Project 52 - Kristianna-Marie (Kris V)

[Kris V]

It's too hot o be outside, the mosquitoes are attacking in droves, so I decided to do some serious cleanup on older pictures taken with a Kodak Superzoom.
I never had a serious use for the Lighting effects filter in PS, so I decided to play around with it, and look at some possibilities.
Here is one set that I think came out reasonably well, (Feel free to disagree)

[Cantab]

Kris, I've rather belatedly come across the photo in your Jan 11th post: a really great image!

[Cantab]

(Feel free to disagree)

Kris, I'll take you up on your invitation. For what it's worth, my preference is the BW, followed by the out of camera shot.

[Cantab]

I recently bought a book titled Black and White: From snapshots to Great Shots by John Batdorff.
Gotta study some more .....

Kris, have you found the Batdorff book useful? I read a promo blurb on it at an online bookstore; it sounds interesting but I'm wondering how much is specific to B&W and how much is generic photography.

[Kris V]

I Put my camera on the side for a few weeks and played with my recently acquired PhotoShop CS6. August is just too hot in Texas to go out much. And I'm tired of photographing bugs and mushrooms - and "40 shades of green"....

Then this morning when I walked in the kitchen, I saw this luna moth against the window. So, I tried something I've hardly ever tried before: I took the picture through the window from the inside. Quite a few pictures actually, from different angles and with different settings.
Most of them were duds, but I managed this one. Too bad about the damaged wing.....

[FrankMi]

Not bad at all, Kris! The important thing is that you are able to get back to shooting again. I've been facing the same situation here with the heat so I understand what you've been going through even though its not been quite as hot here.

[Kris V]

Kris, have you found the Batdorff book useful? I read a promo blurb on it at an online bookstore; it sounds interesting but I'm wondering how much is specific to B&W and how much is generic photography.

From the little I've read so far, and being a total flake when it comes to B/W, it's useful for me.
I do wish I bought the actual book, instead of the Kindle version.

[Kris V]

Not bad at all, Kris! The important thing is that you are able to get back to shooting again. I've been facing the same situation here with the heat so I understand what you've been going through even though its not been quite as hot here.

Thanks Frank.
When I previewed the OOC RAW file, I realized it's time to clean my windows! Hence the aggressive background editing.

[Kris V]

Kris, I've rather belatedly come across the photo in your Jan 11th post: a really great image!

Thank you Bruce!

[Kris V]

Kris, I'll take you up on your invitation. For what it's worth, my preference is the BW, followed by the out of camera shot.

My personal preference is the Lighting effects - and I'm still playing with this picture on and off.

[johnbharle]

Not bad at all, Kris! The important thing is that you are able to get back to shooting again. I've been facing the same situation here with the heat so I understand what you've been going through even though its not been quite as hot here.

Really, even though this has been a somewhat cool summer for Texas, it has certainly sapped my desire to go photographing. I have to agree about the "40 shades of green." I just get tired of the same thing all the time. Vacation's coming up. That ought to get my mojo rising again :-)

[Kris V]

Same subject - different time, different settings:
Early morning:


And late afternoon - after I sprayed it with the water hose:

[Donald]

Same subject - different time, different settings:

An excellent theme for an entry in Project 52.

It really shows how one subject can be made into many different images. And both are done well in this case.

[Kris V]

An excellent theme for an entry in Project 52.

It really shows how one subject can be made into many different images. And both are done well in this case.

Thank you Donald!

[Kris V]

It might still be in the mid-80's during the day, but fall is coming to Texas.
Leaves are slowly beginning to change colour:
I liked the way the sun rays were falling on this leaf.....

[johnbharle]

It might still be in the mid-80's during the day, but fall is coming to Texas.
Leaves are slowly beginning to change colour:
I liked the way the sun rays were falling on this leaf.....

very nice!

[Kris V]

Thanks, John!

[Kris V]

I'm back to a B/W and IR kick - This is really meant as a very high contrast (fake)IR, with a fairly dramatic look. It was done almost exclusively in SilverFX, with 2 adjustment layers in CS5.

[Donald]

Sorry, Kris - I missed this one

I think that is gorgeous. A really well-made image.

As for ............

It does create a dramatic effect. For me, who's always trying to think about the tones and balance of tone, the technique seems to make froa very good lesson in thinking about how tones match up together. With this one I feel there is a lot of black on the road that doesn't harmonise with the greys of the trees. I scrolled you image to cut out some of the bottom of the frame. The result was less of that big block of black at the bottom left corner and, maybe, more balance and harmony in the image.

Just one thought.

[Kris V]

It does create a dramatic effect. For me, who's always trying to think about the tones and balance of tone, the technique seems to make froa very good lesson in thinking about how tones match up together. With this one I feel there is a lot of black on the road that doesn't harmonise with the greys of the trees. I scrolled you image to cut out some of the bottom of the frame. The result was less of that big block of black at the bottom left corner and, maybe, more balance and harmony in the image.

Just one thought.

Thanks Donald - After breakfast, I'll play around with it a little more and repost an update. I believe you're right about "too much black road".
Still learning......