Jim Horn, QPSA
September 2023 - Balloon Glow
Original
About the Image(s)
The Chesapeake Balloon Festival has a time dedicated to tethered hot air balloons to turn their flames at the same time. I used my wife’s point-and-shoot camera so I could quickly zoom in and out. In Photoshop I adjusted the exposure, saturation, highlights, shadows, and then used the burn tool to dim the red halo around the basket and open flame. The experience of seeing massive balloons glow from within in the ⬓cobalt blue hour⬠is moving. I hope I captured it.
Cannon Powershot SX720 HS f/4, 1/15 seconds, ISO 1600, 10mm, handheld
This round’s discussion is now closed!
11 comments posted
Wow you sure did!!! I think you have delivered the luminosity of the balloons just perfectly. I can see the issue around the blown out part of the left hand balloon but its now gone grey so I would suggest you either leave it as it is (I think its fine as is) or use Selective Color in Photoshop on the whites to apply some yellow (this is a good trick for getting rid of blown out areas). Posted: 09/01/2023 19:08:10
see below - Jim Posted: 09/04/2023 15:13:34
You certainly did capture the moment. Both balloons are well placed in the image and their difference in size gives depth to the picture. I agree with Mark regarding the grey in the left hand balloon. Another way of getting rid of it is to create a new layer set with "Darker Colour" then clone the basket from the other balloon. On this layer also clone from the panels higher panels to the lower ones. I have done this on your original. Posted: 09/03/2023 08:45:12
see below - Jim Posted: 09/04/2023 15:13:48
Jim, I have to agree with Mark and David's comments. I think David has the answer to the burned-out color, however, his solution seems to increase the visibility of the reddish cloud surrounding the basket on the left. Perhaps using different blending modes in addition to using the "blend if" sliders could help solve that issue. Posted: 09/04/2023 11:26:07
Mark, David and Richard,
Thank you all for your suggestions and best efforts. I decided to start all over using the clone tool to steal pixels from tree lines and trees to remove all of the red glow around the basked. I decided to keep the red glow inside the lines above the basket. I did not alter the white panels. Let me know what you think of this attempt. Jim Posted: 09/04/2023 15:17:40
Thank you all for your suggestions and best efforts. I decided to start all over using the clone tool to steal pixels from tree lines and trees to remove all of the red glow around the basked. I decided to keep the red glow inside the lines above the basket. I did not alter the white panels. Let me know what you think of this attempt. Jim Posted: 09/04/2023 15:17:40
Hi Jim, looks good to me Posted: 09/04/2023 15:40:38
This is cleaned up better. Jim Posted: 09/05/2023 10:28:27
Hi Jim, great job! Nothing to add. Posted: 09/05/2023 03:13:08
i have taken many balloon shots and they are all run-of-the-mill. Yours are outstanding and the changes suggested by David and Rick just enhance a good image Posted: 09/05/2023 15:19:28
Jim, another excellent photograph. I'm impressed with your composition. The two balloons seem to balance the image. I attribute much of the success of the photograph to your choice of cropping. I also like the modifications made by Rick and David. Nice work.
Posted: 09/17/2023 12:52:13
Posted: 09/17/2023 12:52:13