Snappy... I love your "Hole Digger"... You have really put in some effort and some tough competition! Great color! ( though... I saw your saw and read "Bone Saw" and I'm thinking Ewww, Snappy is even grosser than I am, But that does'nt look like a bone saw... so I quick went back and looked again, and saw the right name... "Bow Saw.") ginette
"In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."
Sunday's Efforts I am really stymied... Would really love some input and comments concerning the next few photos... Had a couple of ideas and ran with them... Talking about pushing it to the last minutes... Auuggghhhh... "One" "Two"
"Three"
"Four"
"Five" ginette
"In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."
I shot for a few hours yesterday. Nothing great, I'm afraid. They're all missing the second element, I think. What perplexes me (and may drive Rutt up a wall!:D) is that I always seem to prefer the B&W version.
Sid, I do like to convert some things to black and white. People act like it is either or. In this digital game, I think I can have my cake, eat it, and then decide which to keep (bad metaphor).
So, since I like black and white also, perhaps sometime you could tell me how you prepare your photos for black and white, and what method you use to get them there. I have been using the Hue, Saturation, Lighter thing. Then I want to do something to make them pop, we have become spoiled by POP, I think. If not pop, I want a deeper black, or something.
I started to read the Dan Margulis book. "Started" is the operative phrase there. I did get the fact that the preparation is very important in the conversion process. Since you have been doing your thing for awhile, what have you found works for you.
I have a simple, levels to saturation to contrast (sometimes) to sharpening (most times) assembly line way I do most of my photos. There are some I spend hours on, but I do prefer simple. If the results are not good, simple can turn into hours.
Anyway, have you written a tutorial on it, I think Andy has, but what do you do to convert yours.
I am really stymied... Would really love some input and comments concerning the next few photos... Had a couple of ideas and ran with them... Talking about pushing it to the last minutes... Auuggghhhh... "Two"
I am really stymied... Would really love some input and comments concerning the next few photos... Had a couple of ideas and ran with them... Talking about pushing it to the last minutes... Auuggghhhh... ginette
I like some of those, don't know how they would fit, but then my brain is a bit slow on the subject of curves and lines right now, too.
But didn't you have Rory's Bum?
Why don't you throw a slight tint on it, pinkish, babyish, you know, and then throw some G Blur on it and just hand it in and get out your wide lens.....just don't worry about it. I wouldn't. Can't wait for the wide contest to start.
Or sepia tone it, that is innocent looking and blur that a bit, either wiping off, or putting that "soft light" blend in layers on the blur, then going down to an agreeable percentage. That is only one step, not counting the sepia and the blur. It is the only thing I really know how to do in layers.
I love the lighting on the comb/brush/mirror photo! Really nice shot!
I haven't read this monster thread in a long time, just popped in to say that there are a lot of great images entered in the contest. It's nice to have 20+ in there for the judges to choose from. My company used to have an ad slogan "Everybody Wins"; I think that phrase fits here!
Altpro, if you had a studio, you'd kick some butt. Your ideas are really interesting. This one's a cool idea. Looks dark on the inside of the whisk. I guess you're trying to draw the eye to the reflection. I think the shadow behind it is also interesting. It feels kinda dark.
I like this one a lot. Nice shape, color and idea. I think the fact that you don't have proper lighting makes this difficult to pull off. Bits that you'd like to make lighter are a wee bit dark.
This is really interesting. The golden light spilling through the comb and brush makes it jump to life. It leaves me wanting to see more of the comb; the framing forces my attention to the mirror handle, when I want to follow the light and shadow of the comb and brush.
I was determined to get some shots for this challenge, so I went out today to see what I could get. These are the two I like. Lynn, the water pump is very nice.
Sandy, what a wild, surreal first image! I have no idea how you pulled it off, don't suppose it matters. Love the energy and strangeness of it. Is it trying to say something?
Ginger, with regard to B&W conversion, I have no secret method. I've tried the Zero-Zero method, and been frustrated by its randomeness.
So I use the Channel Mixer. The first thing I try is jacking the bottom/blue slider far to the left, and pushing the green and red sliders to the right. I'm always looking for strong contrast, and I read this was a way to do it. It doesn't work for all shots, but when it does work, you get strong whites, blacks and a good range of grey. Nice pop.
Failing that, I'll try the sliders in extreme positions, always looking for contrast without blowing out any highlights, or making the image too dark. I fiddle a lot. One other thing I do to give it some pop, is to go under Selective Color, select Black from the drop-down menu, then play with the black slider.
