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| Group |
Round |
C/R |
Comment |
Date |
Image |
| 3 |
Sep 21 |
Reply |
Wow, an eight mile hike would be quite an adventure for sure. I am on vacation right now with a friend and we are hiking the north shore of Minnesota. Every day we spend hours hiking so I understand your reply.
The other thing I recently have been trying is to use AF/C when shooting a still subject. If you were focusing on a rock in this image, and you do not have a tripod, try using AF/Continous. I am photographing mushrooms and I am noticing when they are close to the ground and I can't use a tripod to steady the camera, AF/C helps me get a sharper focus.
Just a thought.
LT |
Sep 29th |
| 3 |
Sep 21 |
Reply |
Thanks for your comment, Ruth. Yes, I think split toning would also make a good option.
LT |
Sep 27th |
| 3 |
Sep 21 |
Comment |
Hello Michael,
Love your image! You did a wonderful job of both editing and sky replacement. I like the image because it does not have any distractions, the color palette is warm and as I would expect it if I were at this location.
My only suggestion is to try to lower the brightness on the lower half of the image a bit. I am agreeing with Kieu-Hanh and believe also that the brightness areas are out of sync between sky and ground. This is an easy fix for you.
Thanks for sharing this great image! |
Sep 20th |
| 3 |
Sep 21 |
Reply |
Thanks, Randy, I am glad you like the blueberry photo!
LT |
Sep 20th |
| 3 |
Sep 21 |
Reply |
Thanks, Ian, for visiting group 3 and your comments on my photo!
LT |
Sep 20th |
| 3 |
Sep 21 |
Reply |
I look forward to seeing what you did, Mary Ann, how exciting!!
LT |
Sep 8th |
| 3 |
Sep 21 |
Comment |
I like the simplicity of this photograph, Kieu-Hanh. I think you positioned the man well as the main subject in the frame. I also like the gentle roll of the water as he hunts for treasure. The soft tones of the sunrise are lovely and perfect timing to catch him at his job. He is situated on the left side of the rule of thirds, so all is well with the composition.
The one thing that caught my eye was the texture of the sand, perhaps from sharpening the image. To me, sharpening the image isn't working. I think it conflicts with the dawn of a new day and the lone man on the beach. My edit was to soften the image a bit. I used Nik Color Efex Pro 4, applied the Soft & Grainy preset, and lessened the amount of grain because I don't think you like grain as much as I do.
The edit was completed with the original photo. I am curious what you think.
LT |
Sep 8th |
 |
| 3 |
Sep 21 |
Reply |
I, too, am not one to linger doing extensive photo editing. Maybe that is why I enjoy shooting more documentary styles of photography.
But then there is always tomorrow, and maybe then I will switch again and try abstract; I have always wanted to try creative camera movement on a landscape photo. I love change.
Have a great day!
LT |
Sep 8th |
| 3 |
Sep 21 |
Reply |
Thanks, Mary Ann, I am glad you like this photo too! It is actually fun to create a still life. There are lots of examples on the internet that help with putting one together. I am beginning to like this genre. Would you give one a try?
LT |
Sep 8th |
| 3 |
Sep 21 |
Reply |
Thank you, Jack, I am glad you like this image!
LT |
Sep 8th |
| 3 |
Sep 21 |
Reply |
You are so welcome, Lisa! I hope you had a great flight home from the Olympics!!
LT |
Sep 7th |
| 3 |
Sep 21 |
Comment |
Hello Ruth,
You live in a lovely area of the country. I like your vantage point with the water and the mountain peak in the frame. The colors and tone look both realistic and natural; what a breath-taking view it must have been.
I am noticing a softening of the image. You did not note which lens you were using. At f/22, I would want the whole image sharp, but for some reason, it is not. I wish to suggest another opportunity to shoot this location, to try f/11 and 1/60 shutter speed with this 18mm lens. There must have been some vibration or camera shake that is being detected without having a tripod. What do you think?
If f/22 is the narrowest aperture, then maybe that or the shutter speed (1/15) was the culprit. I have heard people say that shooting at the end of the aperture range can be a problem for lenses. So they have recommended stopping down a stop or two for the best aperture; f/11 and 1/60s shutter would help.
