Almost Perfect for C&C...

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Originally Posted by IzzieK

Tony…you remembered!!! OK wise guy…I forgot to change my meter. Now you know how careless I am…Next time which might be soon. I have to practice on all of those modes too just just lenses. At the moment I want to make use of my 105mm macro with extension tubes. I have to use these crazy fingers...I suppose thinking is not my forte. Thank you for commenting. Appreciate it very much.

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I remember! And thanks for the PM. Enjoy the lens, looks like you will!
By the way, any wok should be o.k. on a ceramic hob, if yours is an induction hob, make sure the wok's packaging states it's suitable for an induction!:)

Really nice colors and detail, which pop with your choice of background. Beautiful :)

I feel for you Izzie concerning you hand issues - we are in a similar boat. From what I recall, you had a Nikon 810 -- you may want to take a look at something called active D lighting (page 182 in the manual) -- it's a feature that can be very helpful at times to assist with preserving highlights and details in shadows.

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Originally Posted by billtils

Izzie - is it simply ceramic or is it an induction top? If the former - no problem at all. If the latter, no problem as long as you have (or get hold of) a steel wok. Our main cooktop is a simple ceramic non-induction, but I have a separate induction top and both handle the stainless steel wok no bother.

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It is ceramic glass. I probably should have a look at the induction one but I got so intrigue at the price difference between what I have and the modernized one that have internet and you can control your oven via your cellphone even if you are in the supermarket, for instance. The price difference between what I got and the one with the internet is $2000. Would you believe that?! I got the none. When I go to the Asian market down wherever it is located, I will buy a normal stove where I can use a wok.

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If you seriously want to try photographing cooking utensils, you could do worse (much worse) than look at Mike Buckley's portfolio.

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I think I will pass...:D

Thanks for the advice.

Dear Grahame,
I found out this morning that I cannot reshoot because the particular flower with the odd petal decided not to look too fresh as the other normal ones. Anyway, I went back to the original shot which does not have any overblown petals and edited it slightly...here is the result:

http://i68.tinypic.com/nv8i7l.jpg

If Greg (Footloose) will be reading this response, here is the method that I used...

First select your flower using the Quick Selection tool.
Shift/CTRL/I to reverse selection. Or another method is to select the left hand side of the flower. At the top of the program you will see some brushes. Select the middle one. If you linger your mouse on that brush, it will say Add To Selection. The next brush on the right is when you go too far. You select that to decrease from your selection. When you decrease from your selection, make sure your brush is small enough.
I was experimenting this morning on the original image and I went to Exposure on the Add Adjustment window to adjust the feathering of the flower itself and also to adjust the overexpose petals, which are not really overexposed in the original shot. Click on that Exposure window and at the top of Properties is a Mask. Click on that Mask button. It will show Layer Mask.
Down the bottom is Refine Mask—click on that…

Click on Smart Radius 2.4 px. Is what I choose
Adjust Edge – 23
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V
Output to Layer mask

Thank you Grahame...another help that I couldn't have been pushed to do had you not responded.

Go back to the Layer Mask window --
Leave Density to 100%.
Feather depends on how much blur you want for the petals. This is the one you are going to adjust according to your blurring tasteI left mine at 11.4. I do not want to go too far on this one because I already have the well-pronounced blur at the bottom of the frame.

Thank you for helping me and giving me some ideas. I may try it on another flower...

P.S. This is the real colour of the flower that I shot. I think I overdid NIK's Color Efex so the petals got overblown. But it was a nice exercise... thanks again.

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Originally Posted by mugge

Izzie love the composition. On a more serious note. It is going to be 8 degrees overnight in Melbourne. Enjoy spring. I'm not happy Jan.
Cheers Ole

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I never really got to experience winter in Melbourne. I always seem to be somewhere it is warmer during those season. Cover up well. I think when I was there last year I got too cold running all over the place that when I came back here I have to be brought to emergency -- bronchitis. Take care of yourself well.

