Tina wants us to show how we can make a forgettable image into a favourite one. She demonstrates it beautifully with several examples. It is a joy seeing the process from start to results.
I will take this opportunity to show something I recently found in Photoshop – a possibility to change the skies in a photo with almost one single click.
So, why would I want to change skies in my photo? Well, since I don’t photograph in RAW, it sometimes happens my sky is blown out in white light, which makes it impossible to normalize in any of my software.
I realised only two weeks ago, that Photoshop now had this simple feature, so I wouldn’t have to go a long and tricky way to make the change. Suddenly this seemed worth a try, and I knew just which photo from the Galápagos Islands would make a good model for it. I had always felt a bit sad about the miserable sky in this picture, but could not discard it because it showed so well the spectacular landscape of just that island.
We hope you’re willing to share similar experiences demonstrating your use of editing to improve results. Please remember to link to Tina’s original post, and to use the Lens-Artists tag.
This last picture many of you might recognize, it was taken in Jämtland some years ago. Using the swirl it turned out rather a favourite!
We very much enjoyed your responses to Amy’s “Photography Journey” challenge last week. It was great fun to follow you from start to where you are today! We are also excited to announce that next week’s challenge will be hosted by Sheetal of Sheetal Thinks Aloud. Be sure to check out her interesting blog and watch for her post next Saturday. Until then, stay safe and be kind – to yourself as well.
Leya 
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Wow! Naughty! 😀 Such an addition as this sky does not agree with my photo ethics. 😀 But it’s all good, we all do it as we do it.
Naughty – yes… It is the one and only time I have tried it. And I was happy because I hated the landscape being destroyed with the blown out sky!
I know what you mean, I hate it when this happens in an otherwise nice photo too.
It is interesting how much of an impact the sky makes on a picture. I think it really sets the mood. Think I like the last image best, you did a great job modifying the colors in the water. Although, your last image is my favorite, so creative!!
Thank you, Sylvia! As it is my first attempt at changing skies, I played around and enjoyed the many moods it created. No wonder the sky affects us humans as much as it does.
Wow. I love that swirl effect and you did a great job replacing the skies. It’s so interesting to see different skies creating different moods. I like how you adjusted the color of the ocean, too, to reflect the different colors in the sky. What program did you use for the ”swirl?” I’m trying another PS technique this week, with terrible results…I’ve got to keep trying!! Your experiments worked out really well! Take care and enjoy the day, too.
Glad you liked them, Patti! It is Photoshop for the swirl too. Now I am curious, what are you trying out? Have a great weekend!
You, too, AC. Enjoy!
That sky change is amazing. It really enhances the other features in the image as well. I don’t have photoshop, but now I am really intrigued. I think I’d get carried away with the sky feature. I have quite a few photos from the beach which look fine except the skies are blown out (as you describe). I really enjoyed your post 🙂
Thank you – I was thrilled to try it! Good luck, hope you will go for it!
You’re welcome! I hope I can give it a try.
😀
Great examples of before and after, Ann-Christine! I love what you’ve done with these two pictures, especially the sky replacement.
Thank you, Sue – I loved finding that possibility!
The swirl is so cool!!
♥
Wow, that sky replacement feature is almost worth upgrading my Photoshop for – it looks like a lot less work than the way I did it and is really effective. I spent so much time replacing skies that I didn’t get a chance to look at other people’s work – I guess I’ll have to start now.
🙂
Leya, I love the swirl. I don’t think I have that one on PS Elements, but I’ll check it out. You sky changes were fantastic. I would never have noticed the reflections if you hadn’t mentioned it. Thanks for the great lesson. 🙂
Thanks, Marsha – it seems to many, changing skies is much used! I never tried it until this ”easy way” came up!
I have tried to paint in clouds, either by adding blue or white as necessary. They didn’t turn out too badly, but it was a lot of work.
True. Much work to change skies the old way in Photoshop – so much that I never tried…
I only did it a couple of times. Much better your way!
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Permanent blue skies! Ha- that’s what people think I have all the time 🙂 🙂
Well…don’t you ;-D
Mostly, but not this past week 🙂 🙂
It is interesting how the sky changes effects the mode of the photographs. Of the snowy ones I do actually prefer the calm of the original image. 🙂Great examples.
Yes, many of us do like the calm one best. I don’t think it is forgettable, but maybe less interesting? I was rather taken aback by the great difference when changing skies.
These are both stunning Anne-Christine. I’ve enjoyed playing with the swirl technique, but now have to go figure out sky modification.
I find it good to know about the possibility.
Very cool trick you figured out for skies. I don’t know that much about Photoshop, maybe you can give me a quick lesson someday.