I hope this is helpful.
LT |
Sep 7th |
| 3 |
Sep 21 |
Comment |
Hello Lisa,
I love this shot of Pittsburgh!
I like how you composed the scene and the angle of the bridge; it draws my eye into the photo. The bridge is sharp, and I can read the street signs on the bridge. Your Sony does well at f/2.5. The histogram looks good, the sky color is a lovely blue, and the ripples in the water give this photo a realistic vibe.
I agree with Kieu-Hanh that f/16 would make the street light a starburst, and the Del Monte Foods sign would be in sharp focus. I think a narrower aperture would also give the overall image a sharper look and feel.
I hope this helps.
LT |
Sep 7th |
| 3 |
Sep 21 |
Comment |
Hi Mary Ann,
Love your yummy tomato photo!
I see your dilemma with the yellow tomato. With your Photoshop skills, this is an easy fix. Just paint in the yellow color if you can't bring down the exposure. This technique works because the yellow tomato is in the back and not the main subject. My edit of this photo was quick, so I am confident you can do this with time and patience. I also painted two other tomatoes in the background; can you tell which ones?
I have a question. Why did you choose shutter priority with this still life? If you do not choose to shoot in manual, I recommend aperture priority to control the aperture, and the camera selects the shutter and ISO. For this fruit photo, I would like to have you try a narrower aperture than f/5. When you have opportunities like this again, try three different aperture settings (including f/8). I also recommend getting the fruit in the front of the frame in focus because the eye enters the frame here, and this area may look better in sharper focus.
So take multiple shots, multiple aperture settings, and watch your highlights on the histogram on the LCD screen in your camera. If you set your camera with -1 exposure compensation, this will also help with highlight control. Remember, you can always raise the exposure in post.
These are just some suggestions. I hope they help.
LT
|
Sep 7th |
 |
| 3 |
Sep 21 |
Reply |
Hello Kieu-Hanh,
Thank you for your comments; I am glad you like this image!
To me, the non-conventional lay of the spoon is what caught my eye. A diagonal spoon would be great, as well as you noted. The image is a flat-lay shot from above. The intent of this image is to hang it on my wall in the kitchen as a large print, so I chose this direction.
Regarding the original dark image, it is dark because I am learning to shoot darker in the beginning and have more flexibility with color than if I shoot too bright and struggle with highlights. Every camera is different when taking this approach. My Leica Q2 does not handle highlights well, so the experts recommend shooting darker and opening up post-processing exposure. It all has to do with how your camera handles dynamic range. My Fujifilm camera has custom settings for dynamic range on the camera, which is helpful.
The experts also recommend using the histogram on the camera's LCD screen and watching the white point, not overexposing the highlights, and I find this very helpful.
I hope this helps. |
Sep 7th |
| 3 |
Sep 21 |
Reply |
Thank you for your comments, Michael.
The halos you note are the reflection of the sidelight from the spoon. I printed this photo on 16x20" paper, and standing back from the print; I am not distracted by these highlights; I see them on other berries and the spoon (it is consistent). I find the closer you are to a print (sitting at a desk and viewing on a monitor), the more noticeable things like this become. I notice this myself when I review images. But taking a step back, then they are not as obvious.
I will consider this correction in Photoshop and see how the change looks.
Thank you for your valuable feedback.
LT |
Sep 7th |
| 3 |
Sep 21 |
Comment |
Hello Randy,
I see you have branched off into a new realm of photographic interests; street photography beachside!
I think you did an excellent job of presenting this new genre for yourself. I was curious how popular beach photography was, and I found one photo site on the internet with over 7,000 photographs of people on the beach in swimsuits!! I was amazed. You also live in a thriving community of beachgoers, so why not.
I think you did an excellent job of capturing your subjects. There are no distractions (nothing is exposed that anyone would take offense to), and as Kieu-Hanh said, you included coarse and rough sand, which adds to the story of the day. With the seashells in the sand, I know this is at an ocean.
