Brenda Fishbaugh, QPSA
About the Image(s)
Canon 5D Mark IV Tamron 28-300 handheld
ISO 250 67mm focal length f/18 1/250 second
We were in Santorini, Greece in September 2019 on a Viking ocean cruise. It was packed with tourists and it was hot sun, not much you can do on a cruise. I shot this after being shoved out of the way, you can see the tilt of trying to stand up. Recently, I saw the same shot by a pro photographer, and thought I'd give it a try.
I made the leveling and the crop and standard adjustments in Lightroom, Used Topaz Sharpen and used Topaz to add the sun rays, I used a high pass to sharpen the buildings, and I did add a little blue paint to the Orthodox church roofs, as the sun bleached them out terribly, and due to the drought, they hadn't been washed clean from rain.
Since I added a light blue paint to the roof and I added sun rays, did I toss myself out of PSA Travel? I could compete in PSA Color, or remove rays and blue, if you felt it was a strong enough composition. Or the same as a million other snapshots?
This round’s discussion is now closed!
21 comments posted
I like your crop, it really frames up well.
I am not as sure about the Topaz rays.
I like the plain blue sky. It is harmonious with the blue cupolas. There is also some noisy grain in the sky that catches the eye.
  Posted: 07/02/2021 02:53:03
I love the concept of adding the suns rays from the top left, but these look false because they just stop, can you extend them over the buildings, and maybe reduce the opacity?
You need to read the specific salon rules to see if they allow adjustments as some do allow changes, such as the roof fix, but the rays are probably a no-no.
  Posted: 07/04/2021 10:55:42
Without reading the other comments, my first inclination was to crop it more like you and some of the others. But seeing Jim's crop, I do like the way you see the town growing up out of the empty mountainside and gives a nice flow to the image I think. I would try a crop like that and maybe even include those bottom buildings which blend better in a larger view than when they are taking up the whole bottom of the frame.
I prefer the sky naturally as it is where you get a nice gradient from dark blue sky to dark blue sea. Sunil's idea to darken it a bit more might work too.
  Posted: 07/15/2021 13:12:54
I have sharpened the buildings a bit, and I've NOT painted the roof or buildings, and the sky is about where it is in the original. Do you like the landscape or the really long landscape? Or neither (my opinion, as the churches are a bit pink with the dust, but does add to the town colors).   Posted: 07/20/2021 18:32:06
(Groups 24 & 48 & 58)
I love it! So much brighter! Unfortunately, adding a sky, even my own, would toss it from PSA Travel. I could, however, enter it in Color. Do you like either of the longer compositions just above your entry, if they were lighter, or do you like the vertical? Thanks for stopping by!   Posted: 07/29/2021 13:04:58
(Groups 24 & 48 & 58)