Hit and Miss 2020 Project Thread - Skitterbug aka Sandy

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Originally Posted by xpatUSA

Another GIMP mention, sorry. In the GIMP you don't need an actual glass ball at all!

Here's a simulated glass egg:


http://kronometric.org/phot/post/CiC...added-lens.jpg

:D

Interested?

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Hi Ted - it looks very complicated if the equipment you have in the image needs to be used! <smile> I'm curious though! :D

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Originally Posted by skitterbug

Hi Ted - it looks very complicated if the equipment you have in the image needs to be used! <smile> I'm curious though! :D

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The GIMP has quite a remarkable set of filters - one of which Filter>Distorts>Apply Lens simulates the effect of optical distortion caused by having an elliptical lens over an image. Elliptical can probably include circular. I could go further if you like with a detailed example.

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Originally Posted by xpatUSA

The GIMP has quite a remarkable set of filters - one of which Filter>Distorts>Apply Lens simulates the effect of optical distortion caused by having an elliptical lens over an image. Elliptical can probably include circular. I could go further if you like with a detailed example.

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Looks very much like what the Photoshop <Filter> <Distort><Spherical> does too. Affinity Photo is the same and uses the same flow as Photoshop.

Today's weather was more springlike although tonight we will be back below freezing temperatures. We had a bed of purple crocus displaying their beautiful blossoms. I attempted to capture a few of them. I used 1/320ss - f/11 and left ISO to do whatever it pleased. It chose ISO12800. Rather high I think but the camera had a mind of its own - with my permission LOL.

Spring is here!

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...T6zcgHS-X2.jpg

Lovely! We need to remember the wonders of spring!

Beautiful.....Uh, after a long gap?

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Originally Posted by Urbanflyer

Lovely! We need to remember the wonders of spring!

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Thanks for commenting Judith! And I agree, we need to look around and see the beauty that is especially apparent during spring! :)

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Originally Posted by Wavelength

Beautiful.....Uh, after a long gap?

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Hi Nandakumar - Seems like the very grey days have lingered longer or maybe it is simply because of the turmoil that is happening. However, the flowers are making a break for it and blooming when they can! So it gives me something to try and "focus" on again! I'll try and be a bit more regular when opportunities present themselves for images! Hope all is well for you! :) Thanks for commenting!

Sandy, it's a cheery photo. In my view, your settings worked well.

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Originally Posted by Cantab

Sandy, it's a cheery photo. In my view, your settings worked well.

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Thank you Bruce! I was a bit concerned about the higher ISO. I appreciate your assurance that it worked okay! :)

With that image, Sandy, I would use the old trick of selecting the flowers with the selection brush, adding a little bit of feather then inverting the selection before doing a bit of selective noise reduction to the background areas which are affected by the high Iso noise.

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Originally Posted by Geoff F

With that image, Sandy, I would use the old trick of selecting the flowers with the selection brush, adding a little bit of feather then inverting the selection before doing a bit of selective noise reduction to the background areas which are affected by the high Iso noise.

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Thanks for the memory jogger...... Sometimes remembering certain ways to post process images are forgotten. :) I'll be curious to see if I can accomplish this and arrive at good results. :)

Hubby was excited to see this female northern flicker while he was in his usual spot by his window. I decided to try some photos. Couldn't open the window for fear of scaring the bird so my tries were all taken through a closed and somewhat dirty window. I chose f/8 - 1/320 and ISO left on Auto (ended up being 1000). I was pleased and surprised that I could capture a decent image!

Ideas for improvement and comments are always welcome!

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...JCPJT4x-X2.jpg

Sandy, for my money, this is a good shot. I'm currently looking at it on my iPad, but the relevant parts all appear sharp. Sometimes the only option is to shoot through a closed window; your camera ignored any dirt!

According to the bird book in my car, you have yellow shafted flickers, and I can see a tiny bit of yellow in your photo. Out here, we have the red shafted version (often more orange than red).

I would make one very slight change to that image, Sandy. At the tip of its tail there is a small pale bit of dead stem going to the image edge; I would clone that out. Otherwise, this image looks excellent to me.

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Originally Posted by Cantab

Sandy, for my money, this is a good shot. I'm currently looking at it on my iPad, but the relevant parts all appear sharp. Sometimes the only option is to shoot through a closed window; your camera ignored any dirt!

According to the bird book in my car, you have yellow shafted flickers, and I can see a tiny bit of yellow in your photo. Out here, we have the red shafted version (often more orange than red).

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Hi Bruce - Yep, I agree she is a yellow shafted flicker! I hope she finds a mate and stays. Often we have a new species stop by and grab something to eat and drink and that is the last we see of them so I hope this one does stay. We have plenty of cover for her.

Thanks for commenting! :)

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Originally Posted by Geoff F

I would make one very slight change to that image, Sandy. At the tip of its tail there is a small pale bit of dead stem going to the image edge; I would clone that out. Otherwise, this image looks excellent to me.

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Hi Geoff - I see the offending piece of dead grass. We have plenty of this sort of thing around here currently. But I agree, it might be nice to remove it and clean up the area a bit! Thanks for the suggestion! :)

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Originally Posted by Geoff F

I would make one very slight change to that image, Sandy. At the tip of its tail there is a small pale bit of dead stem going to the image edge; I would clone that out. Otherwise, this image looks excellent to me.

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Sandy, I'm now looking at the flicker on my desktop monitor and agree with everything Geoff said.

You have excellent focus and sharpness, and clearly chose a good shutter speed, etc.

In my view, this photo is definitely worth the minor edit Geoff suggests.

Hi Bruce and Geoff - See if this looks better? <smile>

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...w8T8W2q-X2.jpg

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Originally Posted by skitterbug

Hi Bruce and Geoff - See if this looks better? <smile>

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Great!