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| Group |
Round |
C/R |
Comment |
Date |
Image |
| 3 |
Apr 20 |
Comment |
LuAnn, if you decide to submit this image to a competition (and I hope you do!), I suggest that you consider the fact that the background seems lighter around the man. Some judges would find this objectionable since they might think it was "too much Photoshop manipulation".
When you win the competition, please let me know!!
|
Apr 12th |
| 3 |
Apr 20 |
Comment |
LuAnn, this is a wonderful image! I especially like the way you handled the background and the lighting. Also, the color of the man's face is nicely complemented by the birch-bark of the canoe. Excellent!
The only things I can suggest for the photograph are really only nits. The first is to have a bit more space below the canoe and the second is to crop just a little more on the left so that the man isn't in the absolute center of the image. I've attached a crude attempt at these, but as I said, they are only trivial suggestions to a wonderful image! |
Apr 12th |
 |
2 comments - 0 replies for Group 3
|
| 5 |
Apr 20 |
Comment |
Very nice! As others have said, the textures and composition are excellent. I especially like the fact that you cropped out the center of the hub which many people might have thought was the focus point of the image. However, when I played with your original photograph in Photoshop and tried different cropping approaches, it was soon clear that yours was the best by far. Although I like the fact that you blurred the orange-ish ground behind the wheel's spokes, the brightness still pulls my eyes away from the spoke. You might consider darkening that area.
Well done!
|
Apr 11th |
| 5 |
Apr 20 |
Comment |
Mark, your choices of tone and lighting are wonderful. I really like your application of Kelby's "long exposure clouds" in this image. Also, your lighting of the buildings is fantastic. You've managed to leave details in the dark areas that actually matter. Yet, you've rendered other areas (sky, areas between buildings) black so that they don't distract from the areas of interest. Extremely well done.
|
Apr 10th |
| 5 |
Apr 20 |
Comment |
Your Murphy image again shows your skills and imagination in photography. I'm amazed at the results of your work.
Murphy would be proud.
|
Apr 8th |
| 5 |
Apr 20 |
Comment |
Stephen, for an "occasional night photographer" you really nailed this one! Very well done! I suggest that you continue exploring your night vision when the virus situation allows.
One of the ways that I study images that I like is to take the original and play with it in Photoshop. This gives me a chance to truly appreciate all of the subtle components and also to understand some of the post-processing that the photographer accomplished. I do this while not looking at the submitted image and often/usually find that my final product is inferior. Here's what resulted with your photograph....
|
Apr 7th |
 |
| 5 |
Apr 20 |
Comment |
I really like the whimsical quality of this image! The Bird of Paradise is perfect for your vortex treatment. You've transformed it into a fantastic dragon! Without your clever post-processing, this would be just another flower picture. However, it's now eye-catching as well as amusing. Very well done!
|
Apr 6th |
| 5 |
Apr 20 |
Reply |
Thank you, Barbara. The colors of the flowers seemed to be a wonderful balance with the vases. I was quite lucky to stumble on to the scene.
|
Apr 5th |
| 5 |
Apr 20 |
Reply |
Thank you, Richard. I see what you mean about the bright flowers on the right. Since I like the green plant (whatever it is) just below the white flowers, I tried reducing the brightness. What do you think? |
Apr 4th |
 |
| 5 |
Apr 20 |
Comment |
Mark, good call! I actually have a very subtle vignette but, frankly, I like yours better. Thank you!
|
Apr 1st |
| 5 |
Apr 20 |
Reply |
Isaac, thank you for your comments. Yes, Brookside is a magical place. Around Christmas they decorate it with a million lights. Their colors and style are chosen to match the flowers and plants that they are placed on. It's a spectacular display. I hope you'll be able to see it when you visit your grandchildren.
|
Apr 1st |
6 comments - 3 replies for Group 5
|
| 62 |
Apr 20 |
Comment |
LuAnn, I always find people's input valuable. The comments on this image were particularly interesting, in part because it's not an image that I think has a great deal of potential. Nonetheless, there have been several times when input from others has amazed me since they have found a photograph much more appealing than I originally did. However, by "listening" closely to what they say, I understood what they liked and re-processed the image in Photoshop to emphasize the aspects that they pointed out to me.
Minnesota sounds like a beautiful state. I'd love to see it some day.
I tried some indoor photography using incense sticks to create smoke images. It's much more challenging than I anticipated!
Take care and be safe in these difficult times.
|
Apr 23rd |
| 62 |
Apr 20 |
Comment |
LuAnn, I always find people's input valuable. The comments on this image were particularly interesting, in part because it's not an image that I think has a great deal of potential. Nonetheless, there have been several times when input from others has amazed me since they have found a photograph much more appealing than I originally did. However, by "listening" closely to what they say, I understood what they liked and re-processed the image in Photoshop to emphasize the aspects that they pointed out to me.
Minnesota sounds like a beautiful state. I'd love to see it some day.
I tried some indoor photography using incense sticks to create smoke images. It's much more challenging than I anticipated!
Take care and be safe in these difficult times.
|
Apr 23rd |
| 62 |
Apr 20 |
Comment |
Bob, I really like this. Your image has such a clear foreground, mid-ground and background that it's almost the "poster child" for landscapes.
In the original, color image the cloudless sky bothers me. However, that's not the case in the B&W. Part of the difference, of course, is the fact that you cropped some of the sky. But, more than that there seems to be a more obvious gradient of tone in the monochrome version.
I've never been fortunate enough to see Alaska, but images like yours make it a very desirable visit! Well done!
|
Apr 7th |
| 62 |
Apr 20 |
Comment |
Gary, even without our need to see a "light at the end", this is a wonderful image. The lighting of the old flatbed leads beautifully to the sunrise.
Judging by the movement in the clouds and the excellent depth-of-field, you must have taken this photograph with a long exposure. Very well done for handholding.
Sadly, I really can't offer any suggestions for improvement since to me it seems "near perfect". Well done! Clearly you and Jack Daniels didn't chat until after you had taken the image.
|
Apr 6th |
| 62 |
Apr 20 |
Reply |
Israel, the sharpening was done in several steps using a combination of software components. First I reduced the noise in the image using Topaz DeNoise AI. I always try to eliminate noise first since the later sharpening can make it worse. Then, I went into Photoshop's Camera Raw and, using the adjustment brush with Automask turned on, I selected the background. Once selected, I was able to darken it and reduce the contrast. Next, using a new adjustment brush, I selected the snails. Then it was simple to increase their texture and contrast while darkening the highlights. Finally, I did similar adjustments to the plants. After returning to Photoshop, I used the Topaz Sharpen AI filter to do a bit of final sharpening.
I hope this is useful.
|
Apr 6th |
| 62 |
Apr 20 |
Comment |
LuAnn, I really like how you took and processed this image. Your cropping and enhanced contrast make the waterfall feel like a living thing. And, your 1/8 sec exposure really worked well, giving a flowing sensation without turning the water into a silken blur. Very nicely done!
There's very little that I can suggest for this image. The only things that I can think of are to slightly brighten the water at the bottom where there is a subdued splash into the "basin". Also, since the image is quite dark (especially at the bottom), you might consider a thin frame.
Beautiful.
|
Apr 5th |
| 62 |
Apr 20 |
Comment |
Israel, you've made a wonderful discovery! I love the tiny snails. They bring real life to macro photography. Your cropping is outstanding and I feel that the frame you added really enhances the image. Very well done!
Naturally, I wanted to try a few different "looks" for your excellent photograph.
What do you think? |
Apr 5th |
 |
6 comments - 1 reply for Group 62
|
14 comments - 4 replies Total
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