The swimsuit colors are vibrant and accurate to what I would expect in hue and tone. The skin tones also appear natural. The ladies seem to be well-positioned on the rule of thirds.
If I were to ask for any change, it would be to capture more of the red blanket on the left side of the frame. Or, consider a bit of ocean view to add to the story.
I also agree with Kieu-Hanh; I am sure they use plenty of sunscreen.
Glad you are having fun!
LT |
Sep 5th |
| 3 |
Sep 21 |
Reply |
Hello Angela, thanks for visiting Group 3!
I used a rectangular piece of gray slate tile leftover from a remodeling project.
LT |
Sep 1st |
6 comments - 12 replies for Group 3
|
| 5 |
Sep 21 |
Comment |
Hello Barbara,
Lovely still life. I like the subjects and the simple design. I am not necessarily bothered by the bright colors; I, too, like bright, vibrant colors. All the elements seem to go together well.
Regarding the saturation, may I suggest toning down the areas that seem too vibrant, like the corner in the upper left and the orange fringe in the front of the frame. Other than that, the only thing that seems unreal to me is the tabletop being black. The blanket appears to be levitating. If I could tell there was a tabletop under the blanket, it would feel more realistic. I hope this helps.
LuAnn |
Sep 7th |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 5
|
| 62 |
Sep 21 |
Comment |
Very creative idea, Bunny, I like what you have done! I too like Emil's idea of the larger critter. Your choice of the tarantella was an excellent idea! I also like your last edit where you removed the right sidewall. The image looks cleaner now.
Nicely done, Ms. October!!
|
Sep 20th |
| 62 |
Sep 21 |
Comment |
I love your photo this month, Bob! Horses on the march always capture my heart and attention. Your detailing is very well done.
I agree with Oliver's finding on how fine art is defined; creative expression of the photographer. Usually, they have a specific genre they enjoy. Years ago I was always intrigued by the work of Brooke shaden; she's a fine art photographer and has a very unique style of photography. Brooke is a self-portrait artist. Some find her work disturbing but I find it interesting. She has YouTube videos on how she edits her work if that interests anyone. I like to watch her process.
If I was to add any advice it would be to work with the luminosity to direct the eye to the horses and people you want the viewer to see. What path do you want our eye to take to move through the image is a question you might try to answer.
Hope this helps. |
Sep 20th |
| 62 |
Sep 21 |
Reply |
Thanks, Israel. I hope to visit you one day. I would like that very much.
Best regards,
LT |
Sep 20th |
| 62 |
Sep 21 |
Comment |
I love your photo of the Dead Sea, Israel; what a beautiful sight with the mushrooms and lumps of salt. I think you have done a lovely job in capturing this unique body of water; one of a kind in the whole world. I also like how you set the tone to be lighter ranging more in the mid-tones and highlight areas; a realistic tonal range.
My only suggestion is to try to adjust the dehaze slider in Lightroom (move it right) to add some subtle contrast and it also will help sharpen up the details as Bob noted.
I recently read an article from Israel 365 news that scientists have been shocked to discover that the sinkholes appearing around the sea are quickly filling up with fish and other forms of life previously unseen in this inhospitable region. I believe God has his eye on the Dead Sea, Israel, according to Ezekiel 47:8-9, and one day he said the Dead Sea will come back to life again. The world is watching.
Have a great day, my friend,
LuAnn |
Sep 13th |
| 62 |
Sep 21 |
Comment |
Love your image, Leah, and I find this style inspiring to try when I am out and about!
Before I could comment, though, I had to research the definition of black and white abstract photography; it is not an easy genre to understand.
These three things stood out for me:
1. Abstract art is visionary experimentation of simplicity, composition, angle of view, lighting, harmony, and mystery; it brings out the photo's "intangibles" - things like composition, mood, and emotion; how does it make you feel when looking at it.
2. Abstract photographs often represent an association with the subject, or the feeling evoked when you look at it.
3. Abstract photography is about the "artist-intent" for taking the photo. You remembered the photo of Igor Stravinsky at his piano- fantastic photo! I think understanding the artist intent is key to giving a critique of an abstract photograph.
