Mini Competition #94

[Mikimoto]

Aha! Thought I was having browser issues ; ) Thanks, Guys

[sleist]

C&C welcome after comp ends
Thanks
Wendy

I just wanted to comment on how much I like this image! It has a quality that reminds me of an impressionist painting. Not sure if it's due to the processing you might have done or if it's due to the bokeh from the choice of background. Either way, nice work!

[sleist]

40D, Tokina 11-16 f2.8@16mm. ISO 100. Blend: 1/180 & 1/6 @f11. Manual

I love this shot too. Did you use Photoshop for the blending? Sorry if that seems a dumb question but I work in linux, use GIMP, and have only just started to explore post processing.

Nice work!

[Donald]

I love this shot too. Did you use Photoshop for the blending? Sorry if that seems a dumb question but I work in linux, use GIMP, and have only just started to explore post processing.

Steve

Sorry for the delay in responding. We had our local village fete today and I was obliged to man our wine stand (and of course I have had to sample every product - hence any typos that I don't spot in here!!!). We had a beautiful Marlbourough Sauvignon Blanc amongst the wines on offer (but don't tell Colin, because I'm really a Francophile).

I'm a GIMP user as well.

This was two images, with the view through the window laid on top of the background image of the interior of the garden shed. I then put a black layer mask on and with various brushes, painted the view through the window into the image. In the image of the interior, the view through the window was completely blown. I haven't been able to get excited about HDR software and, when I need to do this sort of thing, prefer laying one image on top the other, use layer masks and paint brushes - but then I'm just an old-fashioned fuddy-duddy!!

Have a read of Sean's tutorials on here about layers and masks. Also, if you haven't done so yet, I would really recommend going to www.meetthegimp.org. The video tutorials on there are, in my opinion, the best lessons available for getting to grips with the GIMP.

[Donald]

Thank you one and all for your votes. See the explanation above. The shot was inspired by all the other wonderful stuff on here recently focused on everyday, household objects (in the kitchen, etc). So, the idea to do this came from learning on this site, which again illustrates what a valuable resource it is for those of us who strive to develop and enhance our ability.

[sleist]

Steve

Sorry for the delay in responding. We had our local village fete today and I was obliged to man our wine stand (and of course I have had to sample every product - hence any typos that I don't spot in here!!!). We had a beautiful Marlbourough Sauvignon Blanc amongst the wines on offer (but don't tell Colin, because I'm really a Francophile).

I'm a GIMP user as well.

This was two images, with the view through the window laid on top of the background image of the interior of the garden shed. I then put a black layer mask on and with various brushes, painted the view through the window into the image. In the image of the interior, the view through the window was completely blown. I haven't been able to get excited about HDR software and, when I need to do this sort of thing, prefer laying one image on top the other, use layer masks and paint brushes - but then I'm just an old-fashioned fuddy-duddy!!

Have a read of Sean's tutorials on here about layers and masks. Also, if you haven't done so yet, I would really recommend going to www.meetthegimp.org. The video tutorials on there are, in my opinion, the best lessons available for getting to grips with the GIMP.

No apologies needed - I would never stand between a man and his wine - or a town and their wine . I am a beer fan myself though. Thanks for the explanation and links. Are you using Gimp in Windows or are you a linux user too? I saw a post of yours where you mentioned GIMP and Raw Therapee.

I'll check out the links. Thanks again!

[Donald]

Steve

I'm on Windows. I did use UFRaw for a long time before discovering Raw Therapee. The sole reason I stick with it is because, as you will have seen, the majority of my work is B & W. RT's channel mixer is a complicated piece of kit that I don't yet fully understand. But it is gradually making sense in the context of understanding Michael Freeman's book, 'The Complete Guide to Black & White Digital Photography (Ilex, East Sussex, 2009), in which he explains things in terms of of Adobe's Black & White dialog. They sort of fit, at least in my mind. So, it's very much a case of 'horses for courses'