge at Tylers Lane, an experiment.

[Jay Sheinfield]

Another Cades Cove image from last week. It was a foggy dreary morning at sunrise, and I didn't care for the washed out colors of the original image. So I tried a bit of an experiment. I converted the image to black and white. I got the tones and contrast to the light I remember. I will post the black and white image later. I then found an earth-toned texture from Shadowhouse and did an overlay in Photoshop using multiply mode. I liked the coloring but not the overwhelming introduction of textures. Here, I went back and forth, reducing the opacity of the textures (texture layer fill slider) while increasing the saturation of the colors (separate saturation layer) until I got a balance that seemed to work, softer texture with more color. I did some work in selective colors to adjust some of the hues. Some unappealing colors were washed away with a brushed in mask. So, none of the colors in this image are true to the original scene. I have tried this approach on one other photo and it seemed to work OK. Choosing the right texture seems to be the key. It does take a some time.

Please, I'm interested on feedback on this...............You will notice at this size the image may look a bit noisy. That seems to go away at 8x11, with a more subtle painterly texture.

Thanks for the look...................

[Jay Sheinfield]

Here is the Black and White version I used to start. Sometimes, I prefer it, but for a different reason.

[Paul Jasso]

Very cool. Very Monet-ish. I think I prefer the color but I see what you mean going back and forth. I think the color version draws you up and around the road better. Being the nitpicky, detail-oriented, PIA that I am, you might consider burning in the puddle. It's a little distracting–more so on the BW version.

[Anita Bower]

What a clever approach, Jay. I like the results a lot! Beautiful soft colors. I think you did a great job! I agree about the puddle.

[Hazel Grant]

I like what you have done with this. The tree anchors the upper horizon and the bridge railings give perspective and soliity. Thanks for sharing your techniques! I think the puddles add to the texture, misty look that the textures give.

[Judy Howle]

I like the foggy bridge! Nice work with the textures. I prefer the color image.

[Paul Jasso]

Hazel, I wasn't talking about all of the puddles, just the bright reflection where the road starts to curve right. The image has beautiful tone and color transitions and then a bright spot right in the middle. It really sticks out like a sore thumb in the thumbnails. (Pardon the pun).

[Jay Sheinfield]

Less puddle................

[Hilary Hann]

Jay, I've tried to message you but your mail box is full.

This works extremely well but I'm still on my iPad and would like to view it on my computer before making a proper c&c.

[Julie Kenward]

Jay, I love what you've done here. My only comment would be how distinct the fog seems at the mid-road point. In real life I believe it would be a much more gradual transition between what you can see clearly (FG) and what "fogs up". If you could find a way to make that transition just a little bit less stark in the lighter road area I think this would be waaaaay over the top.

[Jay Sheinfield]

Jay, I love what you've done here. My only comment would be how distinct the fog seems at the mid-road point. In real life I believe it would be a much more gradual transition between what you can see clearly (FG) and what "fogs up". If you could find a way to make that transition just a little bit less stark in the lighter road area I think this would be waaaaay over the top.

I agree, thank you. Here is a quick whack at it. Will try and refine it more later.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Jay, this is wonderfully creative. I love your approach and think it must have been painstakingly done but the results are certainly worth it. I have been researching encaustic wax painting over a photographic image and this is exactly the effect I'm hoping to achieve. I wonder if a small crop from the bottom to just below the bridge rail on the left would work - that side seems to be a little lopsided to me.

[Paul Lagasi]

I like them both, lovely repost...if I had to choose I'd pick the B & W...TFS

[Dennis Bishop]

Jay, just a quick alternative that might make things easier -- at least if I understand what you've had to deal with when applying the textures. If you use the Color blend mode, most of the texture part of the texture should go poof, leaving you with only the color. Another idea, depending on your intent, would be to apply masked solid color adjustment layers to the various elements in the image, again, using the Color blend mode.

I do like what you've done with the image.

[Paul Jasso]

Good find, Julie. That slight adjustment definitely puts it waaay over the top. An absolutely amazing creation.

[Jay Sheinfield]

Jay, just a quick alternative that might make things easier -- at least if I understand what you've had to deal with when applying the textures. If you use the Color blend mode, most of the texture part of the texture should go poof, leaving you with only the color. Another idea, depending on your intent, would be to apply masked solid color adjustment layers to the various elements in the image, again, using the Color blend mode.

I do like what you've done with the image.

Dennis, Thanks for the idea........I believe I tried color blend mode, it gave me no texture. I wanted the color burst of the multiply mode and just enough texture to give a painterly effect. There was probably a way to do it with multiple textures.......I'll have to think about it.

Too late for brain to compute. Maybe Denise or Hillary will have some input on the process, or alternatives.

[Hilary Hann]

Jay, finally I've had a chance to look at it better and I am loving what I'm seeing. When I looked at the first frame my first thought was that the fall off to the mist was too sharp for the overall look of the image, but Julie picked that up and you've fixed it beautifully. You can use GND filters as layers in PS to blend various image layers together especially if you want more of the texture at the top section of the image, as this gives you quite a nice graduated blend. In these sorts of situations I would go to multiple layers of the same texture at differing opacities and in some circumstances I use varying blend modes as well. Then you can use the graduated density fill layer to soften the effect from top to bottom. It may be as much work as you've done here, to achieve the same result. In my experience, this sort of work takes time and care, but the result you have achieved is worth the effort in my opinion.

For me, each image is worked differently and I have no set pattern apart from my initial processing (levels, LCE, sharpness, dodge and burn, luminosity mask etc.). I think you've taken the same approach I would have done, that is, feeling your way with what the underlining image needs to bring it to the finished product which pleases you.

I agree with Cheryl in that a slight crop from the bottom would be worth trying to see how you like it.

[Jay Sheinfield]

Well, this was great. All the feedback was super good. Thanks to all.

Hillary, thanks for processing tips.

Paul J., appreciate the heads up on the puddle.

Cheryl........I can't figure why the bridge turned out so lopsided. I do have a fix that helps.

[denise ippolito]

Jay, Really nice feel to this. It almost looks like a Wallace Nutting. Great advice given, I do love the B&W version!