need help with my post production of photos.

[rossco]

below are two photos. first is the original, then my best effort, im asking anyone to take the original and process it better , and give me the ideas to do it myself, many thanks in advance

[ameerat42]

Wally.
I used the 1st, and did the following in Photoshop CS2:
1) Shadows/Highs, with highs set to 25, 25.
2) Cropped out the distracting sun.
3) Hue/Saturation: changed the hue of the yellows (of the grass) and the blues (of the sky).

I had to save it smaller, but is this the way you were thinking of going?
Am.
Edit: On 2nd thoughts, it could have used a touch of contrast.
Wally's pic.
wally's.jpg

[geoffsta]

I'd also crop out a bit on the right. Up to were the girl is throwing the ball

[rossco]

Hey ameerat, i really appreciate you taking the time, in hindsight i should have given more info on what i was aiming at with my pp as well. It was a stunning winters afternoon, still with a warmth you only get in this time of year. The sun was casting long shadows and i was trying to capture the stillness with the start of the evening chill, in my pp the emphisis of the darkened areas was deliberate, from my position the sun was bright and created nice contrasts in the shadows. Also when looking at the shot i had in mind the old paintings of the english cricketers playing on a summers day.

[ameerat42]

Ah! Such artistry as you describe is beyond me. I know what you mean, but how to achieve it???

Some more time and effort would e required.

Tell ya what, tho. If you started with a raw file, try to change the WB a little (no suggestions which way, though).
So with the 2nd file I got the result below...
If it's getting there, I'll give some details.
Am.

Result below
wally's2.jpg

[Mark L]

Other than DPP, what editing software have you got?
As Am mention, are you starting with a raw?

[rossco]

yep, sory, using lightroom 4, started with raw

[WhoDo]

I thought, since you offered, I too would have a lash at it. Processed in LR4.1 with gradient filters, bit of extra contrast to the clouds, edge mask sharpening and not much else. I'm afraid that working from the JPG original has left the sky in particular looking a bit ordinary. Only so many exports per customer, unfortunately.

new-farm-park-afternoon-X2_pp.jpg

[rossco]

some great variations there guys, thanks for taking the time, ill keep trying to capture that mood

[kiwi]

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1344734533.023221.jpg

:-) iPhone edit

[rossco]

nice that works for me

[kiwi]

Really ? Blimey

[WhoDo]

Really ? Blimey

[rossco]

the point being im happy to see any different ideas, learning is about having an open mind

[enigmatic]

gotta love iphone filters

[GTP 290]

Used the lens correction in LR4 and cropped it down to a pan, then played with the levels and hue on the yellow to get the grass looking greener. Applied an orange filter in CS5 and burnt the edges.

Hope you like it.