Here is another redo for you. Once again I’ve picked an image of the Deaf Children Australia’s building. I wanted to do this one because I was never really happy with how it came out. I think I over did it a bit and the way the building seems to be leaning back bothered me.
The image was taken at sunrise and I loved how you could see the colour behind it. However, I think it is too saturated and I’ve wanted to have another go at it for a long time. Today is the day for that.
When I first did this image, I had taken a series of images, bracketed shots. I did 5, and then I did an HDR with them. However, for today’s image, I decided to use just one of the five, and this next one is the one I began with.
I wanted to choose one that wasn’t too dark, but light enough that you could still see the sunrise behind the building. I did use Photoshop for this, partly because of how I wanted to make the building look like it was standing straight up, as opposed to lying down, which I knew how to do in PS. It is something I have to work out if I can do in ON1 Photo Raw 2026.
As you can imagine, the first thing I did was make the building look more upright than leaning back. One of the biggest problems with using wide angle lenses. I was happy with how it came out, and I think it looks much better.
I did more to make the front of the building stand out, too. I also put the light on the left to make the image more symmetrical. I do love symmetry in my images.
I tried not to change the sunrise too much, though I did bring the colour out a little more, but only in the sky.
Then, just because I can, I converted it to black and white to see how it would look.
I think it changes the look quite a bit.
I’m going to add a before and after, but really, it is going to be the first processed and then the second.
I hope you like the new edit too.
Now to work out what to do next, I have an idea.
As I have said before, I enjoy seeing how you work the images. I must be a bit more adventurous and discerning myself with my photos, but get carried away with the stories instead. ….why does time pass so quickly. Soon off on another long trip, so it might be difficult to post or to read posts for a while. But when I return……….!!!
Thank you Geoff, I do like hearing that. Well a new journey, have a lot of fun and take lots of photos.I’ve been asking myself the same questions about time. lol.
Hey Leanne,
I know plenty of photographers who never look back at their older shots for a re-edit, and yet that’s one of the most enjoyable things we can do. Over the years you build up a mountain of images, and there are always a few with far more potential than what you were able to pull out at the time – perfectly normal, every photographer grows.
This one is another great example. You mentioned the original was a bit “overdone” with the rising sun? I still think it works, but this new dark version sits on a completely different level. I’m a huge fan of the dark look myself, and I’ve seen you nail it many times.
So yes, keep going with this. The results are excellent.
All the best, Marc.
I think it is a great thing to do. I know often when I go back I find images that I used to think were good and now, not so much. They are the ones I like to try and do again. When I can. I have to say I have been going through my archives quite a bit and I have heaps that I never processed before, so you will be seeing a lot of them next year I think.
That’s good to hear Marc, I do love my dark images.
Thank you Marc, I have plans for other images, the biggest problem I face is that I seem to have deleted a lot of my old raw files, which I have to say is very annoying.
Leanne, I like them all. It’s really hard to go wrong with such a balanced/symmetric image. It’s a gorgeous building.
Thank you Egidio. I have to agree, the image was great to do.
I do like the edited version and especially the black and white.
That’s great Anne, thank you.
Beautiful, I do love the re-edit! Its interesting how we evolve as photographers to go back and re-process and giving a different feel! I also love symmetry in my images as well.
Thank you Pamela. It is interesting how we evolve. Symmetry is the best. 😀
I do like the new edit a lot, Leanne. This is a really beautiful building, though, so even in black and white it is pretty stunning.
That is great to hear Lois. It is a great building. Thank you Lois.