Beach landscape (Salisbury, MA) - HELP!

[ajgauthier]

hi all,

I'm having some trouble deciding which crop is best. I'm making a print for my mom, and her favorite escape is this beach in the summer. I'm going to make the print as large as I can, I might be able to get away with something 14" wide. Below are the lower res web versions. If you have any other ideas for creative crops, please let me know. THANK YOU http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/icon10.gif There's more PSing to do with colors and such, so this all a "first shot" I can't reshoot it, I live in Tucson!


1. Crop 1: Original frame

http://ajgauthier.smugmug.com/photos/31873667-M.jpg


2. Crop 2
http://ajgauthier.smugmug.com/photos/31873668-M.jpg


3. Crop 3

http://ajgauthier.smugmug.com/photos/31873669-M.jpg


4. Final Crop 4

http://ajgauthier.smugmug.com/photos/31873670-M.jpg

thanks again!
Adrienne

[Dee]

3. Crop 3

http://ajgauthier.smugmug.com/photos/31873669-S.jpg

I like this one. Of course you plan to straighten the horizon too when you finish your post processing work... :):

Looks like a pretty beach. Where is it? I like how there's a flying sea gull in the photo along with the sail boats.

[ajgauthier]

thanks dee! Yes - I will straighten up the horizon a touch.

No, the foreground rocks are not important. I wasn't sure if they made it better visually to include them. When I was shooting it, I was trying to get the "warp around" feel to the right side of the photo. Not sure if it works, that is why I was playing with cropping and PSing out rocks.

anyone else???

Adrienne

[Raz]

I also like #3.

Where can I find info on straightening horizons?

Thanks
Raz

[colourbox]

Where can I find info on straightening horizons?

From this old Photoshop trick (http://www.creativemac.com/HTM/58Seconds/2000/1_00/deke_total_training/photoshop_rotate_by_deke.htm). If you're using Adobe Camera Raw, there is an actual Straighten tool built in, and it works great in just one step.

[DavidTO]

I also like #3.

Where can I find info on straightening horizons?

Thanks
Raz


You can also use the crop tool. Make a long, thin crop to match the reference line. Move your cursor outside the crop box and rotate the crop to match the angle of the line. Then use the corners of the crop box to resize to your preference.

[DavidTO]

From this old Photoshop trick (http://www.creativemac.com/HTM/58Seconds/2000/1_00/deke_total_training/photoshop_rotate_by_deke.htm). If you're using Adobe Camera Raw, there is an actual Straighten tool built in, and it works great in just one step.


I wish it worked like the tool in Capture One, however, where the image is rotated instead of the bounding box. It's easier to check your work when the image is rotated and you can verify that it looks right. With ACR you still have to cock your head.

[Raz]

Adrienne, sorry for abusing your thread,
and thanks for all the tips.

Raz

[DJ-S1]

Okay, back to the crop - I'll be the oddball here. I like the bottom of #3, but I think it would look less cramped if you left the full sky at the top (like #1).

Nice shot, btw!

[DavidTO]

I'm having a hard time deciding, but I guess 3 or 4. Either.

Not much help, eh?

[4labs]

Too totally confuse you, I like #1.

[ajgauthier]

I also like #3.

Where can I find info on straightening horizons?

Thanks
Raz
Well, I'm not actually straightening any "curve" out of it. I just need to tilt the picture a touch CCW -

A

[Higgmeister]

Okay, back to the crop - I'll be the oddball here. I like the bottom of #3, but I think it would look less cramped if you left the full sky at the top (like #1).

Nice shot, btw!
I agree with DJ. I like the touch of beach in #3 but would also like more sky. It's a beautiful sky that the sail can reach up into.

Pretty shot,
Chris