Emil Davidzuk
About the Image(s)
Located on the Lake of Ozarks of Missouri near Camdenton, this building was modeled after European Castles. Construction started in 1905 and competed in the early 20’s. The owner died in car accident in 1906 and his sons finished the project. The building was destroyed by fire in 1942, the state of Missouri them purchased the property in 1978 and made it into a State Park. Some of walls remain and it has been fenced off to keep the public from causing further damage. (Ha Ha Tonka means Smiling Waters)
Workflow: I decided clouds were needed for the background, so I did a color range selection of the sky in the raw image in PS CC, created a mask and placed an IR cloud image on the layer below. I converted the composite image to BW using PS CC/Silver Efex. Finished with LR filters on the highlights/shadows. I cropped the tree on RHS and a little of the bottom.
Shot with Canon EOS 5D MK II 590nm, 24-105mm f4 lens, 27mm, 1/125 sec, f8, ISO 100, 0 EV.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
14 comments posted
Thanks for your thoughts
I went there in 2018 with the idea of shooting the castle ruins. The photo op was a little disappointing: the fencing around the building limited good vantage points as did the trees. I did not get too much in the way of closeups. I include this color shot to give you a feel for the clouds and sky that day. The trees are not too onerous either from this angle.
Regards
Emil
  Posted: 09/02/2021 12:50:47
  Posted: 09/03/2021 20:56:13
I am happy that you are happy
Emil   Posted: 09/29/2021 12:18:49
I like this very much, and for me, the addition of the clouds has created a dramatic and strong first impression. In other words, the image has a lot of impact. Two minor suggestions...tone down that very bright section of the building in the upper rh corner of it...second, there's some messy noise in one small section of the sky you could easily smooth with Gaussian Blur or another tool.   Posted: 09/05/2021 16:41:37
Your inputs are good and you have fighter pilot eye sight
Emil   Posted: 09/29/2021 12:18:17
At first glance I thought this was taken at a derelict monastery in Italy, which looks quite similar. I think you did really well considering you had to deal with a fence. The ability to add clouds is sometimes a double edged sword. If the intent was to create high drama, then you succeeded. If it was a natural look you were seeking then less intense clouds through the open spaces would work. I do think the base could do with a little lightening up without distracting from the lovely light patterns leading in. I have really enjoyed this image.   Posted: 09/13/2021 08:52:07
I was after drama when I chose the particular file with some clouds to insert
Understand your comment on the grass, my thought was to make it the base for the photo so to speak so I darkened it
Emil   Posted: 09/29/2021 12:17:03
Inserting the clouds was a must in my mind if the image was going to have any interest.
Emil   Posted: 09/29/2021 12:14:15