Dusting of Snow

[DoctorJazz]

Took these after a snow squall in my travels today.
Any CC welcome.

[Kaye]

Sandy, these are beautiful. I love the mix of the blues/grays/whites.
Speaking of colours, I feel that the white in the snow would be nicer and stand out more without the blue hue.
You should be able to simply get rid of this in "Selective Colour" by choosing White and taking out the blue or cyan.

Lovely series of shots.

[mickncrispy]

Hi Sandy, these are lovely serene pictures. I was thinking about what Kaye said about the blue colour cast and couldn't decide if I agreed or not. The blue does give it a lovely cold wintery feel. I don't normally play with other peoples photos but was busting to see what they would look like without the blue. This does give the image a completely different feel and I think I prefer your blue image better. My apologies if you aren't happy with me playing with your photograph, I will gladly remove it if that is the case. By the way it is rather weird looking at an image of snow when I am sweltering in 32 deg heat and afternoon rain storms

[mickncrispy]

Never mind, for some reason I keep getting your version when I upload. That's what I get for playing with someone elses work I suppose :o

[kinetic]

Hi Sandy and hope you are well.
I do like this scene with the buildings in it, sort of gets away from the more standard snow scenes one might expect, so well done on that.
I am sure you have done some night shots of these buildings, they offer so much potential for future shots.

What do you think of the white balance…I see it as ok? You seem to be working mostly under soft light,
which will give a muted or flat look to the colours, so you can either warm things up or cool things down
with your white balance whichever you feel you need for your given situation.
You can do this with the kelvin settings in your white balance…this basically adds more warmth or cools down your photo.
When I shoot in snow I make a custom white balance and take a reading directly from the snow around the scene that I intend shooting from.
As long as the lighting doesn’t change too much this stay’s good for that scene and I have found it gives nice true colours.

You should have the ability to do a custom white balance in your D90…have a look at your manual on custom white balance and
also have a look at the kelvin. This is just a pointer not because I am saying your photos need it.

If you set your white balance up correctly for a given location or scenes lighting conditions you will have no need to visit PhotoShop on this.
Point being do it in camera rather than in PhotoShop…too many people are quick to jump to PhotoShop as the answer to basic in camera settings…
I would always encourage knowing how to answer these problems in the camera rather than in post.

But I think the w/b is ok and anyway you are still finding your feet with a new camera…
all those buttons and dials and so many menu’s…:D:D:D don’t worry Sandy it will all come together with your new camera…it just the getting use to it.:)

Mark

[eyerkish]

Lovely shots, Sandy. I really like the composition in #1, my eyes can wander around the picture and wonder what people are doing in different places without the photo looking busy. I also like the amount of snow - it seems to compliment the buildings rather than overpower them. Looks like you got out at a good time.

[DoctorJazz]

Hi Kaye, Lisa and Mark....sorry to take so long in answering....was about to post an edit, and the internet crashed for a while....

Kaye,
Thanks so much for your comments and your thoughts on the colors here, although
I may not be seeing the same tones you are....in the first, I played with the white picker for the grassy foreground and the bridge, and left everything else the same.
I think it livened things up a lot. I'll post it here. In the 2nd and 3rd I'm not seeing a blue cast, but maybe a silvery light, which I kind of like, so left those two alone.
In the first I also didn't like the border I chose, so got rid of that too.

Lisa,
I'm wondering how you think my edit of no. 1 compares to the original?

Mark,
Many Thanks for your input and great suggestions which I will take with me.
I'm looking forward to practicing a lot more...and I'm sure I will have plenty of snowy opportunities.
I'm glad you think the white balance in these is OK....it was a good test, but will
take your advice as I do more. You are right....I will be a while just learning the menus!:) Thanks Mark.

Hi Eddie,
Thank you so much for your comments!
It was a sudden wild snow squall that lasted about 30 minutes, and then the sun broke through. I happened to be in this spot and was amazed at how pretty the
old abandoned factory buildings were with the little accent of white.

[mickncrispy]

Hey Sandy, your edit is almost the same as the edit I did. I prefer your original myself but others may disagree

[DoctorJazz]

Thanks Lisa.:)

[sanbizweb]

Very nice shots Sandy. I think they look great.

[DoctorJazz]

Thank you Yuni! Urban photography is not in my comfort zone, so I am glad you think these have something to offer the eye.:)

[Kaye]

Kaye,
Thanks so much for your comments and your thoughts on the colors here, although
I may not be seeing the same tones you are....in the first, I played with the white picker for the grassy foreground and the bridge, and left everything else the same.
I think it livened things up a lot. I'll post it here. In the 2nd and 3rd I'm not seeing a blue cast, but maybe a silvery light, which I kind of like, so left those two alone.
In the first I also didn't like the border I chose, so got rid of that too. Sandy

Sandy, I think your latest post of No. 1 is great. I love the way you highlighted the foreground, and think it enhanced the shot beautifully! I do agree with you about the silvery light in 2 & 3.

Sandy, I would just like to mention a few words to Mark also, so I hope you do not mind, as all the info is above.


********

Mark, you made a comment in your post above about Photoshop which I thought may have referred partially to my initial response to Sandy (and perhaps some posts by others in different threads)??
I refer to your comment:
Point being do it in camera rather than in PhotoShop…too many people are quick to jump to PhotoShop as the answer to basic in camera settings…
I would always encourage knowing how to answer these problems in the camera rather than in post.

I must agree that to do it in camera is most definitely my first choice also.
For those of us like myself who do not always take the "perfect" picture, I am most happy to use Photoshop to enhance my shots a little. I am sure many others are as well, especially when it is not always possible to re-shoot the exact same scene with the same weather conditions, etc.

I would never offer my opinion on any major Photoshop alterations to a SOOC photo, and where possible, would suggest a re-shoot.

This site now offers a Photoshop Course, and I am sure this will help many members to learn much about Photoshop, and will give them the opportunity to enhance their photos like many of the best photographers do.

I love this site, and offer my opinion when I can to help others.
I have never been fortunate enough to own a DSLR and purely comment on members shots from how "my eye" sees it, and from the huge amount I have learned on Proud. As you know, I am currently not capable of recommending settings on a DSLR.

If members feel that ideas on Photoshop should not be included in Critique, I am most happy to listen.

[DoctorJazz]

Thank you Kaye for commenting on the edit of no. 1.
Regarding the conversation about PS vs. In Camera...I also want to point out for those who might have missed it....Jerry's comments in the SOOC thread in the Weekly Photo Section. I thought he addressed the subject very well, as have both you and Mark here....Thanks.