Sol Blechman  


In The Marble Palace - How I did It by Sol Blechman

March 2025 - In The Marble Palace - How I did It

March 2025 - Sol Blechman

Original

About the Image(s)

This is a shot in a museum and the marble seemed overwhelming. Then the mother and child came down the steps and they offered a marked contrast to that otherwise cold place. Snapseed was totally useful. Perspective, Crop, Brush, Vignette, Sharpening, etc. My objective was to try and direct attention to the people by keeping that area of the steps the lightest part of the frame.

See the original for comparison.


This round’s discussion is now closed!
8 comments posted




Jerry Hug   Jerry Hug
Sol, Incredible editing. Also sharing your editing tools used to get this great shot. I continue to amaze me. Showing the before and after really tells what can be done with Snapseed. I am so glad that you showed the original unedited image. It is amazing what you can do with your iPhone. This is really a great Museum as seen by the above finally image. I am thinking the must be near your home location. IO like near some great Museums and need to carry my phone an see what i can do. You have inspired me. Jerry
  Posted: 03/05/2025 11:10:59
Sol Blechman   Sol Blechman
In case anybody is interested this was shot inside the Stanford Art Museum in Palo Alto.   Posted: 03/05/2025 15:13:49



Richard Sprott   Richard Sprott
Waiting for the mother and child payed off! so did your editing. As Jerry commented, you do inspire us. I tend to do a minimum of editing and your results remind me to take more time.   Posted: 03/05/2025 13:58:17



Robert Barley   Robert Barley
This beautiful building looks like a fortress or castle with all the stonework. I do think it looks sort of foreboding in this image. I might suggest adding brightness and lowering contrast to open it a bit. I've been working with more pastel edits recently and that's why I thought about that. I haven't been to the art center, so I don't know how it actually looks. I have attached a version edited in Snapseed with increased brightness, lowered contrast, and a little added warmth. Just an alternative.
  Posted: 03/05/2025 16:59:48
Comment Image
Sol Blechman   Sol Blechman
Interesting treatment and it does soften the impact. I think it loses the coldness of the marble which I wanted to contrast with the humans. Thanks for showing a different way.   Posted: 03/06/2025 13:31:05
Robert Barley   Robert Barley
I understand. I was thinking about warming the scene, and you were thinking about the coldness of the stone. Different perspectives.
  Posted: 03/07/2025 12:38:24



Pamela Hoaglund   Pamela Hoaglund
This looks like a wonderful place to wander around looking for interesting subjects. I like your post processing and that you cropped in tighter to bring the people closer as they are an important part of the composition. I love all of the textures in the marble and the horse sculpture. Well done.   Posted: 03/09/2025 20:17:57



Lynne Royce   Lynne Royce
Thanks for describing the editing you did to lessen background and to put the focus on mother (maybe grandmother) and child in a way to make marble less overwhelming. You accomplished your goal. There were so many different ways you could have shot this scene and like the perspective you chose. Particularly admire the way you capture the lighting in the entrance hall and top of scene.   Posted: 03/12/2025 19:51:09