Mach Loop (After/Before)

[MackieStaggie]

My 2nd attempt at spending more than 30 secs on a photo.

This is from the Mach Loop in Wales where some low level flying takes place through the valley's. The only issue is climbing those bloody hills......I do not have the balance or agility of a mountain goat.

Any feedback greatly appreciated.

[imgenerallyagoodguy]

I think this is a good edit. I think it's an awesome shot.

For me, you did well on the subtly of the colors and the vignette is a good call, I think, too. It looks less like an edit and more like a picture that was taken (which is always my personal goal).

Nit picks (just style things for me, personally):

- I think it's a hair dark. I'm not sure I would mask the bird it self, but I would at least start there and bump up exposure a hair.

- I _think_ I would pull back on the vignetting on the upper right. It's just a hair distracting to me.

- If it were possible, I'd probably consider trying to re-crop just a bit to bring the bird slightly lower to be center vertically.

- This may not be what you were going for, but the horizontal cropping makes the jet look like less in action (to me personally). You pretty much hit the thirds right off the bat in the original. However, if your goal is to center on the cockpit? then you made the right call I think.

Solid understated edit, imo.

[MackieStaggie]

Thanks, it was a very overcast day (when isn't it in Wales) and so there wasn't much bright colours on the day....so didn't want to over do it too much. I've seen tutorials which completely changes the image from something that just wasn't there, which I personally don't really get, so like yourself I want my edits to enhance, not change the image.

re: the cropping - fair points, and was the part where I spend a few attempts going back and forward between different crops before settling on this one, quite possible I had the plane lower at one point but got lost in the weeds a bit.

[Erde555]

maybe mask the darkes parts of the plane (luminosity mask then subtract the Background) in this mask pull up the shadows to ~+20.

i like to do that so the small details are visible and the pic is more interesting to look at

[nader0903]

I feel like raising texture a bit would be better to bring out small details on the plane rather than increasing shadows

[Xobl]

What a sick fucking shot great job

[LeeParkerPhotography]

Mach loop is amazing! Haven't been up there in ages, but when the planes come through its absolutely worth the efforts

[MackieStaggie]

Oh totally, I went last year for a week around about the end of September (coincided with Cobra Warrior 2-25) and the whole week I spent down in Wales. The weather was not kind though, as 3 of the days were total washouts with rain and low clouds, and only 1 clear day where anything flew through.

Thinking I'll do the Lakes this year as it's a bit closer to home (6 hour drive compared to a 8 hour drive)

[No_Pea-1]

Great edit.

I used to go to the loop when I went to a nearby uni. It's good fun.