Click Edit and then change skies! Choose the one you like most, and then…click!
I really like the dramatic effect that the darker sky gave the image. I occasionally use sky replacement in Luminar. It’s probably a similar tool to what is built into Photoshop. I, too, have to be careful to watch the reflection in any water, especially if the water is still and especially mirror-like.
Glad you liked it, John, and it really made a difference. Luminar I know knothing about, but they are all more or less the same I guess.
Ha! Who knew?! Don’t like the sky? Change it! Well done.
Haha, yes, who knew? Came across it two weeks ago by chance! Cheers to a new sky!
Love the editing and greatly appreciate those with that skill.
Thank you, Frank! I had great fun with them and the new sky relly made me happy!
Loving the swirl!
Thanks, Fraggle – so much fun with it last spring!
I’m really going to have to get to grips with editing. You’ve all shown why it’s so worthwhile. Apart from the swirl. I’m alone I think in greatly preferring the original. Each to her own!
You are not alone in that, Margaret! I don’t think it is forgettable either, but chose it anyway because the difference is so obvious.
Oh, that Galapagos sky is brilliantly improved! I have to look at that replacement…one day…maybe
Please do, Sue – it made my day. Redigera…change skies. One click when you have chosen the right one.
One day…
I like the swirl effect a lot, but I really like the stark simplicity of the original much better.
janet
I can understand that – I love it too, but the swirl makes it pop. Thank you!
Why don’t you shoot RAW and JPEG? Another advantage to RAW is the ability to change the white balance afterwards.
Because I am stubborn…I know, I know, Mike, …everybody speaks for RAW. Of course it is better, I used it some years ago. BUT, found it totally too much space consuming. I might try it again some day…
Not everyone is a believer I’ve found from talking to people about it. Since I’m so fussy I usually only keep one or two shots each time so backing up the RAW file is not such a big deal. Whatever you’re doing is working just fine, its all about the light anyway. 🌞
You are right about the light too, Mike. And yes – I might change my thinking about RAW. At least now I almost take no photos at all, so maybe it’s a good time trying again. Changing work flow would be easier when I don’t travel.
One drawback to not shooting in RAW is Jpeg images get artifacts if saved over. They should not be worked on. I suggest you try shooting in RAW. I do the even in my cell phone. I love the new sky replacement tool. I’ve used it on water reflections too.
Thank you, Sherry. I tried RAW some years ago, but thought it too space consuming. I might try it again some day.
Space is cheep. I have never had a problem storing images. Wwhen I accidentally shoot JPG in my phone they are useless because they are have no dynamic range. Can’t pull details out of them and the colors are a limited set. JPEGS are only good as a final product to display on the web. You can find lots of information online on why shoot in RAW.
Thank you, Sherry.
I enjoyed these photos and your explanations of the Photoshop editing. I must get on with learning photoshop!
Phew…I will never learn…but small steps…Good luck!
The sky replacement is very useful!
It really is, I might use it again some day. It was fun just playing around with it – getting totally different moods in the image.
Oh Ann-Christine, I’m just going to have to learn how to do those swirls – I so love them when you post them!! This one is particularly amazing the way the swirl goes right through the window! And yes, the sky replacement is very easy in P/S, it’s also easy to add your own skies to the original set which makes for a very natural solution. Loved your final version of the landscape photo, beautiful!
Thank you, Tina. that change of skies really was effective – . I have added my own as well. Loved it when I found it.
You have done that swirl so beautifully, Ann-Christine. You have mastered it now. How long have you been doing it?
I started last spring somewhere. Did it for some posts, and then came back this autumn. Thank you!
I really like that swirl effect. It looks like the house is being hit by a psychedelic tornado.
Ha – love that description! Thanks!
I really love the swirl! I learned how to do that some time back from some blog post. However, I did not master the ability to keep part of the original focus in tact. I must give it another try!! Yours looks awesome!
Thank you, Lisa! You must work with layers so that you can reveal the underlying original. Good luck!
Oh, I need to try that!!!
Love these photos..especially the last one. Thanks
Thank you!
i like that swirl
– and your sky edits and shares – i perks ply have stayed away from Photoshop because it is usually so time consuming – but maybe i explore a little more this year and try some of the easier sky options you described 😉
Sheer luck I found it…good luck with your explorations!
thx
The results of changing sky is amazing! The last image, blew me away…
Isn’t it? I was really surprised how good it ended up. And the last one – thank you!
Great post Ann Christine! I also love the new sky replacement feature in Photoshop. I’ve done the swirl filter, but it swirled the entire image. How did you get it to swirl part way? It made such a great picture.
I set it in percent how much!