A few from my Florida trip...for C&C please...

[IzzieK]

1 My friend and I decided one day to go and take a shot of that broken boat buried in the marsh...I was disappointed to find it wasn't there anymore so I just took some shots of something else. This place we went to is the pathway going to the Cedar Key cemetery. I thought the image was too flat so I increase the tonal contrast then went to Silver EFex and converted it to B/W, then to Color EFex to give the edges some white blur for effect. I could had asked my friend to pose as a human element but I was using my UWA and I wasn't brave enough to distort her...



2 Took a little walk down the street before breakfast and saw this acorn begging to be photographed. I have not seen a purple-ish acorn so I shot it. I tried to get the white and black points correct but I can find my head on how to do it with this one so I left it without correcting that as I recalled this is how it really looked like when I saw it ... I know it is because I stared at it for a longer time than I can remember...



3 Last one is this little periwinkle, so from the same walk. This was located in the next neighbour's fence...but not planted intentionally as I noticed. I had removed some other distractions using the content aware patch then cropped it this way because it looks better to me...might not to you guys ... I like this for its simplicity alone and light peeking through its leaves...and oh, btw, I was too short to reach this flower without borrowing a short ladder and I was ultra careful because their dog kept barking at me...




I will try to find some more left over images I had not processed later on. In the meantime, this is it! and it is raining here so I am bored. Thank you all for passing by and commenting if you will. I appreciate anything you will say about these ones...

[Geoff F]

I have never been a fan of vignettes, with very few exceptions, so for me #1 would look much better without the foreground blur. One other possible idea is to reduce the sky height which would appear to make the far distant point even longer.

#2 is almost there but the closest point of one acorn is out of focus. It may be impossible to get everything in focus with just one shot so in that case a bit of focus stacking would be needed.

You have managed to nicely capture that tricky red colour with #3 but I wonder about fractionally cropping from the top; possibly take the same from the right side if you want to retain the size ratio. The closest leaf is out of focus but in this case I think you can get away with it because those vibrant red petals are the main focal point.

[Mike Buckley]

Agreed with Geoff about image #2.

I especially like the first one both in concept and execution. I have never thought of using a negative vignette for a scene like this and it's very effective. Consider using a more gradual transition, as the change seems a bit too abrupt to me.

I thought the image was too flat so I increase the tonal contrast then went to Silver EFex and converted it to B/W, then to Color EFex to give the edges some white blur for effect.

The vignette seems only brighter, not blurred, to my eye. I don't think I would like it if it was blurred. Even so, once you were already using Silver Efex, you could have accomplished the same thing very easily without switching to Color Efex.

[FootLoose]

I like the first two, Izzie and agree with Geoff's and Mike's comments. If I weren't so hopeless at getting horizon's level I might suggest you tweak the first one a touch but I shouldn't criticise what I can't do myself

Regarding the dof in the 2nd, shooting a side view might have overcome that problem - if that were possible.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Izzie,

In #1, I might have used a subtle black vignette, but not the white one, because of the effect on the foreground and sides of the image. Because of the vignette, I hadn't actually noticed the levelness being off as Greg did. I'm guessing you didn't have your hot shoe level on that day, did you?

In #2, I agree it would have been nice to have the tip of the nearest acorn sharper. Additionally, I think I would have part-cropped and part-cloned to remove that leaf on the right, but your text makes it obvious you artistically chose to leave it there.

In #3, that's a nice subject well captured. Again, if it were me, I'd have part-cropped and part-cloned to remove that out of focus thing in lower right corner, but since you'd already done some cloning/patching, I guess it was a deliberate decision to leave it in shot - personally, I'd have just continued (aka cloned) what's above it down in to the corner for a simpler composition.

I hope you find my thoughts (and nagging) helpful, Dave

[deetheturk]

Are you ever home woman nice captures Izzie but where's the bugs?

[IzzieK]

I have never been a fan of vignettes, with very few exceptions, so for me #1 would look much better without the foreground blur. One other possible idea is to reduce the sky height which would appear to make the far distant point even longer.

But I like that cloud, Geoff -- it looks threatening when I took it and only though of including the bridge at the last minute...

#2 is almost there but the closest point of one acorn is out of focus. It may be impossible to get everything in focus with just one shot so in that case a bit of focus stacking would be needed.

Thank you. I should had thought of that...I am so short, it was hard enough tippytoe-ing while taking those last two shots... Next time when I see one of those, I will just clip it off the tree and take it home to photograph..

You have managed to nicely capture that tricky red colour with #3 but I wonder about fractionally cropping from the top; possibly take the same from the right side if you want to retain the size ratio. The closest leaf is out of focus but in this case I think you can get away with it because those vibrant red petals are the main focal point.

Will do...

I appreciate your encouraging comment and suggestions. I will get down to work on the edits as soon as daylight sets in. Thank you

[IzzieK]

Agreed with Geoff about image #2.

I especially like the first one both in concept and execution. I have never thought of using a negative vignette for a scene like this and it's very effective. Consider using a more gradual transition, as the change seems a bit too abrupt to me.

Got it!

The vignette seems only brighter, not blurred, to my eye. I don't think I would like it if it was blurred. Even so, once you were already using Silver Efex, you could have accomplished the same thing very easily without switching to Color Efex.

Thanks for reminding me...now that makes me feel foolish...I've used them before I just used to the ones in Color Efex..

'Appreciate your passing by and commenting and suggestions...thank you.

[IzzieK]

I like the first two, Izzie and agree with Geoff's and Mike's comments. If I weren't so hopeless at getting horizon's level I might suggest you tweak the first one a touch but I shouldn't criticise what I can't do myself

Regarding the dof in the 2nd, shooting a side view might have overcome that problem - if that were possible.

