SF Ideas

richterslrichtersl Registered Users Posts: 3,322 Major grins
edited May 26, 2007 in The Dgrin Challenges
Boy, it's been hard to get out to take any pictures! But this is what I've been able to get so far. Would you guys mind helping me start the weeding out process? Thanks!


#1
154972725-L.jpg




#2 (not sure about this one because it's very similar to one I made it into the SF with)




#3



#4






#5
«1

Comments

  • pemmettpemmett Registered Users Posts: 507 Major grins
    edited May 22, 2007
    My 2CW (2 Philippine centavos worth = USD 0.001 cents worth), which is obviously not a lot:

    #1 is my favourite as it feels very edgy thumb.gifthumb

    #2 doesn't do anything for me and the background is very distracting

    #3 is nice but very boring, and where's the light?

    #4 is my second favourite thumb.gif but has me wishing that the water was still so that the reflections were more clear

    #5 has my eyes dancing between the swans, tress and white hut.

    I've had a look at your site and you have some beautful shots and I feel that you are able to produce something much more powerful and worthy than these. But if I had to choose from the above then I'd go for #1.

    Someone somewhere suggested to me that I should be a "crocodile" mwink.gif I look forward to seeing the 'snap' rolleyes1.gif
    "Take a moment to capture a memory that will last forever"
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  • SwartzySwartzy Registered Users Posts: 3,293 Major grins
    edited May 22, 2007
    Indeed
    #1 is the best by a long shot. Interesting to view and has a "feel" to it. That's the best of the lot. thumb.gif
    Swartzy:
    NAPP Member | Canon Shooter
    Weddings/Portraits and anything else that catches my eye.
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  • richterslrichtersl Registered Users Posts: 3,322 Major grins
    edited May 22, 2007
    pemmett wrote:
    My 2CW (2 Philippine centavos worth = USD 0.001 cents worth), which is obviously not a lot:

    #1 is my favourite as it feels very edgy thumb.gifthumb

    #2 doesn't do anything for me and the background is very distracting

    #3 is nice but very boring, and where's the light?

    #4 is my second favourite thumb.gif but has me wishing that the water was still so that the reflections were more clear

    #5 has my eyes dancing between the swans, tress and white hut.

    I've had a look at your site and you have some beautful shots and I feel that you are able to produce something much more powerful and worthy than these. But if I had to choose from the above then I'd go for #1.

    Someone somewhere suggested to me that I should be a "crocodile" mwink.gif I look forward to seeing the 'snap' rolleyes1.gif
    Hey! Your two centavos are worth plenty. Thanks! :D

    The black swans and the statue were taken in some private gardens that are open to the public only twice a year. Of course, as luck would have it, it started raining about 15 minutes after I arrived, even though it had been sunny when I left the house. rolleyes1.gif There wasn't much light to speak of and I wound up having to use a higher ISO setting than I wanted. Oh well...rolleyes1.gif

    One nice thing I learned about these gardens is that the owner is apparently "photographer friendly". I look forward to returning there when they open up the place again to the public.

    This crocodile is still lying in wait. Good thing there's still time left. :giggle
  • richterslrichtersl Registered Users Posts: 3,322 Major grins
    edited May 22, 2007
    Swartzy wrote:
    #1 is the best by a long shot. Interesting to view and has a "feel" to it. That's the best of the lot. thumb.gif

    Thanks! iloveyou.gif
  • Tessa HDTessa HD Registered Users Posts: 852 Major grins
    edited May 22, 2007
    #1
    I agree with the others, the first one is the best.

    Tessa
    Love to dream, and dream in color.

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    This summer's wilderness photography project: www.tessa-hd.smugmug.com/gallery/3172341
  • adrian_kadrian_k Registered Users Posts: 557 Major grins
    edited May 22, 2007
    Tessa HD wrote:
    I agree with the others, the first one is the best.

    Tessa
    15524779-Ti.gif
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    Adrian
    my stuff is here.....
  • kingmamaof2kingmamaof2 Registered Users Posts: 195 Major grins
    edited May 22, 2007
    I like #1 too. The selective coloring isn't overdone and does have an 'edgy' feel like pemmet said. Those mannequins are so weird looking but interesting especially in black and white. Good job!
  • anwmn1anwmn1 Registered Users Posts: 3,469 Major grins
    edited May 22, 2007
    Though I agree #1 is the best I don't think it will be a strong contender. I would suggest to keep shooting.
    Don't mean to sound harsh - just trying to help. :D
    "The Journey of life is as much in oneself as the roads one travels"


    Aaron Newman

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  • ChrisJChrisJ Registered Users Posts: 2,164 Major grins
    edited May 22, 2007
    I agree for the most part with what's being said... your original mannequin shot would beat any of these. But of these, my favorite is #1.
    Chris
  • richterslrichtersl Registered Users Posts: 3,322 Major grins
    edited May 22, 2007
    Dear Tessa, Adrian, Aaron, Kingmamaof3, and Chris

    Thank you all for your input! iloveyou.gif

    I just hope I find something stronger than #1 to enter. ne_nau.gif

    On the up side, the weather's supposed to be gorgeous this week so maybe hopefully I'll get lucky.
  • DalantechDalantech Registered Users Posts: 1,519 Major grins
    edited May 23, 2007
    I'd have to go with the first shot as well. I feel your pain with the weather :cry
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  • RobertRobert Registered Users Posts: 148 Major grins
    edited May 23, 2007
    Number 1 for me as well, no doubts about it.
    Robert
  • richterslrichtersl Registered Users Posts: 3,322 Major grins
    edited May 24, 2007
    I felt I needed to shoot some more and had a bit more luck with time and weather this evening. I've already posted the mannequin entry and was wondering if I should change it to one of these.



