HELP!

I snapped this in Durham during a quick visit on our way back from Northumbria, I got it with the K10D and the DA 50-135 but think I could have done with a bit more reach, I cant decide if theres a decent image in there or not, cant decide where to crop and not being one for elaborate digital work I'm stuck as to the best treatment in PS, anyone got any ideas?

This is straight from camera with simple resize.


[IMG]http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j168/impotentspider/_IGP6428.jpg[/IMG]

I really like the picture actually, would have done something like this with it myself.
It may be a bit harsh for some people but that's my preference

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v188/Sockpuppetuk/_IGP6428-2.jpg[/IMG]

Personally, this is one that I would pass by as I sort through things and think "I'll move in past that tree next time."

I think the money shot lies in the cottage, bank, and waterfall.

If you crop out the bottom third of version two I think we end up with a very powerful image.

I like the little bit hazy look. And the wide view around. The front branches should be more clear....
It needs the space. Tried to crop, it didnt work for me.
If the contrast is not so high, then no need of cropping?

Just played with it. Not too bold work. Just the direction where to go (?)
oh jee, rotating was needed a bit too.

ee....scrolling the pic on the screen....
Jep. Cropping the bottom still sounds good.

I like it as it is!
I like the way the foreground trees on the left establish how misty the scene is
I like the way the cottages look as if they are watching something away to the right - and the left-right movement is repeated by the line of the weir and also by the line going across the water in the foreground
The trees above and to the left just nicely complete the frame
It is the kind of picture one can just stroll around
Just my thoughts...!

How about this?
[IMG]http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk244/Anvh/IGP6428edit.jpg[/IMG]

A little bit oversharpend in the tree on the rightside but you get the idea
Tried to make it a bit dreamy, more of a fantasy.

edit: I need to write this down because I'm sure I will forget what I did.
- cropped
- levels
- vibrance & saturation
- a 50% color layer
- a 70% darken layer
- sharpend
- a 70% softlight layer
in this order of layers

My take!




Created a dupilcate layer and add Guassian blur at 10 and set opacity to 50%. Used a soft edged rubber with 50% opacity over the buildings.

Reduced the saturation of greens and yellows. Tweaked levels and straightened image by 1 deg to the right and cropped

You have got it!

Like it best.

Those last two hit the spot in their different ways. Nice work.

Well Aiki I personally like them all

Thank for the ideas folks, though none of you have suggested cropping the one area I was agonising over, the trees on the left in order to place the cottages more on the third, I'd already considered Johns suggested crop from the outset to about the same as Kens but still couldn't decide on the left or even the adjustments to levels etc.

I think I'm going to have a play around with Kens ideas though

Thanks again.

Yours is Wonderfull Ken!
Great to see that the resluts of ours are different but that they hit the spot like John said.

May I ask why you soften things up, I went completely the other way and sharpend it.

I like the way this has been done by Gartmore,

Because....
Gartmore has it most close to the original
(See, Tel shows it so well)
The mist is the clue here.

Actually it is fun to see, what different people do....and come to the conclusion, that the closest to original is the best