night image

[max montana]

hi, this is an update of an older image. i am not really satisfied, but don`t know what is missing. would be very thankfull if someone gives me some input.

[MVE]

Its very nice, but I would just reframe the image so there is less of the night sky and more of the actual building and cars. Additionally I would add more detail to the road and curb near to the camera.

I am not sure that you would see the blue of the night sky when the camera is exposed for the high amount of light emiting from the building. I am certain that you would not see the stars!

[Preisler]

Hi Max!

As MVE mention the detail level of the surrounding area needs to be higher so it match up with the level of the cars. I would ad some more lights on the cars in the front - car dealers usely have a lot of streetlights outside there buildings

You might want to tweak the image a bit more in Photoshop to increase colors and contrast. I made a small test - hope you don´t mind.

Preisler

[max montana]

thanks for your replies.
@preisler: ...would never mind, i am glad you take the effort to optimise the image. its much more demonstrative for me when suggestions are shown in an image -thanks.
can you describe your ps tweaks?
@mve: road and curbstones are same like in the image below.i loose the details cause to the dark area there. maybe some light will fix that.
concering to blue nightsky and stars you are definitely right, but i will let it pass under arty freedom.

[stevesideas]

Maybe some streetlights offscreen to the left would add a nicer ambient feel to the scene. It would also pick out the highlights nicely on the cars, kurb and path.

[Preisler]

@max_montana

Sure... if i can remember what i did

1) Auto color
2) Shadow/Highlight (Amount: 5-8%. Tonal width: 100%)
3) Hue/Saturation on the sky to remove the redish tone.
4) Darken the sky with a copy of the image applied with curves.
5) Added some sparkles/ glow to the lights.

...I have the ps file if you want it.

Preisler

[add101]

i would also suggest a streetlight, or display lighting at the cars in the foreground.

[olitech]

why don't you wet the road and sidewalk like they do in car commercials?

[max montana]

thanks the description and for sharing the ps-file preisler. i sent you my emailadress via pm.
thanks for the other suggestions. will give them a try-if i can.
don`t know how to make a wet road.

[beestee]

PS adjustments:

Layer 1
-Polygonal Lasso to isolate sky
-New blank layer using this selection as mask
-Med Blue to Dark Blue gradient fill
-Blending Mode "soft light"
-Brightness/Contrast to enhance effect
-Adjust Layer Opacity for desired result

Layer 2
-Duplicate of original image
-Gaussian Blur @ 2px
-Blending Mode "soft light"
-Brightness/Contrast to enhance effect
-Adjust Layer Opacity for desired result

Layer 3
-Duplicate of original image
-Smart Sharpen 100% @ 6px
-Smart Sharpen 50% @ 1px
-Smart Blur Radius 3 Thresh 25 Quality High

Layer 4
-Original Image

Maybe a few other very minor adjustments here or there, but the above outline takes care of most of how I got this result:

[max montana]

@ can`t manage it to create the nice sparcles around the lights, as they are in preisler`s image. can someone tell me how to do this in ps?

[Preisler]

Hi Markus!

In Photoshop click the "Pick Brush Presets" and choose the "Crosshatch 1" (...or no. 4). Create new layer and white for the brush - start painting

If you can´t find the Crosshatch brushes, then in presets click the black arrow and choose "Assorted Brushes" and click Append.

Preisler

[max montana]

thanks lars, works perfect.