Despite the fact that it was quite a cloudy day, (see ‘’"CASTLE FORCALQUIERET 2’’":http://images-2.redbubble.com/img/art/size:lar... ) these are not the original clouds.

This wall is directly facing the setting sun and was very over exposed and due to the large area in darkness on the lower half, the camera overexposed everything, especially the sky which had completely washed out.

As much as I object to photographers compositing into an image things that weren’t there, this is very much how the day actually looked.

I will always advise clients anytime compositing has been done in Post Production.

PROCESS:
-Import original colour image.
-Convert to B&W (Desaturate).
-Create Negative Mask layer and adjust Opacity.
-Merge Layers.
-Select by Contiguous Colour and remove original washed-out sky.
-Import clouds as Layer.
-Convert clouds to B&W (Desaturate).
-Move/position clouds.
-Rotate clouds slightly to better suit perspective.
-Merge Layers.
-Adjust Levels.
-Selective burning of Highlights and Midtones on the rocks on the pathway and some over-exposed areas on the rock wall to the far right of the archway.
-Create new Layer (transparency).
-Add Noise to new layer to create grain effect.
-Adjust Opacity of new ‘’Noise Layer.’’
-Merge Layers.
-Adjust Levels.
-Scale Image to 2766×3840 pixels per inch at 150dpi.
-Save As .PNG file type – Compression Level 9.

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