The camera settings are a good indicator that this image is not a documentary image.
A late afternoon look, as you observed, without maintaining total reality is what I was going for.
Below is the original documentary version. I took the photo at 1:45pm. The clear blue sky and harsh lighting didn't do much for me.
OK. I knew it had to be afternoon but I assumed it was later because of the sun angle on the clouds. I hadn't picked up that the clouds were added in.
I suggest you check out Lumenzia for finer control of the kinds of colour changes you make. There are a couple of other programs that are similar.
The sky was completely replaced.
The sky came from the image below. This is pretty much what I saw at the time.
Photoshop Elements with the Elements+ plugin, which gives me access to a very large chunk of the full Ps, gives me all the control I need to get the looks I want.
Both PSE and Ps give you full control to create luminosity masks exactly as you like. No need for "hand-holding" from Lumenzia or similar apps to fine tune colours and masking.
There is nothing dramatic here. A carefully crafted image of a simple, peaceful scene. Horizontal lines always suggest tranquility and here there are four of them. I feel that you have the proportions of each about right. The weight to the right of the image plus the radial lines from the clouds also taking the eyes to the right. is balanced by the extended lines to the left. The laws of fulcrums and levers seem to work visually as well. I reckon the smallboat is a tad to the left of the visual fulcrum point. The sense of balance contributes a lot to the mood of the image.
That was the whole idea, so "Mission accomplished!!".
I agree with everyone about the need for a bit more detail back from the shadows. I prefer the somewhat darker version from Dan. This is a photo that wants to look natural and the first variation is too bright unless the bird was fixed in a searchlight.
Bryan, I'm not familiar with your camera and how it reads different lighting. The sky also looks a bit oversaturated. If you try similar shots again you could experiment with exposing to the right a little.
Personally, a bit too much red, but...it's the prerogative of an image taker to interpret what they see.
Thank you Chris. This image is actually an edited composite as described a few posts back.
Not trying to be negative, but...it's a very busy image. I know you had a vision, but so many elements are here at play and it only works as a docu shot, for me at least. Sorry.
That's the problem with the existing setup:
Threaded vs flat. Hopefully we will have a solution in the fall or winter...
That's why I normally start from the last post and work my way back through the thread.
Great shot. New meaning to the term "wind swept". You certainly captured the essence of sand movement in this environment.
If I have to choose one, that is my fave.
They are all great images, but this is the one I would print, frame and hang. Brilliant colours. Well done. Pic of the week anybody?
Peace and serenity. Enough said.
Brilliant interpretation in very natural environment.
Graceful bif.
Very intriguing and interesting place to have a meal. Good shot.
Great assortment of detailed images of the gear for fishing afficionado. Well captured.