The Reshoot
OK, so I went back in much better light and got these two shots (they look MUCH better bigger, so click on each one for a larger view). I was waiting for the couple on the right to move out of frame so I could take the shot, but while I was waiting my wife climbed down on the rocks, and when I told her why I was waiting, she said, “I think they add to it.” Ya know, I think she’s right. 
Although the light and color were much better, there were hardly any clouds in the sky during the reshoot (there’s always a tradeoff, right?), so I like the light and seeing more foreground here, but I prefer the clouds from the previous shot. Anyway, I had a great time shooting (the temperature was perfect and there was a wonderful breeze). I am just loving Maine—what a great place to spend a summer!
NEWS: Scroll down to the next post for my Wednesday News Brief.
Gotta say, your wife was right. Some may say the first shot is cheesy in my humble opinion it really adds to the shot. But heh maybe I’m just a sentimental kinda chap. Looks like the perfect holiday memory shot to me.
Both beautiful shots Scott. I think I’d prefer the 2nd, lighthouse3sm.jpg, with just a tad less of the vignetting effect- I gather that was intensified in LR or PSCS3 probably?
In the first shot with the couple in it, did you use a neutral grad? Or is it a composite or HDR? I like that you kept the dark puddle region in the foreground and got the sky with what highlights were there.
Anyway, I am catching up on my rest for the long drive to Northern Maine on Friday and can’t wait to hit Acadia National Park in the pre-dawn hours. [May be a little more slowly during this stay as I recall almost hitting a gigantic moose as I raced against sunrise to get to the rocks a few years ago.]
Enjoy your stay and keep posting.
To Brian:
Thanks so much (I’m a sentimental kinda chap, too!).
To Phil:
The Vignette was added in Lightroom (these are pretty much all Lightroom), and I agree—I probably pushed it a bit much on the vignetting. I shouldn’t process my photos late at night.
Re: your comment about clouds….. You should check out SUZETTE ALLEN latest Smartical titled Creating Cloudy skies @ http://www.shootsmarter.com/
I think the couple adds balance to the first shot. Your eye goes naturally from light (the lighthouse – not pun intended) to dark ( the couple). Balance and contrast are the keys to the success of this shot.
Not wild about the second shot. A little too much vignette.
Love your work. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Scott: Having attended one of your conferences, you drilled into me to use CD/DVD Sharpies. I’ve emailed Epson twice asking them if their ink is acid-free (such as those used on their CD/DVD printers) and I can’t get a straight answer from them. Hence, I figure the answer is “no”. Does this also mean that the adhesive on Memorex CD labels, etc., are not acid-free as well and we shouldn’t be gussying up our CD’s & DVD’s when archiving photo’s and memory albums/movies that I make?
Aloha, Sandy Char
Honolulu, Hawaii
I like them both. Having the couple in the foreground adds a nice balance. And I dig the vignette in the second one
Sono un suo assiduo lettore, lei mi ha aperto un mondo nuovo
nella post produzione con photoshop, la ringrazio infinitamente…..
by Loris
I think the first shot would be great to try out the HDR in photoshop. Of course unless you took multiple exposures it is too late. By the way I like the vingnette in the other one.
I would like to see the first picture with the couple cropped out and made square. Even though there are scant clouds the skies are wonderful.
I love both shots but, sorry I am writing with a question. I would like to know if you have a training DVD for Photoshop Elements 4.0.
Thank you