AlanLichty
Moderator
I actually tried one in color using RAW adjustments. I will post it in the morning.
Lets Play 3/9/2018
- Thread starter AlanLichty
- Start date
Sure do that, it would be cool to see another view of it.
AlanLichty
Moderator
Here you go.
AlanLichty
Moderator
Here is my own effort at a rework.
I created a virtual copy of the image in Lightroom and left one alone for the sky. On the second one I brought the exposure up and then worked over the color balance to get to a workable color temp and tint. I used the brush tool on the flare discoloration and readjusted the color balance of the brush to bring it to the same range as the rest of the pyramid face. I brought the image and the virtual copy into Photoshop as layers and blended the layers. I did some sharpening as well as burn and dodge to get the final appearance closer to something that looks realistic.
I created a virtual copy of the image in Lightroom and left one alone for the sky. On the second one I brought the exposure up and then worked over the color balance to get to a workable color temp and tint. I used the brush tool on the flare discoloration and readjusted the color balance of the brush to bring it to the same range as the rest of the pyramid face. I brought the image and the virtual copy into Photoshop as layers and blended the layers. I did some sharpening as well as burn and dodge to get the final appearance closer to something that looks realistic.
This looks good. I actually had more trouble with the sky than the pyramid other then the flare which I ignored.
AlanLichty
Moderator
I didn't do much of anything with the sky at all beyond adjusting the white and black levels.
Hey Alan, that's interesting to see the other shot from there. Your edit now is definitely closest in terms of coloring. You have the flaring corrected quite well, and keeping the edits separate from the sky is definitely the way to go.
One last thing I would suggest. If you look at our final edit, you will notice that the contrast in each of the 3 corners of the pyramid are greater then the whole middle of it now. I would do one final edit where you just raised the contrast of the whole pyramid minus the 3 corners to even out the contrast on the pyramid.
One last thing I would suggest. If you look at our final edit, you will notice that the contrast in each of the 3 corners of the pyramid are greater then the whole middle of it now. I would do one final edit where you just raised the contrast of the whole pyramid minus the 3 corners to even out the contrast on the pyramid.
AlanLichty
Moderator
I looked at the contrasts carefully when I was doing mine and took note of the fact that this pyramid is not a uniform face at all. Originally the whole thing had a facade on it like the top. Other than the top the face of the pyramid had crumbled away and is very uneven especially at the corners. If you look at the second image of the pyramid I posted as a reference you can see that the bottom corners actually protrude a bit compared to the middle of the face so I was thinking that their should be more relief/shadows down there especially given the sun angle.
Kufu's pyramid is different construction and the faces are much more uniform. It was a more simple technique for building one of these and has withstood the elements longer.
Here is some increased contrast (and clarity) to the suggested areas. I will probably do one more pass from the scanned slide given what I know is possible now to clean up a few odds and ends I don't quite like but aren't notable at this size.
Kufu's pyramid is different construction and the faces are much more uniform. It was a more simple technique for building one of these and has withstood the elements longer.
Here is some increased contrast (and clarity) to the suggested areas. I will probably do one more pass from the scanned slide given what I know is possible now to clean up a few odds and ends I don't quite like but aren't notable at this size.
AlanLichty
Moderator
This is pretty much borderline between photography and digital art when we start pushing the reconstruction this far. An interesting task....
Not if we are only taking it to what we see in person. It's not our fault the technology can't do that without help. I only call it digital art when we push it into something that was not seen. And I have no problen with that either, but I make the distinction.
AlanLichty
Moderator
I like that definition.
Mike Mancil
Well-Known Member
I've always believed that Ansel Adams would be a Photoshop junkie if alive today! 
Rick Schump
Well-Known Member
OK, you asked for it. Having software prob. and am playing with new software to take over for NIK.
That sure is a different sky, I like it, even though it may not be what Alan saw in person.
AlanLichty
Moderator
I am going to stroll in the direction of calling this an imaginative interpretation of the scene
It did however make me take another look at my last edit and I now want to desaturate the pyramid face quite a bit. Way too much color for that subject.
It did however make me take another look at my last edit and I now want to desaturate the pyramid face quite a bit. Way too much color for that subject.
Rick Schump
Well-Known Member
As stated I am exploring a new software program since my NIK has died on me. Not a direction I would normally go.I am going to stroll in the direction of calling this an imaginative interpretation of the scene
It did however make me take another look at my last edit and I now want to desaturate the pyramid face quite a bit. Way too much color for that subject.