Steve Long
October 2025 - Rotterdam
Original
About the Image(s)
This image is from June in Rotterdam. I was fortunate to have decent clouds that day and the reflections in the water. I was drawn to the boat with “Rotterdam” on the stern adding to the travel story.
Sony a7Rc 720 conversion & Sony 20mmG lens/ 1/80sec,F8, ISO 100
post processed in LRc: adaptive B&W, added contrast in tone curve, Denoise, clarity and removed distractions in PS(far right).
One struggle I am having is sky masking, separating the white foliage from the sky. Do you know of any tricks to achieve better sky masking?
12 comments posted
Steve
Wonderful city scene unique to Rotterdam
There is a lot for the eye to see in the foreground and mid-ground.
I like your Rotterdam subject that is right up front. My thought is dodge it just a bit so it stands out and to burn the other objects so there is a hierarchy.
Regards
Emil
Posted: 10/01/2025 16:15:42
Wonderful city scene unique to Rotterdam
There is a lot for the eye to see in the foreground and mid-ground.
I like your Rotterdam subject that is right up front. My thought is dodge it just a bit so it stands out and to burn the other objects so there is a hierarchy.
Regards
Emil
Posted: 10/01/2025 16:15:42
Yes! I like that. Posted: 10/01/2025 18:49:14
Steve, I find this to be an interesting, but complex image. My eye wants to define 3 subjects: the two buildings and boat. Anything that can be done to draw a bit more attention to the boat would strengthen the composition, IMHO. Wow, the sky is so dynamic. Beautiful. Posted: 10/01/2025 16:39:39
Thanks for input. Posted: 10/01/2025 18:50:17
Hi Steve. I like the wide-angle perspective and your composition, with depth of field that kept everything sharp. My preference is a bit softer sky, somewhere between your original and final, but a few other group members like the more dramatic sky. I found that the Sky masking option in ACR or LR does a good job masking the sky. Sometimes, after you mask the sky, you can intersect the first sky mask with a sky mask and get a better mask, but it doesn't always get better. Posted: 10/01/2025 21:28:14
Thanks, I'll try that next time. Posted: 10/05/2025 17:14:55
Steve,
Nicely seen and I like where you're trying to go with the processing. One thing you might consider is cropping down from the top which would make the sky less prominent. The boat is the hero of the shot and should get most of the attention.
I find the Lightroom "Landscape" masking option does a pretty good job of isolating the different elements of a shot. I tried it with the jpg and was able to limit my processing to just the foliage. Posted: 10/02/2025 22:40:36
Nicely seen and I like where you're trying to go with the processing. One thing you might consider is cropping down from the top which would make the sky less prominent. The boat is the hero of the shot and should get most of the attention.
I find the Lightroom "Landscape" masking option does a pretty good job of isolating the different elements of a shot. I tried it with the jpg and was able to limit my processing to just the foliage. Posted: 10/02/2025 22:40:36
A great suggestion! Thanksg Posted: 10/05/2025 17:16:35
Another infrared for lovers of black and white, Steve, with rich black and white tones. I come down on the side of liking the dramatic sky. Posted: 10/03/2025 22:49:08
Diversity of opinion is what life is all about. Thanks Posted: 10/05/2025 17:18:04
Hi Steve, This is the kind of picture we all like to take. You have handled the processing well, although the sky is a little too much for my taste. I agree with Arik's view on sky enhancing. I do wonder if there is a way to make the boat stand out even more from the very complex surroundings. Posted: 10/05/2025 16:15:51
You and Arik are starting to convince me! Posted: 10/05/2025 17:22:10