2017 Project 52 - 4th QTR - Sandy(Skitterbug)

[skitterbug]

The second image is good.

I wonder if you could very carefully add a little more brightness to the first image to lift those midtones just a fraction without over doing the white areas?

Not sure if I achieved what you had in mind but I gave it a try. When I first started experimenting this evening, I missed that my monitor had "darkened" a bit. It helps to remember to kick up the brightness setting!

See if this works?

[Geoff F]

I think you could push it a bit further still, Sandy.

Here is a quick edit which I tried.



Using Curves, but I did add a bit of masking to control the brightness on the background etc.

[skitterbug]

Thanks Geoff! I see the improvement! And you are correct, I did use curves but I didn't push it as you did. I like your edit!

[skitterbug]

Week 50 - Our weather has been miserable until today. I had to go to our little town for some errands and spotted the Memorial Park. I thought this would make an interesting picture. It is typical of a small town, I think? There is lots of clutter in the landscape around it but in among all of it is a small patch to remember those from our town that have lost their lives in service to our country. Since I was later in the morning, I couldn't swing around and get a pic from any other direction. So I selected this with the flagpoles in the back view and even another flag beyond. And I am still playing with framing (resize document, etc.) When viewed in Litebox, I thought white set it off pretty well.

Opinions are always appreciated.

ISO100 - f/6.3 - 18mm - 1/640ss
I'm still practicing using manual settings except for focus. I use spot metering.

Memorial Park

[Wavelength]

Greenish yellow or yellowish green, be either way, so beautiful!!!

[skitterbug]

Greenish yellow or yellowish green, be either way, so beautiful!!!

Rather than white? I could "sample the tree and use that color? I'll give it a go and post it!

[Wavelength]

I was referring to the color of the tree leaves only ; white frame is suitable to the content

[skitterbug]

Different frame!
And thank you Nandakumar for your thoughts!

[Wavelength]

White frame is far better, Sandy

[skitterbug]

White frame is far better, Sandy

Hi Nandakumar - I agree that the white frame is better. That funny yellow green really doesn't do it for me!

It seems odd that the evergreen is so anemic. I am thinking that whoever manages that tiny park, ought to consider putting some sort of fertilizer around the tree for nourishment.

[Geoff F]

The problem for me, Sandy, is those branches on the left side which are dominating the scene and the left hand part of the branches, close to the frame edge are out of focus.

I would crop a little from the left and bottom to reduce the impact from those branches. Maybe totally clone out the bit of branch in the bottom left corner and replace with grass?

The basic idea of this scene is good and otherwise it works for me. Exposure is fine

[skitterbug]

The problem for me, Sandy, is those branches on the left side which are dominating the scene and the left hand part of the branches, close to the frame edge are out of focus.

I would crop a little from the left and bottom to reduce the impact from those branches. Maybe totally clone out the bit of branch in the bottom left corner and replace with grass?
The basic idea of this scene is good and otherwise it works for me. Exposure is fine

Hi Geoff - I reworked it a bit but now I'm not sure what I think about it......... See what you think about it and if this is closer to your idea?

[Geoff F]

That looks much better to me, Sandy. A much 'cleaner' appearance with a definite main subject now.

[skitterbug]

Hi Geoff ~ I think if I take this picture again, I'll watch that the cannon doesn't have the light post at the very tip of the cannon - for starters! <smile> Not much I can do about the rest of the scenery. Maybe taking it from a different direction depending on light, would put it in another perspective.

Two weeks to go in the P52 project. New camera has arrived. Don't know if I'll be able to get pics with it or not. There's a lot to comprehend about it! Wish me luck.

Thank you and Merry Christmas!

[skitterbug]

Week 51 - Play time! I have a lot to learn about the EOS 7D Mark 11 and the Macro lens I recently acquired! <whew> Since I like rocks as much as I like bullfrogs, this was my subject for today while trying to figure out various buttons and settings. I like the texture and figured I may as well use this for my 51st week posting to receive feedback for improvement. Thanks!

I used f/22 - ISO200 1/5ss

Rock features

[Geoff F]

That is a very difficult subject.

The required exposure range is probably more than can be achieved in one shot. Also tricky to show a 3 dimensional scene in a 2 dimensional image.

You have done what you can in the way of exposure. There are still a few over bright little spots but they are probably beyond the potential exposure range no matter what you do. Like those spots which so often occur in photos of reflective insects etc.

Maybe, when editing the initial Raw image I may have tried to slightly darken the Blacks to give a little bit more contrast without causing problems with the general shadow areas.

[skitterbug]

That is a very difficult subject.

The required exposure range is probably more than can be achieved in one shot. Also tricky to show a 3 dimensional scene in a 2 dimensional image.

You have done what you can in the way of exposure. There are still a few over bright little spots but they are probably beyond the potential exposure range no matter what you do. Like those spots which so often occur in photos of reflective insects etc.

Maybe, when editing the initial Raw image I may have tried to slightly darken the Blacks to give a little bit more contrast without causing problems with the general shadow areas.

I didn't crop the this photo. The first one is actually the bottom right corner of my original. I liked the way that part of the photo displayed. I left this one unaltered and tried to adjust the black a bit as you suggested. I'll be interested in what you think! I appreciate the exchange of information! Thank you always for taking time to look at my photo work.

I think I am going to have to dig out the tripod and try taking a few photos at various exposures so I can experiment in stacking.

[Geoff F]

To my way of looking, Sandy, this is a better scene; although I would fractionally crop the bottom and left side.

This version has more apparent 'depth' with 'hills and valleys' clearly visible. Also some nicely coloured diagonal streaking.

[Wavelength]

You captured those stones very well

[skitterbug]

To my way of looking, Sandy, this is a better scene; although I would fractionally crop the bottom and left side.

This version has more apparent 'depth' with 'hills and valleys' clearly visible. Also some nicely coloured diagonal streaking.

Hi Geoff - In this one (#97), the only thing I did from the original(#95) is change the black point a bit. No cropping done. There were a few other minor adjustments but nothing like the 1st rock.

I think both pics "tell a story". The first one because of the way the rock shines and I agree with you that the second shows lots of character. Your crop suggestion would help lose some of the dark corner, I agree.
Thank you for your assessment of this pic!