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| Group |
Round |
C/R |
Comment |
Date |
Image |
| 36 |
Aug 25 |
Reply |
Hi Gokul
This is not really a composite, it is a stitched image. Here I lined up 6 images edge to edge and then let Lightroom blend them together. It is a process used to make panorama images. I have placed a link below that shows how this is done.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxRix0y477M
You may have to copy and paste this in case the PSA server does not make it a link. |
Aug 25th |
| 36 |
Aug 25 |
Comment |
The scene has lost of character and lovely old stone. This is where Lightroom is the real key. Using the masking tools you can lift those shadow and make the foreground have so me life. Like wise there are lovely tones in the lush green areas and masking them and adjusted hues those can become quite attractive. Perhaps it is just me, but the disembodied tree branch in the upper left corner just seems out of place. A little editing magic could solve that problem. There are some good leading lines in the foreground that make a fine visual guide to the sky. |
Aug 19th |
| 36 |
Aug 25 |
Comment |
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Aug 19th |
| 36 |
Aug 25 |
Comment |
I have lots of mixed feeling about the image. While the clouds are the story you still have to bring in a foreground. As has been noted the foreground is quite flat.
The thing to remember is exactly what did not look like when you witnessed it. If you look closely your eyes saw detail in the shadow areas. And even though the clouds were really dark an ominous there were detail there is well.
This is where processing really plays a major role. Using multiple masks (I find radial filters in Lightroom work best) AND lots of patience you can bring to life the scene. This is a perfect image to practice this on. Play with it and you'll be surprised what you can create. |
Aug 19th |
| 36 |
Aug 25 |
Comment |
WOW! SHOT FROM THE ROOF OF A BANK? If I even looked at a bank here in Fort Lauderdale I know the police would show it. You just have to love small town America.
You should actually have good focus on the moon because I'm sure your camera was including infinity. The bigger problem with the moon would be the 5 second expose--since the darn moon moves. If is amazing how much the moon moves in even a second or two.
I agree that the unique character of the building add a great deal to the image. The wall of store fronts creates a great foreground. I also think it is amazing how much the one burst colored the mountains. |
Aug 19th |
| 36 |
Aug 25 |
Comment |
Thanks Michael. The water was much brighter in the RAW files and I did bring it down. After reading your comment, I do agree that is can come down some more and I'll add a gradient to fix that problem. You are right about the metallic print, I should be able to pick up the print on Friday. I dropped the file off at the lab last week. Because it is soo wide the lab printed me a section so I could see how it would look. It is fitting for Miami and will be stunning. |
Aug 4th |
| 36 |
Aug 25 |
Reply |
Thanks for the tip about the remove tool, never thought of that. Most city skylines seem to have some feeling of harmony, but Miami always feels like a mad artist was turned loose with a bunch of buckets of paint. But you are right--that IS Miami. Glad you liked this---it for me just feels like Miami. I'm happy with the shot. |
Aug 4th |
| 36 |
Aug 25 |
Comment |
I feel this composition creates the feeling that I am standing in a valley and traveling toward the distant falls. It is almost as though I'm paddling a canoe through the quite waters. The leading lines are quite strong. This is a frequently photographed area and this view feels somewhat original. I can't explain why, but somehow the white of the cliff walls make this feel like an unfinished canvas. for me the scene lacks the usual warmth yet does not feel the winter. I know that describes autumn but I don't see that either, something just feels missing. |
Aug 4th |
| 36 |
Aug 25 |
Comment |
I have always loved the timeless feeling created by these ancient and well worn mountains. Their rounded crests make it feel as though time just continues to roll along. My vision of the Smokies is brought to life by the way you have captured the distant crests with soft golden hour light. The image seems to just flow from the left off into infinity. The variety of warm hues adds to the feeling of a warm fireside from which to enjoy this view. For me this is an emotional scene. I only wish is that there was some more color in the nearly white sky. |
Aug 4th |
| 36 |
Aug 25 |
Comment |
Ahhhhh! Now this creates quite a mood. This is what sunsets om the water should be. Orange is the true compliment of blue (many say it is yellow) and the dark hues of both colors really do their job in creating the mood. Personally I would have likes and flatter sea but with a boat that will blue if the exposure is too long what you used for a shutter speed is the perfect compromise. I feel you did a wonderful job of positioning your camera as the lines of the boat are in the perfect position so as not to merge with the background. My only suggestion would be that I wish you had moved a bit to the left so as to get the mast of the boat off the edge of the setting sun and more to the middle. |
Aug 4th |
| 36 |
Aug 25 |
Reply |
Here is another BRIGHT Miami building---This is the Fredom Tower.
Known as the Ellis Island of Miami as it is the loction where Cubans coming to America in the 1960's were processed. The red lights were added in the 1990s
Michael will be pleased to know I had to g time the changing of the traffic lights so I could set my tripod up in the middle of the street to get this shot. |
Aug 2nd |
 |
| 36 |
Aug 25 |
Comment |
Hi Grace
Thanks for commenting. That purple you see is coming from the purple build located a few blocks behind this water front on the Miami River. See photo below taken a year or two ago. The white area you see on the building a a white billboard with running black text. The is an ad for an upcoming event. I suppose I could use AI to remove it but the billboard is a big deal and a sort of landmark in Miami. So locals seeing the shot would know something is not right. I could tone down the water reflection.
Miami is full of neon lights on buildings.