    #2 (Vintage)
    156021519-L.jpg



    #2 (Normal)


    #3
    156021442-L.jpg
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited May 24, 2007
    Linda,
    richtersl wrote:
    I felt I needed to shoot some more and had a bit more luck with time and weather this evening. I've already posted the mannequin entry and was wondering if I should change it to one of these.
    I say, keep the mannequins deal.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • pemmettpemmett Registered Users Posts: 507 Major grins
    edited May 25, 2007
    I really like #3 as it look sso peaceful, but I think Nikolai is right, your first image has more impact to it.:D
    "Take a moment to capture a memory that will last forever"
    My images | My blog | My free course
  • FlyingginaFlyinggina Registered Users Posts: 2,639 Major grins
    edited May 25, 2007
    I suppose that Nik and pemmett are right, but I love #2 (vintage) . Great composition and textures and I like the treatment.

    Virginia
    _______________________________________________
    "A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you, the less you know." Diane Arbus

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  • richterslrichtersl Registered Users Posts: 3,322 Major grins
    edited May 25, 2007
    Thanks everyone!! thumb.gif

    I really appreciate all your input. iloveyou.gif
  • seastackseastack Registered Users Posts: 716 Major grins
    edited May 25, 2007
    On #1 of the mannequins, I might be tempted to darken it some to give it more of a mysterious feel.
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited May 25, 2007
    seastack wrote:
    On #1 of the mannequins, I might be tempted to darken it some to give it more of a mysterious feel.
    Or add some fog:-)
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • richterslrichtersl Registered Users Posts: 3,322 Major grins
    edited May 25, 2007
    headscratch.gif Hmmm....interesting idea about darkening it somewhat. I already applied a PS action to it in order to create a vignette so that the background was darkened. I'm not sure how to approach darkening the rest of it just yet (Levels? Curves? Multiply layer?) and will have to play with it a bit later tonight.

    Thanks! iloveyou.gif
  • annnna8888annnna8888 Registered Users, Super Moderators Posts: 936 SmugMug Employee
    edited May 25, 2007
    seastack wrote:
    On #1 of the mannequins, I might be tempted to darken it some to give it more of a mysterious feel.

    15524779-Ti.gif

    Completely.

    Ana
    Ana
    SmugMug Support Hero Manager
    My website: anapogacar.smugmug.com
  • richterslrichtersl Registered Users Posts: 3,322 Major grins
    edited May 25, 2007
    Are any of these myterious enough?
    #1 (Complete do-over)
    156229780-L.jpg



    #2 (Orig. with Levels Adjustment)
    156229789-L.jpg



    #3 (Orig with new vignette)
    156229796-L.jpg
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited May 25, 2007
    Linda,
    richtersl wrote:
    #1 (Complete do-over)
    #2 (Orig. with Levels Adjustment)
    #3 (Orig with new vignette)
    Probably #3... It has certain pop and not much distraction from the primary focal point
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • RobertRobert Registered Users Posts: 148 Major grins
    edited May 25, 2007
    #1, but blacken top left corner (maybe with copy/paste from #2)
    Robert
  • richterslrichtersl Registered Users Posts: 3,322 Major grins
    edited May 25, 2007
    Thanks Robert & Nikolai! iloveyou.gif

    Robert, your note reminded me that this PS action also came with a custom vignette. Once I applied that -- the left corner matched the one on the right! Thanks!! :sweet

    #4 (custom vignette)

    156242825-L.jpg
  • LiquidAirLiquidAir Registered Users Posts: 1,751 Major grins
    edited May 25, 2007
    I find the Jetons sign (?) in the lower left to be a bit distracting. Aside from the fact that it is fairly bright, I tend to try to read visible text in any photo which means it gets much more attention than it probably deserves (unless I am completely missing something about the shot). If you have a good reason to keep it there I am not getting it. If you don't, I'd clone out the text and maybe even the entire bright area of the sign.
  • richterslrichtersl Registered Users Posts: 3,322 Major grins
    edited May 25, 2007
    LiquidAir wrote:
    I find the Jetons sign (?) in the lower left to be a bit distracting. Aside from the fact that it is fairly bright, I tend to try to read visible text in any photo which means it gets much more attention than it probably deserves (unless I am completely missing something about the shot). If you have a good reason to keep it there I am not getting it. If you don't, I'd clone out the text and maybe even the entire bright area of the sign.
    Good suggestion! Probably the easiest would be to just move the vignette up so that the wording is covered. Thanks! thumb.gif
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited May 25, 2007
    Linda,
    richtersl wrote:
    Good suggestion! Probably the easiest would be to just move the vignette up so that the wording is covered. Thanks! thumb.gif

    Just clone those letters off and be done with it. Solid color adjustment layer, select the b/g color, then some masking work - it will take less than 1 minute...deal.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • RobertRobert Registered Users Posts: 148 Major grins
    edited May 26, 2007
    richtersl wrote:
    #4 (custom vignette)
    Looks good to me.
    Robert
  • DalantechDalantech Registered Users Posts: 1,519 Major grins
    edited May 26, 2007
    #4 minus the text clap.gif
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    Looking for tips on macro photography? Check out my Blog: No Cropping Zone.
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