Jay Joseph
August 2026 - High-Rise Reflection
Original
About the Image(s)
This photograph was taken at the pond at the Cleveland Museum of Art. This building, just across the road, is finished now but was obviously under construction when I took this photograph. It is a luxury apartment complex with a rooftop pool, just down the street from the Cleveland Clinic Hospital. In the original, I was unhappy with the pond scum covering part of the reflection. The water was so still that day that even after waiting a long time, the scum would not move. I was very happy (and surprised) with the way Lightroom used AI to remove the area and fill it back in. I didn’t think it was possible, so I never tried it until recently. Pentax K-1, Mark II, ISO 100, 31mm, f11, 1/60 sec.
7 comments posted
I wondered why the reflections were more saturated than the real scene. Is that AI and could you lower the saturation to match? Posted: 08/08/2026 21:33:34
The saturation is pretty much what it was in the original photograph. I lightened up the sky in reflection a little and darkened the sky in the top to be a little more closly matched. Posted: 08/14/2026 15:29:18
Great work with this one Jay. The way you have produced your final image from the original is very good. The cropping and removal of all that rubbish on the water surface is first rate. Sanford mentions the saturation, but I personally don't mind the saturation at all. We are all different. Posted: 08/10/2026 08:16:28
Thanks for your comments Ian. Posted: 08/14/2026 15:31:56
Jay,
Lightroom's AI tools have been a game-changer for many photographers, especially when revisiting and reprocessing images captured years ago. It's remarkable how much potential today's editing capabilities can uncover.
Compositionally, I really like the way the crane creates visual pathways through the frame. The crane angles in the lower left and upper right corners effectively draw the viewer's eye into the image from both directions. The building serves as a strong anchor along the right third of the frame, providing balance and structure to the composition.
In my opinion, the cloudless sky works very well here. The adjustments you've made to deepen the blue tones create a pleasing connection between the sky and the water, giving the image a cohesive color palette. I also appreciate the richer greens you've introduced in the shoreline trees, which add depth and vibrancy to the scene.
One area you may want to revisit is the reflection of the shoreline foliage. Some reflected areas appear lighter than the trees themselves, which can draw attention away from the image's overall harmony. Consider either darkening those lighter areas in the reflection or slightly brightening the corresponding sections of foliage along the shoreline to create a more natural visual relationship.
Overall, this is a well-balanced composition with thoughtful processing choices. The image feels cohesive, and your edits successfully enhance the strengths of the original capture while maintaining a natural appearance.
Posted: 08/16/2026 19:59:47
Lightroom's AI tools have been a game-changer for many photographers, especially when revisiting and reprocessing images captured years ago. It's remarkable how much potential today's editing capabilities can uncover.
Compositionally, I really like the way the crane creates visual pathways through the frame. The crane angles in the lower left and upper right corners effectively draw the viewer's eye into the image from both directions. The building serves as a strong anchor along the right third of the frame, providing balance and structure to the composition.
In my opinion, the cloudless sky works very well here. The adjustments you've made to deepen the blue tones create a pleasing connection between the sky and the water, giving the image a cohesive color palette. I also appreciate the richer greens you've introduced in the shoreline trees, which add depth and vibrancy to the scene.
One area you may want to revisit is the reflection of the shoreline foliage. Some reflected areas appear lighter than the trees themselves, which can draw attention away from the image's overall harmony. Consider either darkening those lighter areas in the reflection or slightly brightening the corresponding sections of foliage along the shoreline to create a more natural visual relationship.
Overall, this is a well-balanced composition with thoughtful processing choices. The image feels cohesive, and your edits successfully enhance the strengths of the original capture while maintaining a natural appearance.
Posted: 08/16/2026 19:59:47
Thanks for your comments and suggestions Trey. I always appreciate your help. Posted: 08/19/2026 18:04:04
The AI has done an excellent job of cleaning up the water, which is essential to this image as it is all about the perfect reflection. It's a good composition with the small patch of grass in front of the building and a bench right in the middle of that patch. A couple of things to consider - in boosting the saturation/contrast of the sky, there is a slight halo around the building. You can carefully clone that out, or (better option in my opinion) dial back the saturation and contrast. I like the way the crane is pointing into the corner (especially in the reflection), but the crop has left a thin sliver of tree on the left edge of the frame, which just catches my eye. I suggest either cropping/cloning it out or including more of the tree so that it acts as a stop. Just my suggestions, but you have achieved your main aim to clean up the water - perhaps you should apply for a job with the Cleveland Parks Department! Posted: 08/22/2026 09:51:22