Rita Johnston
February 2025 - Mr. Reg Jag
Original
About the Image(s)
This Jaguar photo I took on a city street before it went to a show in Vancouver, WA. Data on it: Sony RX10iv camera, F 8, focal length 25, Aperture priority 2.6. I am thinking of this as a still life entry, or do the members think it would go into into a different contest category? It was taken about 3:30 in the afternoon, and I used different filters on it to tone down the bright light, darkening on the street, replaced the sky, and Color Efex pro filter to to bring out the car color. Any and all suggestions to improve it are appreciated.
8 comments posted
Diana Edelman
Rita,
There is a dramatic change for the better from the original to the edited version. The new sky eliminates the eye from heading to the top and leaving the photo. I might have tried to find one that had cirrus clouds to add some interest but not that did not lead the ey to that area quite as much. The filter has added nice warmth while toning down the very light patches of sidewalk and fencing. It also accentuates the car in a positive way.
Two small suggestions. The top of the car blocks with the small slice of mountain on the horizon. I would remove the mountain altogether; it is not contributing to the photo. Second, I would suggest you use the transform tool to straighten the vertical posts on the buildings to the left. I realize their position results from the angle the photo was taken and the resulting perspective, but it would be wroth trying to see which version you like better.
I am not sure this photo fits the category of still life. Be sure to read carefully its definition before placing it there rather than in color photography. Posted: 02/05/2025 16:58:30
There is a dramatic change for the better from the original to the edited version. The new sky eliminates the eye from heading to the top and leaving the photo. I might have tried to find one that had cirrus clouds to add some interest but not that did not lead the ey to that area quite as much. The filter has added nice warmth while toning down the very light patches of sidewalk and fencing. It also accentuates the car in a positive way.
Two small suggestions. The top of the car blocks with the small slice of mountain on the horizon. I would remove the mountain altogether; it is not contributing to the photo. Second, I would suggest you use the transform tool to straighten the vertical posts on the buildings to the left. I realize their position results from the angle the photo was taken and the resulting perspective, but it would be wroth trying to see which version you like better.
I am not sure this photo fits the category of still life. Be sure to read carefully its definition before placing it there rather than in color photography. Posted: 02/05/2025 16:58:30
Diana, thank you for those comments. I will try both suggestions. Probably not still life, but just color or creative if I replace the sky, which I think I have to do. Thank you. Posted: 02/20/2025 17:22:31
Rita,
As you know, I have taken zillions of images of classic cars. And you definitely choose a well admired classic Jag. I like the perspective, down low looking up a bit - it emphasizes the grill, headlights and nameplate. One challenge with images of classic cars is that the surrounding often intrude on the car - I can't decide if this is the case with this photo. So I often end up taking closer images of parts or sections of the car. In your original, the sky was blown out so adding a sky is an improvement although may not be allowed in many contests. I think there is a pretty noticeable color shift in the color of the car from original to edit, probably because the original version is darker. I agree with Rita that this wouldn't be a good entry for still life. Posted: 02/07/2025 22:45:28
As you know, I have taken zillions of images of classic cars. And you definitely choose a well admired classic Jag. I like the perspective, down low looking up a bit - it emphasizes the grill, headlights and nameplate. One challenge with images of classic cars is that the surrounding often intrude on the car - I can't decide if this is the case with this photo. So I often end up taking closer images of parts or sections of the car. In your original, the sky was blown out so adding a sky is an improvement although may not be allowed in many contests. I think there is a pretty noticeable color shift in the color of the car from original to edit, probably because the original version is darker. I agree with Rita that this wouldn't be a good entry for still life. Posted: 02/07/2025 22:45:28
Hi Dean, Yes I know you have taken some winning images of cars, and really want more comments. If I replace it with my own sky, can it be used? Also, what category could it be entered in - maybe "Other" or "Anything goes?" The title was meant to be Mr. Red Jag, so if you could correct that. Please give me some tips on how you might deal with the light in the background, which did put the orig car in shadow. This car was just too beautiful to show pieces of it! Posted: 02/08/2025 17:38:13
You will need to check the contest rules for the contest you enter but if sky replacement is not allowed, which is the usual case, it won't matter if is your image or some other.
Which category you enter will depend on the contest. Often there is a category that include transportation, machines, devices, etc.
I think the color shift is not a big deal, especially when there will be only one image to view. You can increase the saturation bit or selectively affect only that color in LR.
You can darken a blown out sky but it just ends up making it gray, so sky replacement works well, but not for most contests. One option is to crop in on the car and get rid of all the sky in the cropped image. See attached as a possible example.
Posted: 02/09/2025 00:00:03
Which category you enter will depend on the contest. Often there is a category that include transportation, machines, devices, etc.
I think the color shift is not a big deal, especially when there will be only one image to view. You can increase the saturation bit or selectively affect only that color in LR.
You can darken a blown out sky but it just ends up making it gray, so sky replacement works well, but not for most contests. One option is to crop in on the car and get rid of all the sky in the cropped image. See attached as a possible example.
Posted: 02/09/2025 00:00:03
Thank you!
Posted: 02/09/2025 02:55:44
Posted: 02/09/2025 02:55:44
Denny Curry
Love that car! I may have to try a classic car photo as I have never done one. I like the perspective as well as the sky. Brightening up the image sure made the color pop! Posted: 02/11/2025 13:41:39
Denny, I had never done one before either, but I have seen some good photos. Knowing Dean really has an eye for cars made me want to put it in. Thanks for your comments. Posted: 02/20/2025 17:19:16