Too much?

[Damo77]

Hi everyone,

I'm not a photographer, just an enhancer. Usually I don't get to speak to photographers regarding their intentions with an image, I just have to use my own artistic licence, and hope they're satisfied.

I'm nervous about this one, because not only has a pro photographer taken the shot, another pro is the subject!! This is the cover photo for one of the magazines I work for.

So I'm keen to hear your opinions - have I changed the original too much? I think I've made it quite striking, but is it too big a leap?

wkndr_r.jpg
wkndr_e.jpg

Thanks for your input.

[Alison]

Hi Damo,

Is the viewers attention meant to focus on the sunset/sunrise, or the couple ? Think in the rule of thirds for this scene, you need one third above the horizon line and two thirds below. Regardless of the beautiful scene going on in the background, the focus still has to be on the couple. I've attached a very quick work of your image. I've cropped away a little too much from the top ....... Kept the colours to what would more than likely, naturally would be going on, and tried draw the viewers attention to the main couple before they eye wanders off to take a look at the scenery.

Don't forget to straighten you horizon line, so it doesn't look like the water is draining to the right :-)

If the scenery is the important part, forget what I just said

[Damo77]

Hi Alison, thanks for your reply.

However, the cropping is out of my hands. As I said, it's a magazine cover, so I expect the editor to run the masthead across the sky. And of course, some extra image is required for bleed on all sides.

I won't really know how it's cropped until I see the printed result. My sole responsibility is the colour.

[chillin]

IMO, if it's dusk I would “desaturate” a bit the sky & the water.

[LonK]

You might want to try reducing the depth of field (gradually blurring the background) to direct more attention to the people. Otherwise as is, it looks super!

[Cassidy]

Personally Damo, I like what you have done, but think chillin's suggestion hits the nail on the head when it comes to something a little more natural looking

[perrush]

I agree with Chillin, my first thought was that the blues were way too saturated. Chillin did it well