|
| Group |
Round |
C/R |
Comment |
Date |
Image |
| 15 |
May 20 |
Comment |
Jeri, Give it a try and see if it works. However, I suspect that it might make the image a little unbalanced. |
May 9th |
| 15 |
May 20 |
Reply |
Jeri, Give it a try and see if it works. However, I suspect that it might make the image a little unbalanced. |
May 9th |
| 15 |
May 20 |
Reply |
Jeri, Thank you for your kind words which are much appreciated. My routine for your image was as follows. In Photoshop, create a Background Copy Layer. With this Layer selected, go to Filter>Blur>Radial Blur>Zoom>Amount 50%. If this effect is too much for you, go to Edit>Fade Radial Blur>Adjust Slider to Suit. This must be your next action if you want to make any changes. The effect will now be applied to the Background Copy Layer but not the Background Layer. Select the Background Copy Layer, select the Eraser Tool, choose an appropriate Opacity and Size of Footprint, erase the blurred copy to reveal the clear Layer underneath. When finished, either Save the image as a Photoshop PSD for further action later or Flatten the image and save as a JPEG. As with any Filter/Effect, it is important to be subtle to be effective, otherwise it detracts from rather than enhances the image. Simply by adding the blurred effect changes the image from being a mere record of the event to something that has a pictorial element to it. In this case, it is as though the bird is flying down the channel into the distance. If you want to have a look at a YouTube video, just enter <Photoshop Radial Blur> which will give you a whole raft of options. I hope this helps. |
May 9th |
| 15 |
May 20 |
Reply |
Jeri, Thank you for your comments which are much appreciated. It is interesting that you are still searching for your style. Given what little I know of you and our brief exchanges recently, I would suggest that you have already found it. When I did my Masters, I decided that for my Final dissertation, I would look at my 'Personal Identity: Transition from Camera Club to Master of Arts Photographer'. Even after two years research, I still didn't know who I was and I am still looking for my own true identity. |
May 9th |
| 15 |
May 20 |
Reply |
Jeri, Prompted by your comment, I offer the following image where I have added Radial Zoom Blur and some Cropping. |
May 9th |
 |
| 15 |
May 20 |
Reply |
Jeri, Thank you for your kind words which are very much appreciated. We all take photos for different reasons. As a photo-journalist or war-photographer, you are responding to a commission and have to obtain images of war-torn or poverty-stricken scenarios. You have to divorce yourself from any emotion in order to capture the moment for the Press or your client. It is necessary to remain detached to do the job that you are being paid for. As an enthusiastic and passionate amateur, there is a dichotomy here between being a 'Technical' photographer and being an 'Arty-Farty' photographer. Equally, there is another dichotomy extant here and that is either taking record pictures or taking images where feeling, mood and emotion are more important that hitherto and transcend a mere record. I suspect from our discussions to date that you are someone who deliberately tries to break down and question your photographic boundaries. I see this as a healthy attitude not only to photography but also to life itself. You are continually questioning yourself; asking what you are doing and why you are doing it. This is one of the fundamentals of personal development and photographic improvement which should be encouraged. My advice would always be, if the moment presents itself, then take the picture. You can ask questions later with a cool head and reasoned argument. The example you quoted of photographing the crashed military aircraft for the Accident Board is a good one. Your analogy between pictures 'You had to take' and pictures 'You wanted to take' is apposite here. You are to be congratulated in being so proactive with your photography. Well done. |
May 8th |
| 15 |
May 20 |
Reply |
Jeri, Talking of puzzles, I made the mistake recently of starting a jigsaw. It is 1,000 pieces of Waterloo Station 1848-1948. The jigsaw has a top half (1848) and a bottom half (1948) where the artist has made subtle changes to the people in both halves. To say it is a challenge is an understatement! It is about 90% finished and I shall breath a sigh of relief when it is finally done. I might even take a pickie.
|
May 8th |
 |
| 15 |
May 20 |
Reply |
Bob, I agree with Jeri that there is too much in the original and my attention oscillates between the two piers. The original sunset is lovely and I am particularly drawn to the reflections in the foreground. There is much to be said for the old adage 'Less is More' and the image above with the single pier is a winner. You did well to record 53 images during this session. The problem I find is that they look good at the time but others look better later, and it is often difficult to decide which one is the best. |
May 8th |
| 15 |
May 20 |
Comment |
Jeri, I stand firmly in the 'Wow' corner and I congratulate you on your photographic prowess. My school of thought is and always has been that 'An image is an image is an image' and how it is produced is of secondary consideration. You have captured that 'Decisive Moment' perfectly and this is the stuff of photography. I don't have a problem with your picture although I can appreciate that some may take issue with the ethics of taking such an image. You have captured the 'Decisive Moment' perfectly and to be able to do it at 1,000 yard distance shows that you are a master of your craft. When I did my Masters Degree in Photography, one of my projects was to look at 'Moment of Death photographs in War Photography' using Combat Photographer Robert Capa as my centre of focus. You can imagine that I had similar issues to deal with as you have found with your picture. There is always a fine line to be walked for war photographers; a dichotomy between intruding into personal space with the emotion of what is happening before your eyes, and capturing it as a true record for future reference.