With that said, to me, you had captured the geometry (rectangles and triangular shapes) in the piano similar to what you remember of Igor's piano photograph; your intent. And, you have an excellent range of mid-tones and blacks in your photo.
I like Oliver's edit as it allows the curvature of the piano's cover to be in full view yet not giving away that the photo is of a piano. I find interest in the rectangular tile stones and the two black pieces; I compare them one thick and one is thin.
Ultimately, I feel the image is cropped too tightly. It also appears that you removed the five rivets that went around the top of the piano; I recommend leaving them as they add interest. I like Oliver's edit and how the whole top section retains the angle. The only thing I wonder about is the tile wall; can you straighten it vertically?
I hope this helps.
|
Sep 13th |
| 62 |
Sep 21 |
Reply |
Hello Oliver,
My edit was to only show a different sky. I like your choice to make the barn the prominent subject I just didn't crop the grass area out because I was working on the sky. |
Sep 13th |
| 62 |
Sep 21 |
Reply |
I agree. |
Sep 13th |
| 62 |
Sep 21 |
Comment |
Hello Oliver,
I love the barn scene, and I agree it looks great in black and white. I learned from your other group (5) about replacing skies and making sure the light source matches the replacement sky, which was interesting.
I have to agree with Bunny about the challenge of the sky replacement on the left side of the frame. It does look too dramatic for the current subject. So here is my suggestion for an edit. I am sure my sky is too simple, but it is just a suggestion to match the current brightness of your image.
I tried to edit in PS and capture raw (2 apps I normally never use) but my skills and the image quality, as you have noted, are below par.
LT |
Sep 7th |
 |
| 62 |
Sep 21 |
Reply |
Thank you, Oliver, for your kind words. I love change and enjoy shooting a variety of subjects and themes. I would be bored as a landscape photographer, <haha>!
I guess my overall reason for taking the photo was to document a day in my life walking down by the river. I wasn't out to shoot geese (no pun intended); it was a walk in the park. I like your idea of focusing on the geese, and yes, I agree, the small sample images we submit do no justice to our edited versions. I like you replaced the sky. Did you use PS sky replacement? I was never one to replace a sky, but now I can't help but try.
Have a great day!
LT
|
Sep 7th |
| 62 |
Sep 21 |
Reply |
Thank you, Emil, for your sample edit! I like the choices you made. Having the two geese on the left puts them in a better light. And, I like the idea of dodging the inside of the picnic area. The path, to me, is essential as it is part of the story; I was out for a walk, so making it wider helps.
These geese were quickly walking away because they knew I was getting too close. I had a split second to capture the shot before they took flight and landed in the river behind me.
Thanks for the help.
LT |
Sep 7th |
| 62 |
Sep 21 |
Reply |
Thank you, Bob, for your thoughts. Those are great ideas for testing this new camera and lens. As you can tell from the original, that would eliminate quite a bit of information and the image is still sharp.
In my spare time, I took another version of this photo and added a new sky. You have been an inspiration for sky replacement. PS has that new feature and I can't believe how quick and easy it is.
Thanks for the help.
LT |
Sep 7th |
| 62 |
Sep 21 |
Reply |
Emil,
I am just getting started in printing my photos. Would you be willing to give me some advice on printing black and white images? My challenge is with paper choices.
My email address is luann.thatcher@winternet.com since this question doesn't relate to study group comments.
Thanks,
LuAnn |
Sep 4th |
| 62 |
Sep 21 |
Comment |
Hello Emil,
I really enjoy viewing your image of the 4014. Whenever I view your photos, they seem to have a unique look, a stylish look that says who you are as a photographer.
In this image, I find the engine aligns with the rule of thirds well. For me, if there is more space in front of the train, then the end of the train loses detail because of the train's length. The engine is nice and sharp, and the clouds do not take attention away from the train; they appear realistic, light, and naturally soft. I even notice the subtle illumination of the headlight; very nice; I know exactly where to focus my attention.
I would not change a thing. Have you, or are you going to print this photo?
LT |
Sep 4th |
6 comments - 7 replies for Group 62
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13 comments - 19 replies Total
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