And finally, I'm not shy about messing around with the Contrast slider, adding just enough Brightness to prevent the thing from looking hideous.
I shot for a few hours yesterday. Nothing great, I'm afraid. They're all missing the second element, I think. What perplexes me (and may drive Rutt up a wall!:D) is that I always seem to prefer the B&W version.
I think this shot may be the sole exception - the B&W doesn't jump as much as does the color.
This is my kind of photo (especially the colour). Love this one! Great job ...
Altpro, if you had a studio, you'd kick some butt...
This is really interesting. The golden light spilling through the comb and brush makes it jump to life. It leaves me wanting to see more of the comb; the framing forces my attention to the mirror handle, when I want to follow the light and shadow of the comb and brush.
Really creative work, Altie.
Thanks Sid... I submitted the 1950's vanity set, as "Vanity." The warm light was what caught my eye, too... I miss having studio lights... Hard to go back to using a "Mag-Light!" Thanks for taking the time to comment... Means a lot.
Thanks Shakey... Thanks Ginger... I really do appreciate your critiques. Ginger, I decided not to use RoRy's BuM, as it just wasn't what I was headed for... When I get a chance I'll dig up the negative to one I want you to see...
Good Luck All. Lots of G-R-E-A-T work out there... Stiff competition to say the least.
ginette
"In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."
Thanks, it took some work, you would be surprised if you saw the original. Don't know what it is saying. There are some others, now I can't decide which photo to enter.
Sandy, what a wild, surreal first image! I have no idea how you pulled it off, don't suppose it matters. Love the energy and strangeness of it. Is it trying to say something?
Great work everyone. I've been "out of the loop" the last couple of weeks. Too many new posts to comment on, but it looks like everyone has been busy. Great to see some new folks posting as well.
Great work everyone. I've been "out of the loop" the last couple of weeks. Too many new posts to comment on, but it looks like everyone has been busy. Great to see some new folks posting as well.
Geezus! it seems like i can't afford to play on the weekends anymore... can we setup a "dgrin working man's challenge"???
PS. Lynn, count me in on that slump. Even the new lens from Andy hasn't really jumpstarted me. I was hoping that some of his talent may have rubbed off on it. Andy: what'd you clean that thing off with!!!
QUOTE=wxwax]Sandy, I really like this shot. Dunno if it's a challenge shot, but who cares? You got a really nice feel for this person. It just feels right.[/QUOTE]
Last efforts. Hey All....
At 3:00 in the morning, having nothing better to do, I was up playing with another idea, while my husb
and slept snoring in the bed to my right... The kittens were quite amused with the whole thing, as normally when night falls and the hour is late, I am urging them to be still and sleep...
IF you have time, let me know, one of these? or the "Vanity" shot?
"Dreamstate"
"Nights Revisited"
"Vanity"
Dugmar, I like your beach scenes, very soothing. I suspect that you too, as others, are having trouble deciding "which picture?"
Lynn, Very nice hand pump... I love them. You really have gotten the "glamour blur" down to an art, eh?
Sandy, I too like your woman weaving the palms... Even if it is not right for the challenge, it is a gentle image. She looks content in her task.
Bonne Chance, mes amis...
ginette
"In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."
Comments
http://www.dgrin.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=2071&stc=1
ginette
I am really stymied... Would really love some input and comments concerning the next few photos... Had a couple of ideas and ran with them... Talking about pushing it to the last minutes... Auuggghhhh...
"One"
"Two"
"Three"
"Four"
"Five"
ginette
Sid, I do like to convert some things to black and white. People act like it is either or. In this digital game, I think I can have my cake, eat it, and then decide which to keep (bad metaphor).
So, since I like black and white also, perhaps sometime you could tell me how you prepare your photos for black and white, and what method you use to get them there. I have been using the Hue, Saturation, Lighter thing. Then I want to do something to make them pop, we have become spoiled by POP, I think. If not pop, I want a deeper black, or something.
I started to read the Dan Margulis book. "Started" is the operative phrase there. I did get the fact that the preparation is very important in the conversion process. Since you have been doing your thing for awhile, what have you found works for you.
I have a simple, levels to saturation to contrast (sometimes) to sharpening (most times) assembly line way I do most of my photos. There are some I spend hours on, but I do prefer simple. If the results are not good, simple can turn into hours.
Anyway, have you written a tutorial on it, I think Andy has, but what do you do to convert yours.
ginger
Tim
But didn't you have Rory's Bum?