I have some side view shots...I will see what I can do...and as I had mentioned, I like the clouds very much here.

Now, I've just been reminded to move the image in lytebox and yes, I think you are all right that I should remove much of those clouds I dearly love...

'Appreciate your comments and suggestions, will implement it soon.Thank you...

[IzzieK]

Hi Izzie,

In #1, I might have used a subtle black vignette, but not the white one, because of the effect on the foreground and sides of the image. Because of the vignette, I hadn't actually noticed the levelness being off as Greg did. I'm guessing you didn't have your hot shoe level on that day, did you?

Nope! it will be useless on that day in that place because the bridge as leaning on the left a bit where I was...(is that a good excuse? I can make up some more if you like...) Darn! I was caught again!!!

In #2, I agree it would have been nice to have the tip of the nearest acorn sharper. Additionally, I think I would have part-cropped and part-cloned to remove that leaf on the right, but your text makes it obvious you artistically chose to leave it there.

I just thought the acorns will be lonely without a hint of connection to the mother shrub...yes, purposely left it there but cropped off till the overexposed area at the right side.

In #3, that's a nice subject well captured. Again, if it were me, I'd have part-cropped and part-cloned to remove that out of focus thing in lower right corner, but since you'd already done some cloning/patching, I guess it was a deliberate decision to leave it in shot - personally, I'd have just continued (aka cloned) what's above it down in to the corner for a simpler composition.

Yes...I had removed quite a bit at the left side including what is actually some leaves connected to the flower itself. At the right side just a little shine at the top and at the bottom a stray top of a leaf. I left that OOF thingie alone because that is part of the sentry entrance to the property. The little plant was growing in between the cemented part of the sentry.

I hope you find my thoughts (and nagging) helpful, Dave

Yessir I did. I really do appreciate your commenting and niggling thoughts...they are indeed very helpful. Thank you.

[IzzieK]

Are you ever home woman nice captures Izzie but where's the bugs?

That was from my last trip to Florida last month...I found out I have taken a few, much of which are the pathways. I have several of them on different angles because I was learning how to use my new UWA...no bugs, sorry...

From next month until February will be viewing up close and personal, sightings from the wild and photographing eagles down near Illinois area...so expect a lot of birdies or something if I can make it. There are some shuttle tours and how to photograph eagles and other raptors course, and other similar kind of activities all for free. So I want to take advantage of them. If I don't go out of the house to do my stuffs I will go crazy...so far I only drink white calcium infused pills...nyak...nyak...nyak...
Thanks David...'appreciate your comments...too windy for bugs right now though I've seen quite a few lady bugs lately. I kept picking them up and putting them outside...

[John 2]

I agree with all of the comments made so far Izzie especially Geoff's point about elongating the composition, but I like 1 and 2 in particular.

[Dave Humphries]

Darn! I was caught again!!!

Yup, you should know better by now Izzie

Nope! it will be useless on that day in that place because the bridge as leaning on the left a bit where I was...(is that a good excuse? I can make up some more if you like...)

Being serious, yes, I can see that the lake, planking/deck and handrails all have different 'level's - esp. when judging handrails at the edges of frame. I accept some of these may be 'real life' problems and hence unavoidable.

Possibly this could have be mitigated by shooting slightly off center - that's if you were 'on center' in the first place - this is another aspect where shooting with the UWA is VERY unforgiving of camera position with regard to foreground objects - half an inch (12mm if you're metricated) often makes a huge difference. It is learning to be very aware of this when looking through the viewfinder that is key to successful composing with UWA lenses.

Don't forget to get it level either, both in terms of lens axis rotation and pointing lens slightly up/down with respect to the horizon's vanishing point - that's where the hot shoe level helps, since what's in the viewfinder may not give sufficient information to get it right.

Keep at it, you're doing well and 'practice makes perfect'.

Cheers, Dave

[Shadowman]

I tried the white vignette before and to me it's more inviting; where the black vignette seems to be more foreboding. I like the effect you've presented here, try looking for more scenes that you can apply the vignette to; there won't be many but once you've found it...magic. I like the use of leading lines but you might try enhancing the horizon a bit.

The other two are fine, consider enhancing the lights/darks to get a more 3-D effect.

Nice efforts.

[Ziggy]

Nice series. Like the acorn shot.

I have a very large red oak in my yard and it is raining acorns now.

[Mike Buckley]

Don't forget to get it level either, both in terms of lens axis rotation and pointing lens slightly up/down with respect to the horizon's vanishing point - that's where the hot shoe level helps, since what's in the viewfinder may not give sufficient information to get it right.

That's a good point that brings up the distinction between a hot shoe level and the camera's electronic level (at least my camera's electronic level, which may not be as sophisticated as Izzie's). My camera's electronic level only indicates whether the camera is tilted horizontally, not up and down. A hot shoe level ideally would indicate both.

For those who are not used to using the camera's electronic level, consider that I use mine almost all of the time. When I'm shooting handheld, I use the level displayed in the viewfinder. When I'm using a tripod, I use the level displayed in Live View.

[bnnrcn]

Hi Isabel. Sorry for being a bit late but I'm away from home and I don't have a good internet connection where I'm now. I just want to say that your shooting and processing skills are improving from day to day. All nice images

[Wavelength]

I like all the three images.... i will name the first one 'memories'.....
The way you focused on the corn is fine; and about that winca rosea, i would love to clone out the thing from the right bottom corner...

[Dave A]

Nice! My favorite is the second image.

Dave

[IzzieK]

I agree with all of the comments made so far Izzie especially Geoff's point about elongating the composition, but I like 1 and 2 in particular.

I will post a correction and an added angle and a problem I want for you to look at in the restaurant shot...thanks. 'Appreciate your comments..