Blackpool Illuminations

[interstellar]

As the nights draw in, Blackpool on Englands NW coast lights up for a couple of weeks:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2409/1837995303_371e170a97_o.jpg

Flickr link (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7571246@N02/1837995303/)

Autostitch let me down on this occasion and refused to join the South Pier. I've done it manually, but on this monitor, the join looks :mad:OBVIOUS:mad:. Any ideas on smoothing out the colour difference?

Despite this, C&C please?

[Freedom211]

I don't really have any ideas on the smoothing out really. One time I did a photo like this and took it inch by inch and smoothed it out myself with the different tools. It took forever but came out better than the original.

Other than that the picture is sweet, that would be awesome to see that view in person. Keep up the good work.

[stan dard]

nice photo.
this type of darker line happens to me every now and then,particularly when the sky is an even colour. what worked for me is if you grab the clone tool and lower the opacity to say 40% or thereabouts, then take a sample from the lighter side and drag the clone tool over the darker section.you can,t drag it to far but you can with a few passes merge the two areas to look like the left side.
hope this helps.:cheers

[longside1]

I think this is a great composition.

My only comments are that the tower appears to be leaning a little bit and the whole shot could do with a touch of USM, as it appears to be soft, this could have been a result of your Depth of Field.

Still a great shot though.....

[fotodog]

This is a tough shot,

Taking this photo just after sunset would help reduce the overall contrast.

As it is, I think it's a stunning photo.

[interstellar]

Thanks for your comments. I've already done some blending, but I'm going to try some more. I was definitely feeling a bit deflated that day as "all my good work" suddenly looked more than a touch suspect on a different monitor!

Longside1, you are right on, identifying the 'soft look'. Its not DOF, as I was tripod mounted and self-timer release: this is a result of fine rain hitting the lens - there's some hexagonal flare in the pic that I took the decision not to solve. The illuminations finished the following day.

I won't worry too much about it, but maybe try again next year (or so) I suppose... I'll work on the blend in the meantime.

Fotodog, good suggestion!