Before and after

[Silver Simon]

My better half and I have just spent a good three hours processing a photo.

It's a photo I took one evening in June, near Dorchester that I was going to bin until we found Lightroom.

We are new to Lightroom and its box of tricks and how to use them.

We've looked at some you tube videos and tried to put into practice what we've seen.

Fully appreciate it's not the best of images to start with but it's the exercise that's important.

So, please what do you think? We're over 21 so anything goes.

 

[stormcrow]

You’ve made a really good start on that image and the changes you have made have certainly enhanced the image.
I hope you don't mind but I have done a few adjustments of my own. I like quite dramatic images so I have mainly adjusted contrast. I began by doing some noise reduction to your image as it is quite grainy in places. I then used the graduated filter tool to darken the sky a little.
I then used the adjustment brush to darken and lighten different areas of the image. This was done by using the settings in the drop down menu (default setting is custom) to select dodge (lighten) and Burn (darken)

Looking at it again I went a little too far with the noise reduction and it looks a little soft so I could either reduce the noise reduction or apply a little sharpening.

 

[Buck]

I agree with Dale that your attempt has made a great improvent to the starting image.

The first couple of points that struck me about the image was the noise/grain and then the couple of light patches down in the bottom left corner where it looks as though you have used an adjustment brush to lighten that area?

One thing I would suggest ( and sorry for stating the obvious ) is to learn how you made it better. What was ith that you specifically did and what effect did it have on your photo.

Keep it going - its great to see a picture transform at your fingertips!

 

[new2me]

I tried to rescue some handheld sunset shots a few weeks back, much as you are. I gave up because they were looking more like paintings than photos; not my taste, but others will like it.

 

[Silver Simon]

You’ve made a really good start on that image and the changes you have made have certainly enhanced the image.
I hope you don't mind but I have done a few adjustments of my own. I like quite dramatic images so I have mainly adjusted contrast. I began by doing some noise reduction to your image as it is quite grainy in places. I then used the graduated filter tool to darken the sky a little.
I then used the adjustment brush to darken and lighten different areas of the image. This was done by using the settings in the drop down menu (default setting is custom) to select dodge (lighten) and Burn (darken)

Looking at it again I went a little too far with the noise reduction and it looks a little soft so I could either reduce the noise reduction or apply a little sharpening.

Thanks for your comments and your version. You got the sun rays showing more than we could, it was one of the features we tried to enhance. The brush is something we need to 'brush up' on!

For newbies your input is invaluable, thanks again.

I agree with Dale that your attempt has made a great improvent to the starting image.

The first couple of points that struck me about the image was the noise/grain and then the couple of light patches down in the bottom left corner where it looks as though you have used an adjustment brush to lighten that area?

One thing I would suggest ( and sorry for stating the obvious ) is to learn how you made it better. What was ith that you specifically did and what effect did it have on your photo.

Keep it going - its great to see a picture transform at your fingertips!

Itis great to see something go from a complete disaster to something that people might say .. "Hey, not a bad shot".

You are right, need to learn and remember.

 

[rjbell]

You’ve made a really good start on that image and the changes you have made have certainly enhanced the image.
I hope you don't mind but I have done a few adjustments of my own. I like quite dramatic images so I have mainly adjusted contrast. I began by doing some noise reduction to your image as it is quite grainy in places. I then used the graduated filter tool to darken the sky a little.
I then used the adjustment brush to darken and lighten different areas of the image. This was done by using the settings in the drop down menu (default setting is custom) to select dodge (lighten) and Burn (darken)

Looking at it again I went a little too far with the noise reduction and it looks a little soft so I could either reduce the noise reduction or apply a little sharpening.

A little too far with the saturation too.