DSS#41 Unofficial Feedback Thread - Shoes

bf2015

So, here is the official gallery to give your C&C for DSS#41

Gallery Here...

Once more into the fray. This unofficial feedback thread is a catch-all of sorts, lets make it happen:thumb

Anyway, let's start feedback on DSS #41!!

This thread is:

• a place to post a list of your top ten favorites. (be heard, and let everyone know what images moved you.)
• a place to post your "the making of my image"
• a place to ask someone "how did they do that?"(for us all to see:D )

Feedback is an important part of the photographic process. While those selected as finalists get feedback from the judges and those who vote, others are never quite sure where they stand. So share your thoughts both in this thread and with comments in the actual gallery. Constructive criticism should always be welcome.

It's easy to post thumbnails (with help from our Moderator).

With the image selected in the gallery, copy its URL from your browser, add "-Th.jpg" to the end, delete the jumble of numbers and letters preceding the hashtag (#), change "gallery" to "photos" and that's it.

Example

Change this url

[LEFT]http://challenges.smugmug.com/Other/DSS-33/9546126_UcMnF#646702914_YfHpk[/LEFT]

To this (minus the space in the IMG tags)

[LEFT]http://challenges.smugmug.com/photos/646702914_YfHpk-Th.jpg[/LEFT]

Happy Feedbacking :scratch

anonymouscuban

A couple people asked me how I shot my various high heeled shots so I thought I share. I don't have setup shots but it was pretty straight forward. I used two 3'x7' white tile boards which I bought at Home Depot. They only cost $9 and make a really nice white sturdy backdrop or surface to shoot on.

I lit the shot with my two AB400s with umbrellas. I placed them on each end of the 3x7 sheet at about 45 degree angle to the shoes. The umbrellas I have are reversible. I had them both with the umbrellas in shoot-through orientation but I had the outside half of each umbrella covered to help direct the light a bit more and lessen spill. Not sure if that actually helped though. I don't have a light meter so I just chimped a bit and move the lights around until I was happy with the exposure and everything was lit evenly.

Some of you enjoyed the kaleidoscopes I did with the shots. That part was simple. I downloaded a free filter for that. I don't recall the URL but just do a Google search for "kaleidoscope action" and it's the first or second hit. It's simple to use... select the image you want to use, run the filter and it gives you three or four sliders with an image preview. Play around with the sliders till you get it to look the way you want.

Aspecto5

Top Ten!!
Actually had to narrow down my choices this round to get a top ten. Great job everyone.

Tango

anonymouscuban wrote:

I just chimped a bit and move the lights around until I was happy

This is key "chimped a bit" ....


btw, I just noticed your entry title, that gave me a chuckle

wats005

Thank you for putting me in your top ten, I am honor and excited. It means a lot to me as this is only the 2nd challenge I have ever done

Oddly I currently live in Kansas and the Oz them with those shoes just spoke to me!! The hard thing was finding brick to use (3 ft of snow outside and -9F), we ended up at a casino where they have brick inside.

We were going to have a foot with black and white striped stocking slipping into it and title it off to work in the East, but we couldn't find the stockings to make it happen.

Yahh!! What a great round and a great start to the new year!

anonymouscuban

Aspecto5 wrote:

Actually had to narrow down my choices this round to get a top ten. Great job everyone.

I didn't make your top ten? Just kidding ... I know I would have if I entered the other image. Great choices though.

lizzard_nyc

Jeff Meyers,
How did you do that?
Are those barbie shoes that you duplicated in photoshop?

Aaron's comment in the gallery cracked me up--can't say I disagree,I'm still scratching my head over it.

Must know more.

anonymouscuban

lizzard_nyc wrote:

Jeff Meyers,
How did you do that?
Are those barbie shoes that you duplicated in photoshop?

Aaron's comment in the gallery cracked me up--can't say I disagree,I'm still scratching my head over it.

Must know more.

I don't think they're Barbie shoes. I really analyzed the image and I don't see duplication either. It looks like a real great big pile of shoes. If he did do this in PS, he did a fantastic job!!!

JerryBarton

I made your top ten?? Amazing, and first time out. Some great shots in this batch. Already learning a lot.
Thanks.

KevXman

Many different interesting takes on this theme. Great work everyone!

Here are a few of my favs.



