Back to the Beach | Camera's out of the Bag

[PhotoRob]

All work and no play means Robert hasn't taken a picture in a while (months)

Vacation has arrived. Index finger, meet your old pal shutter button...



"Yummy, sand for desert..."

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Robert,

I'm so glad you two got back together again

Also glad you got down to the correct level for these shots - it makes a big difference.

The light seems very hard and contrasty, which seems odd for the apparent sun angle - maybe it is whatever you did to enhance the sky has got applied to (I'm guessing) your daughter's face?

Or maybe it is some hip, new PP treatment I don't appreciate

For me;
composition 9/10
contrast handling/PP 5/10

The important thing though is whether you and our subject like it.

Cheers,

[FrankMi]

Hi Robert. The harsh lighting was not kind to the first image but in the second it works much better. The girl's face is more evenly lit and the sun makes her hair almost sparkle.

[PhotoRob]

Thanks for the feedback Dave, Frank, hope you're both doing well! I probably did overdo it in pp, here's the original of #1 with 60 seconds of adjusting in Aperture (slight increase in definition, cropped, removed the bird over her left shoulder, removed some of the fishing rod over her right shoulder).



...thanks again, more to come...

[FrankMi]

Ah, much nicer, IMHO.

[PhotoRob]

Thanks Frank Being out of practice is showing; came across a great quote about that by the by:

"If I miss one day of practice, I notice it. If I miss two days, the critics notice it. If I miss three days, the audience notices it."

[Dave Humphries]

Thanks Frank Being out of practice is showing; came across a great quote about that by the by:

"If I miss one day of practice, I notice it. If I miss two days, the critics notice it. If I miss three days, the audience notices it."

Yes, great quote and motivation to 'keep at it'.

The 60 second re-work is better, the most obvious thing (worth another 5 seconds) would have been to desaturate the red blob in the background.

Cheers,

[PhotoRob]

Thanks Dave, great suggestion on the red distraction, totally missed it

[JakeKait]

Very cute photo!

[speedneeder]

I was liking the hip new PP?
Perspective and composition are both good too.

[PhotoRob]

Thanks Allison, Brian, really appreciate the feedback!

Here's the latest since taking some time off work, still using a bleached effect in pp:

"I wish Mom and Dad would take me somewhere interesting..."

[Daisy Mae]

Must admit I am also really liking the PP ...very different and emotive.

[speedneeder]

Need more info on 'bleached'.

[PhotoRob]

Must admit I am also really liking the PP ...very different and emotive.

Thanks Sharon!

[PhotoRob]

Need more info on 'bleached'.

Color EFex Pro 4 has a pre-defined filter called "Bleach Bypass" which gives you a de-saturated, vibrant look. Takes a little adjusting and doesn't work for every photo, but it's grown on me for sure / shows up in lots of my pics...


One more from the trip:

[speedneeder]

Cool, thank you. Maybe one day I will have to adventure away from the GIMP.
Maybe.

[Donald]

Cool, thank you. Maybe one day I will have to adventure away from the GIMP.
Maybe.

Stand strong, Brian. Stand strong.

I don't see any problem with adding to your range of PP software. For example, I use Nik's Silver Efex Pro 2 for my B & W conversion, but still finish things off in the GIMP.

[PhotoRob]

I use GIMP for any perspective corrections; great package...

[speedneeder]

stand strong, brian. Stand strong.

lol

[PhotoRob]

The rocket garden at Kennedy Space Center's Visitor complex is impressive. Is that a cloud, or exhaust from a launch? Hmmm....