Coastal Experience, Photography, Travel

Another Look at Yaquina Head, Oregon

Recently, as my photography skills have progressed, I have upgraded my photo processing software from Photoshop Elements to the full version of Adobe Photoshop. Why?

Well, Photoshop Elements only allows photo edits using 8-bit color whereas the full Photoshop allows 16-bit color processing, for more vibrant images. In addition, Photoshop has the ability to stack images one on top of another for more sharpness and image clarity such as the images I posted in the star shots from Bandon, Oregon. And it has more sophisticated editing tools.

Anyway, I decided to re-work a couple of shots from the Newport, Oregon trip last January. So, I thought this would be a good time to show you the new images.

I took this photo of the Yaquina Head Lighthouse from my hotel room balcony while in Newport last January.

So, what’s new? Well, I think I got a better handle on adjusting the color temperature after more experience with sunset photos. I also was able to used the full Photoshop to bring out a bit more detail in the beach foreground as well as the surf highlights. And I cropped the image to a 16 by 9 format as I think it just shows better. I was able to get more brightness from those two ships’ lights on the upper left with the new software.

I didn’t put this image in the original Yaquina Head post, as I just wasn’t all that happy with it. This is looking out westward from Yaquina Head at sunset.

I really re-worked the color temperature. My camera had the white balance set at auto natural light, but it had the original color balance for this photo in the 5400 degrees Kelvin range. Sunsets are best viewed at a range of around 6500 to 7500 degrees Kelvin. So, I made that adjustment which really changed the character of the image. The water and waves are a more natural color. Also, the 16-bit color allows more detail and subtlety in the water, sky and shadows. And, I was able to brighten the shadows a bit more to pick up some highlights on the foreground rocks.

I had taken this photo at the same time as the one above. I just cropped in to get a more closely focused image.

This photo had the same issues as the one above. The color temperature was wrong. I think that was the biggest change, but again that 16-bit color process does bring out more details in the sky and water.

So, I hope you enjoy these new takes on some of my images from Newport, Oregon last January. Sometimes it’s fun to just go back and see if I can make any improvements as I continue to learn.

Thanks for visiting my blog, and go enjoy the world outdoors. It helps our sanity.

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