Good luck to all.
— Kevin

Aspecto5

anonymouscuban wrote:

I didn't make your top ten? Just kidding ... I know I would have if I entered the other image. Great choices though.

You definitely would have had my vote for the shadow one we were talking about earlier. But I think it was good strategy for the one you entered. I'm sure you have a whole bunch of the ladies in your pocket. Lol!

tinamarie52

Aspecto, thanks for including me in your top ten!

I'm new to the challenges, but this seems to be overflowing with talents and ideas. What a great bunch of images.....49 of them to expand my horizons!!

Since I don't know how to put the images in here, I'll just list my favorites:
Mark R First Date
Nightpixels Freedom
JAG Old Shoes Never Die
MrsCue Till We Meet Again
Liz Proper Sendoff
ifocus My choice
Divamum Shoetopia
Anonymouscuban Rainbow
sbarge enjoying retirement
lilmomma Missing

Good luck to all! See you in the next round.

Chris

sepplett

My Top Ten
Since I can't seem to figure out how to add the images of my top ten, here is a list.

MarkR-The First Date

Aspecto5-Powder Rig

AaronNelson-Cowgirl

CMurph-footloose

Tinamarie52-I wanna be like mommy

RobGamble-American Soldier

Angela Davis-Winter Walkers

nightpixels-freedom

anonymouscuban-"$375.99, $400.00, $325.75....."

WhatSheSaw-Anticipation

richtersl

Wow! What different picks from each other you all have so far.

I've turned my picks over to Kerry and am getting ready to enter my comments into the gallery. I've intentionally stayed away from this thread until now.

Excellent round, guys! You made my job very difficult!!! clapclap And I like that.

Tango

great Linda!,,, now we can have you back and start some trouble again:D

richtersl

AaronNelson wrote:

great Linda!,,, now we can have you back and start some trouble again:D

You want trouble, I got yer trouble right here, pal. roflrofl

MarkR

Thanks Chris and Sepplett for including me in your top ten, as well as everyone who left feedback in the gallery.

I've left my feedback in the gallery as well.

I'd also like to point out that way back in DSS #9 I entered this image, which rightfully didn't make it to the judging round, but which does show a little prescience on my part, no?

And yes, it is the slightly less shy shoe in my entry. Still comfy to wear around the house, as well!

JAG

thank you all who commented on my entry and added mine to their favs. Everyone did a great job.

travelways

Thank you very much to those who appreciated my entry and commented on it

Great job everyone

cmurph

Thank you Kevin and Stephanie for including mine in your favorites.

guess its a tad late for a my favorites but I will say some of them made the vote some did not it was a great round by all.

might as well do a behind the scene on my footloose daughters feet. Not a whole lot to share on it mostly post work.

step 1 - keep from deleting what may at first appear as crap...this photo would not have been at the top of any ones list. The thing about the shot that caught my attention was the composition felt good but the light seems pure ick. I am always amazed at how much light is actually stored in a shot - much more then most would believe im sure. Take a shot sometime and adjust the exposure - shadows - highlights - see how far it goes just helps put things in perspective.



step 2 - Do the clone work - clone out the yuck first - (I had to take the ALF out...not the fuzzy alien...in the feed bag) when you do your light adjustments you will be grateful you did as your clone work will begin to blend in smooth by the end of the shot. A some what decent clone job...hehe...can look great at the end but start the clone job at the end and you could destroy the shot. Clone at the start and pay attention to the details its what sets good shots apart from the great ones....not that this is a great one...more its a good one...great shots are far and few between.



step 3 - Turn on the lights - I have never learned to use a flash - I'll bet someday I will surprise my self when I finally buy one. This is what I mean by there is a lot more light in the data then anyone could possibly imagine.



step 4- Highlight the subject - if you don't have a great story to pull them in use their eyes against them. your eyes will naturally flow inward with a tad bit of light tricks - burn the edges and push the light and contrast up on your subject. They key is not to go overboard - KISS - I always take my layers and as soon as I think I have them right - I push the opacity back to 85% - because I know I didn't get it right - I always go over board..ugh



step 5 - For the final step - warmed it up and slightly desaturate it...takes the edge off it and makes it softer on the eyes with out actually losing the sharpness.



Shoot to ride
Ride to live

WhatSheSaw

Thanks for the how-you-did-it, cmurph! That was great - very instructive.