I would like your feed back on this image.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Sharon Harbaruk on January 25, 2013 at 3:42pm

Very nicely done Robert.   Can I ask what tool you used to cut around the horse? (Laso or magic tool )   I am not sure if there is a way to make the edges a bit smoother so they don't look "cut out".  It may be a "feathering" issue or possibly a softening edge tool...not sure...perhaps someone can enlighten us on that.    It is a bit tricky, but fun to do.  I keep looking at the green frame and something about it bothers me.  I am thinking that it is because there is no other green in the picture.  Perhaps if you used a shade of the orange and blue seen in the picture??  It may be just my opinion on that.  I have only done this type of work once so not a whole lot of help, but I do like what you have done and hopefully someone can give you and others a few tips on how to make it easier to do.    Thanks for sharing and I look forward to other replies.

Permalink Reply by Ron on January 25, 2013 at 7:14pm

Robert, as an OOB picture it doesn't work well.  I don't like the green frame so overall I think this would be better as a normal picture.  

Permalink Reply by Attila - Tamás Vékony on January 26, 2013 at 2:46am

Hi Robert! :)

I would suggest you some post production techniques...

Firstly, if you want to keep the green frame, I would change the bevel to a bit smoother ("soften" option increasing) and also modify shadows: add a 90 degree inner and outer shadow too with a bit greater size but small distance. Also, you could adjust the opacity of them. This would make the photo more "realistic" or maybe eye friendly. :)

The above with shadows you could do with the wood border too with very little distance but greater size of shadow, also 90 degree from top.

I would also suggest - in case you own Adobe Photoshop - using the pen tool (together with the convert tool) and also refine edge and feather (latter only in 1-2 pixel's size) to make the horse cut out smoother (I know your background was not white but these could be used there too, in my experiences I could).

And a last thing I would mention is to add a little shadow under the horse using for example the brush and eraser tool. You may change the blending mode or experiment with different shadow "drawing" but now it looks like if they were in the air.

And one last thing, the yellow background: something red in the left edge is coming in. You could use for large gradients the banding removal (alt click new layer icon, 50% gray overlay, add noise and clip to the gradient layer). This would add some noise but it also reduces the visibility of the banding which is caused by the very few variety of JPEG colours.

I hope I could help - if you aren't familiar with any of the tools above just ask. I'm happy that I could help you a bit too :)

Permalink Reply by Scott Staley on January 26, 2013 at 3:38am

I am new to this group so I will keep this brief. I really don't like the framing I think the photo would look much better as a standard image

Permalink Reply by Robert Davis on January 26, 2013 at 9:57am

Thank you everyone for your fabulous comments. I must confess that I did this as a test of sorts to see if all of you would really be honest (but not to harsh) with me, and you were very open and honest. Thank you all so much for being here for me and sharing your true words on this image (yes it needs more than a little help, it needs the garbage can). I'm proud to say all of you are a wonderful group to be hanging out with.
Many blessings

Permalink Reply by Robert Davis on January 26, 2013 at 10:04am

Sharon - Sorry I can't remember what all I did to make this as it took me about two minutes. You might say it was a slam-banger. However I do recall using the eraser tool so that might have been the tool used around the horse. Thanks for your honest and candid comment - I really need that type of critiquing. Also, thanks for being my friend.

Permalink Reply by mike mullumby on January 27, 2013 at 9:14pm

Robert, i dont like the fact that the horse and rider have left the frame, now it is only a backdrop, would much prefer to see the horse stepping out of it, agree with the others ,green does not suit, hope thats not too harsh, hadnt really expected something like this from you, cheers, Mike

Permalink Reply by Robert Davis on January 28, 2013 at 10:04am

Thanks Mike, every now and then I like to step out of the norm and try something different or possibly bazzar. I've been doing OOB's for a few years now and find that I get bored doing them. So in this case, I thought an image that would stir the minds here at picture social would be a good place to start a conversation. The response has been what I expected, and, I so appreciate all those who commented, especially with the negatives (this is what I wanted - the negatives) which came as softly as anyone could have made them. Obviously this is not my usual work nor is this something I would show a client, but as a conversation starter, thought provoker, lets-tear-it-up image I think it's done the job. What I would like to see happen now is someone doing an OOB and posting it ... wonder where that would lead to?
Many blessings