Why don't you throw a slight tint on it, pinkish, babyish, you know, and then throw some G Blur on it and just hand it in and get out your wide lens.....just don't worry about it. I wouldn't. Can't wait for the wide contest to start.
Or sepia tone it, that is innocent looking and blur that a bit, either wiping off, or putting that "soft light" blend in layers on the blur, then going down to an agreeable percentage. That is only one step, not counting the sepia and the blur. It is the only thing I really know how to do in layers.
ginger
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
I haven't read this monster thread in a long time, just popped in to say that there are a lot of great images entered in the contest. It's nice to have 20+ in there for the judges to choose from. My company used to have an ad slogan "Everybody Wins"; I think that phrase fits here!
Now on to "wide angle"...
Altpro, if you had a studio, you'd kick some butt. Your ideas are really interesting. This one's a cool idea. Looks dark on the inside of the whisk. I guess you're trying to draw the eye to the reflection. I think the shadow behind it is also interesting. It feels kinda dark.
[/QUOTE]
I like this one a lot. Nice shape, color and idea. I think the fact that you don't have proper lighting makes this difficult to pull off. Bits that you'd like to make lighter are a wee bit dark.
This is really interesting. The golden light spilling through the comb and brush makes it jump to life. It leaves me wanting to see more of the comb; the framing forces my attention to the mirror handle, when I want to follow the light and shadow of the comb and brush.
Really creative work, Altie.
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
Sandy, what a wild, surreal first image! I have no idea how you pulled it off, don't suppose it matters. Love the energy and strangeness of it. Is it trying to say something?
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
So I use the Channel Mixer. The first thing I try is jacking the bottom/blue slider far to the left, and pushing the green and red sliders to the right. I'm always looking for strong contrast, and I read this was a way to do it. It doesn't work for all shots, but when it does work, you get strong whites, blacks and a good range of grey. Nice pop.
Failing that, I'll try the sliders in extreme positions, always looking for contrast without blowing out any highlights, or making the image too dark. I fiddle a lot. One other thing I do to give it some pop, is to go under Selective Color, select Black from the drop-down menu, then play with the black slider.
And finally, I'm not shy about messing around with the Contrast slider, adding just enough Brightness to prevent the thing from looking hideous.
I hope that helps.
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
www.digismile.ca
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
All I know is that my pictures are getting better because of these challenges ...
Time for bed ...
www.digismile.ca
Thanks Sid... I submitted the 1950's vanity set, as "Vanity." The warm light was what caught my eye, too... I miss having studio lights... Hard to go back to using a "Mag-Light!" Thanks for taking the time to comment... Means a lot.
Thanks Shakey... Thanks Ginger... I really do appreciate your critiques. Ginger, I decided not to use RoRy's BuM, as it just wasn't what I was headed for... When I get a chance I'll dig up the negative to one I want you to see...
Good Luck All. Lots of G-R-E-A-T work out there... Stiff competition to say the least.
ginette
I lied, I had one more that needed some Photoshop meatball surgery before it was ready to be seen.
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
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so far 21 entries in this challenge - that means that we'll have 10 finalists.
remember too - now your job, each and every one of you, is to make sure that you all "get out the vote" we need lots and lots of voters.
finally - a good friend, and fine photographer, penelope duns, is going to be guest judge for our next challenge
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TML Photography
tmlphoto.com
PS. Lynn, count me in on that slump.
moderator of: The Flea Market [ guidelines ]
Sandy, I really like this shot. Dunno if it's a challenge shot, but who cares? You got a really nice feel for this person. It just feels right.
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
QUOTE=wxwax]Sandy, I really like this shot. Dunno if it's a challenge shot, but who cares? You got a really nice feel for this person. It just feels right.[/QUOTE]
Hey All....
At 3:00 in the morning, having nothing better to do, I was up playing with another idea, while my husb
and slept snoring in the bed to my right... The kittens were quite amused with the whole thing, as normally when night falls and the hour is late, I am urging them to be still and sleep...
IF you have time, let me know, one of these? or the "Vanity" shot?
"Dreamstate"
"Nights Revisited"
"Vanity"
Dugmar, I like your beach scenes, very soothing. I suspect that you too, as others, are having trouble deciding "which picture?"
Lynn, Very nice hand pump... I love them. You really have gotten the "glamour blur" down to an art, eh?
Sandy, I too like your woman weaving the palms... Even if it is not right for the challenge, it is a gentle image. She looks content in her task.
Bonne Chance, mes amis...
ginette