Thank you for passing by and commenting.

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Originally Posted by KimC

I feel for you Izzie concerning you hand issues - we are in a similar boat. From what I recall, you had a Nikon 810 -- you may want to take a look at something called active D lighting (page 182 in the manual) -- it's a feature that can be very helpful at times to assist with preserving highlights and details in shadows.

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I was able to do a work around. Read #25 response to Grahame and Greg. Thank you so much for passing by and commenting. I do appreciate it very much.

As for my hand, I went to see my ortho who specializes in just hands and arms, a good friend of my husband. Anyway he ended up operating my L index finger and my R thumb. He predicted three months to get the inflammation down but a whole year to totally heal it. I am OK...It's not a kidney. LOL There is always a work around in anything.

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Originally Posted by Cogito

I remember! And thanks for the PM. Enjoy the lens, looks like you will!
By the way, any wok should be o.k. on a ceramic hob, if yours is an induction hob, make sure the wok's packaging states it's suitable for an induction!:)

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Thanks for the advice. Everything that I read about it says I can't use a wok so I will just buy a separate stove for my wok use.

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Originally Posted by lovelife65

Really nice colors and detail, which pop with your choice of background. Beautiful :)

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Thank you Sharon for visiting my post. I appreciate your comments.

interesting , the composition bothers me a little , but that is my taste .

Well sorted Izzie !

I like the redo:)

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Originally Posted by IzzieK

Thanks for the advice. Everything that I read about it says I can't use a wok so I will just buy a separate stove for my wok use.

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Don't believe everything you read Izzie. There are several replies here from people with woks and who actually have ceramic and/or induction hobs - the conventional ceramic will work with any wok and the induction with a steel one.

Izzie, putting aside all above re the soft edge etc - I love the composition and the errant petal really makes it, well seen and taken :)

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Originally Posted by marlunn

Izzie, putting aside all above re the soft edge etc - I love the composition and the errant petal really makes it, well seen and taken :)

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+1 to that.

In all your discussions of woks, are you sticking with the traditional round-bottomed wok or one of these new-fangled flat-bottomed ones. I would think that this would make a difference to the kind of hob you use.

John

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Originally Posted by JohnRostron

+1 to that.

In all your discussions of woks, are you sticking with the traditional round-bottomed wok or one of these new-fangled flat-bottomed ones. I would think that this would make a difference to the kind of hob you use.

John

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John, indeed it may, and in some cases for some combinations of hob/wok/user preference the conventional ceramic hob may not be best (which is not the same as saying 'won't work'), but the inductions ones will whatever the shape of the wok.

It looks beautiful even in this desaturated image :)

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Originally Posted by Stagecoach

Well sorted Izzie !

I like the redo:)

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I am glad...very glad...next time I will stay away from those smart colour change. LOL

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Originally Posted by billtils

Don't believe everything you read Izzie. There are several replies here from people with woks and who actually have ceramic and/or induction hobs - the conventional ceramic will work with any wok and the induction with a steel one.

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Thanks Bill...I was about to go out this morning to the Asian store to buy one of those normal stove but I decided to go here first...

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Originally Posted by marlunn

Izzie, putting aside all above re the soft edge etc - I love the composition and the errant petal really makes it, well seen and taken :)

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Thank you for taking the time to pass by and comment, Mark. I do really appreciate it very much. I will soon upload an insect I shot yesterday while in my deck and dedicate it to you as a sign of my appreciation. :)

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Originally Posted by JohnRostron

+1 to that.

In all your discussions of woks, are you sticking with the traditional round-bottomed wok or one of these new-fangled flat-bottomed ones. I would think that this would make a difference to the kind of hob you use.

John

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The normal looking cooking woks have round bottom, I didn't know there is a new fangled flat bottom ones. I am thinking of just buying a normal stove top separate from what I now have.

Thanks for looking at my new fangled edit of bought flowers from the tsupermarket. I appreciate it very much...