Balloon man in Chicago

I have always had a fascination with skylines, specifically Chicago. The original photo was a daytime shot with the classic blue sky, a dark ocean, fluffy white clouds and detailed skyscrapers. I decided to remove the main focus from the buildings and put it on the pink sky and the balloon man. The contrast between the deep turquoise ocean and the pink sky balance well between the silhouetted buildings. The balloon man serves as my main subject, drawing attention to the top left-hand balloons and the underlying shadows of the bottom balloons. The angle of the balloon man accurately portrays the feel of "The Windy City". Although the city of Chicago is a busy place, the blacked-out buildings on the pink sky give it a sort of peacefulness. The photo shows composition best in the water with the dark splotches, giving it a three-dimension look and suggests that there is a slight wind, brushing the waves along.

I have always had a general sense of Photoshop, but over the past few weeks I have gained a better understanding of its tools. I am now able to use these to improve and strengthen my photos. I have also learned that I cannot force myself to take a picture of something. Although any picture can become interesting with the right composition or balance and a splash of Photoshop, I tend to take a less interesting picture if I feel forced on a subject. My new rule of thumb is that I need to test out subjects and angles. If something isn't working or I don't feel satisfied, I will just move on. It is better to take more time to look for the right picture than to take something that isn't up to par.