|
May 6th |
2 comments - 7 replies for Group 15
|
| 21 |
May 20 |
Reply |
Steve, Thank you for your comment which is much appreciated. Interesting how we all see different things in an image and how we relate them to our own life experiences. |
May 21st |
| 21 |
May 20 |
Reply |
Phillipa, Not sure whether that would work for me as I want to see the yellow/pink/orange curved line emanating from the bottom left hand corner. To crop the picture to the next vertical line would make it unbalanced. |
May 18th |
| 21 |
May 20 |
Reply |
Charles, Many thanks for the clarification. |
May 17th |
| 21 |
May 20 |
Reply |
Larry, Thank you for your kind words which are much appreciated. Historically, and this is a failing on my part, I have not saved the originals and those that I have are lodged somewhere in my 'Filing System'. This is something that I need to address. |
May 17th |
| 21 |
May 20 |
Reply |
Charles, Thank you. It looks good. |
May 17th |
| 21 |
May 20 |
Reply |
Charles, Thank you for your kind words which are much appreciated. There is indeed a sense of flames coming out of the buildings at the bottom of the image. I like your addition of subtle colours which works for me. Well done. |
May 17th |
| 21 |
May 20 |
Comment |
Charles, Welcome aboard to Study Group 21. You'll find us a pretty friendly bunch and I hope you enjoy the experience. I am looking forward to seeing your images over the coming months. It is evident from this month's submission that you have a good digital imaging skill set. I quite like the rich sunset colours in the lower half and how this is a foil for the crispness of the Seattle skyline colours in the upper half. Your choice was a good one to have the sky in the upper half which mirrors reality. However, I find with pseudo reflection pictures that it splits the image into two halves which compete for the viewer's attention. Consequently, our eyes flip between the two which makes for a visually unsettling experience. You make reference to 'stock' photos and I am not clear whether they are your stock photos or those from a picture library. It is always a difficult dilemma whether to use images from the latter. Peter makes some good points in his comments. |
May 17th |
| 21 |
May 20 |
Comment |
Barrie, I like the general idea of using Posterization to add an artistic, graphic effect to an image. However, it has to be used in a subtle way to maximise its effectiveness. In this case, I would like the effect to be faded a little to increase the overall aesthetic. I would agree with Barbara that the original is probably a cracking picture and it is a pity that we cannot see more of the detail of the locomotive. |
May 16th |
| 21 |
May 20 |
Reply |
Joan, I took the Chernobyl image at an exhibition in London. Those of Honolulu and Hong Kong were taken in situ on location. I have had a search for the original images and alas I cannot find them. It was my intention to create the illusion of a melt-down and I am pleased that is what you see. |
May 16th |
| 21 |
May 20 |
Comment |
Steve, I like the interaction between the mirrored cow and the vehicle behind it. Combination of the original image with a flipped version and removal of the spare horns works well to blend the composite with the building in the background. It is interesting how in the final version the cow's nose has become cheeks. |
May 13th |
| 21 |
May 20 |
Reply |
Phillipa, I think that inclusion of the curved lines on the left hand side of the image creates good circularity within the image and provides a foil for all the other straight lines in the picture. Similarly, the area of red and orange, together with the coloured lines provides good contrast with the monochrome background. I think it would be a mistake to crop anything more off the image. |
May 13th |
| 21 |
May 20 |
Reply |
Phillipa, Thank you for your kind words which are much appreciated. |
May 13th |
| 21 |
May 20 |
Reply |
Peter, It is difficult to provide a firm answer to your question as the very nature of the paint droplets hitting the surface creates a very busy pattern anyway. It would be difficult to know how to make it less busy. My attention keeps returning to the blob at the top which I find a little distracting. |
May 10th |
| 21 |
May 20 |
Comment |
Phillipa, I love the graphic design of this picture which speaks volumes about code-breaking and finding connections between random variables. Having said that, there is an underlying regularity that comes through strongly. I like the curved lines and the linear lines that are not horizontal or vertical and how they interplay with the other true lines. It is an image full of shapes, patterns, textures and a very busy one with much to keep our interest. I like Peter's suggestion of cropping and I have taken the liberty of including such a version to give a flavour of the effect. |
May 10th |
 |
| 21 |
May 20 |
Comment |
Peter, Your image has immediate impact with the miscellany of shapes, patterns, textures; the wonderful colour saturation and perfect sharpness. I particularly like the glossy feeling to the droplets. It is a very busy picture with much in it to grab the attention. Compositionally, there is a nice pyramid shape which creates a good visual triangle of interest. Your picture conjures up a mental picture of being like a one-armed paper hanger to capture the image. |
May 10th |
| 21 |
May 20 |
Comment |
Joan, Your cat is a beautiful lady. I quite like the notion of your cat having a coloured muff around its neck to keep it warm and the way that the mottled yellow enhances that illusion. Changing the eye colour adds a sense of mystery and intrigue. |
May 10th |
| 21 |
May 20 |
Reply |
Peter, Thank you for your kind words which are much appreciated. Your Inverted image works well for me and I prefer it to my original. Congratulations and well done. Thank you for adjusting the pixel count. When I submitted the image to Joan, I inadvertently lifted the image from a PowerPoint presentation and not from my Photoshop files. |
May 10th |
6 comments - 11 replies for Group 21
|
8 comments - 18 replies Total
|