Get your tripod--- I'm eager to see what cities you can shoot at night. |
Aug 2nd |
 |
9 comments - 3 replies for Group 36
|
| 67 |
Aug 25 |
Reply |
For sure the "bad Hair Day" story line seems to the the go to classic for images like this. But since everyone uses that label I tried for something a bit different. The story line is not as strong as I would prefer. It felt stronger while there as the one chick continued to push the other deeper into the nest. I'll try harder next month to get a better story (but my models aren't much for taking direction from a camera man.)
Thanks for your comment. |
Aug 19th |
| 67 |
Aug 25 |
Reply |
Much better for sure. The adjustments really lift the quality of the image. While we all with take that close up head shot you'll find you get a much better image if you include more of the animal and some of the environment. One of the best guidelines is to think about having the image tell a story. A portrait doesn't really tell a story so what can you add t o include a story the viewer will understand. |
Aug 19th |
| 67 |
Aug 25 |
Reply |
You are correct then est is low. The nest area is mangrove swamp and some of the plants on the edges of the mangroves look like the had tipped over leaving some branches actually touching water. I visited this area several times in the spring always expecting them to be gone. However 2 of the three matured and flew off. Luck was on their side. |
Aug 14th |
| 67 |
Aug 25 |
Comment |
Welcome Aboard!! You have submitted a fine image to introduce yourself and your camera skills as a member of the group. We will be looking forward to more in the months to come. You will fit in well as we have a number of other east-coasters in the group.
When shooting babies, children, pets and wildlife a good rule is to shoot them at eye level. So your low angle view of the turtle is perfect. If you were going for a close up "personality" shot your f6.3 worked well. I'm a bit shocked that at that aperture you managed to get nothing but the face in focus. I would have thought the DOF would have been greater. As has been noted composition is important and your use of triangles adds some impact to the image. I'm a stickler about getting the exposure right and while you have the face perfect I feel like the top of the shell is a bit on the hot side. Artistically if makes sense as it keeps the background neutral, but I would still bring down those highlights a bit.
|
Aug 14th |
| 67 |
Aug 25 |
Reply |
Mom is off getting groceries. Someone has to do the shopping
As for lacking in attractiveness, you can add anhingas to the list--they have to be the least attractive |
Aug 6th |
| 67 |
Aug 25 |
Reply |
Thanks David. I have some shots of them separated but since you can see both faces I just like the little ball of fluff rather than separating them. I also like that it shows the dominance of the one on top and the meekness of the one on the bottom. The one on top is really a bully.
By the way, there is a third chick under these two. sitting on their sibling is why they ookso big a such an early age. |
Aug 6th |
| 67 |
Aug 25 |
Reply |
This shot was just foe me. Never even considered it for competition. While the little guys are cute/ugly they just aren't compelling enough to compete. The problem with photographing these characters is that at only a few days old (maybe 4-5) they are still tiny and everything in their world is bigger than they are. Added to that is that the parents are hoarders and are certainly not minimalist when it comes to decorating. All that busy stuff is just the nest and you can't eliminate it. I hoped that the darker nest material would contrast with the white hair that is not yet real feathers. From you comment--I guess it was not enough. (well, there is always next year) :-) |
Aug 6th |
| 67 |
Aug 25 |
Comment |
I think this is an excellent MW image. There are rare nights like this, when the clouds are just right that you can get some sunlight to compliment the MW and when you do it maes for something special. What I really like about this is that it just feels right. This is the kind of scene I see when my eyes adjust to the night. There are shadows where they should be and the highlight are not too bright.
I think the mushroom shape column of light formed by the MW and the clouds ties the scene together quite well.
I think I prefer to see a tiny bit of the black across the top cropped off and about a third of the bottom also removed. Neither would be missed in the composition |
Aug 6th |
| 67 |
Aug 25 |
Comment |
Well, I'm going to the the odd one out. Even when small I still to not want to meet these two guys (or even one of them) on a dark field one night. They look just like they will when the grow up. Thus I'm happy just to enjoy your image from the comfort of my chair.
The fact that they are vicious characters does not diminish the quality f your image. The interaction of these sibings is all the more endearing when one realizes what they actually are. As a nature photographer (who plays by the rules) I do not mind that the image looks a bit busy. Nature is not neat, it is often very messy, especially when photographing the young--that mess is called protection and is part of the scene. The faces are clean enough and sharp and while their butts seem a bit soft (maybe f8 would solve that) This is still a solid entry. Nice shot.
BTW, you didn't run over the giraffe hiding in the brush when you were leaving did you? |
Aug 6th |
| 67 |
Aug 25 |
Comment |
Big Horn Sheep are simply magnificent animals. Whie this is not an image with a great story I think everyone who sees these monarchs of the tundra has tried to get the class head shot if for no other reason than to show off those horns. In that sense, I think this is a mandatory image in a portfolio of bighorn images. The horns have great detail and yu have the eye. Plus your processing and the removal of that rear end is well down. |
Aug 4th |
| 67 |
Aug 25 |
Comment |
I do love these action type of images. As noted, in Nature, the story is what matters. Like Butch, when I first opened it I didn't know for sure what it actually was thus I gravitated to Bigfoot.
But seriously, this is a wonderful image. While this is likely not a competition image (judges don't like to think too hard) I think it is a fine Nature image. If you study the image,then everything become clear and you can clearly see bear's face and recognize and the prey. I also love the circular spray of the water drops. The action is what makes this work. |
Aug 4th |
| 67 |
Aug 25 |
Reply |
Come on Butch. You KNOW that is Bigfoot! Now we have a real picture to ID him. :-) |
Aug 4th |
5 comments - 7 replies for Group 67
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14 comments - 10 replies Total
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