klemmg Workshop Photos Given

King Kong (22)
manyee

(19880)

portrait format + USM

(1719) [2005-12-18 05:16:30] [1]

Hi Manyee, very good capture, but I think it can be improved a little by cropping and sharpening.
Original compo emphasizes POV from above, typical for a zoo perspective. A tighter crop lessens this and focuses the viewer's attention on the face and particularly the eye in the center. Compo also uses diagonals with tilt of the face running from top left to bottom right, and the snout and back of head forming additional focus points in RoT positions.
Also sharpened with USM (unsharpmask, PS CS), and resized to 72 ppi (original had 300 ppi which is needed for good quality prints; 72 is sufficient for monitor viewing as a monitor cannot show more anyway, and after resize one can do with less compression).
Regards,
Gabi

Peru

Miraflores sunset (1)
gilbriones2002

(158)

Composition central vs. RoTs

(1719) [2005-12-10 18:01:42] [1]

A composition variant: original is arranged central, this one is according to RoT (Rule of thirds) with the sun on the left vertical third (in the middle of that vertical line) and the pink colour band at the top arranged on the upper horizontal third. Resolution naturally is less due to cropping.
Regards,
Gabi

Title: California Ground SquirrelCanon Powershot S1-IS

California Ground Squirrel (32)
manyee

(19880)

Central vs. RoT

(1719) [2005-12-09 18:09:30] [2]

Hello everybody,

Cropped to concentrate on the portrait of this wonderfully captured squirrel centrally in the frame.

This provides a natural green frame courtesy of our green leafy friends hanging in there.

Previous placement was more off-center, though not quite according to RoT (Rules of thirds - placing the subject on a third e.g. upper third, lower third are classic positions for the horizon, also the points where the lines of horizontal and vertical thirds cross each other), which usually will make a photo visually more interesting as the eye is invited to roam.

Sometimes breaking the rules is able to provide a more interesting effect. As the green camouflage does not lend itself to much roaming anyway, I find it is better to use it as a natural frame.
Further, I am still sort of using RoT as the eye of the squirrel is on the upper horizontal RoT line and the paws are on the lower one.

Just a compositional variant of this great capture and an excuse to discuss RoT and the benefits of breaking the rules now and then ;-).

Regards,
Gabi

White X-mas Pelican (36) *
klemmg

(1719)

A Christmas Card for you

(1719) [2005-12-09 16:41:06]

See note of my original post!

South Africa

Cape Gannets (14)
fragman

(11930)

+ contrast +USM

(1719) [2005-12-04 16:41:10] [2]

Thought more contrast might improve this excellent capture a little.
More contrast (+15% in PS CS),
Slightly sharpened.
Nothing else changed.
Regards,
Gabi

Buttercup stalker (46) *
klemmg

(1719)

Habitat - Emeralda Marsh in bloom

(1719) [2005-12-04 05:34:16]

Here is a pic of the habitat where I found this Great Blue Heron, it is called Emeralda Marsh Conservation Area.

Title: Red-bellied EncoreNikon Coolpix S2

Red-bellied Encore (14)
Dave

(2169)

oilpainting look with NI

(1719) [2005-12-03 17:09:32] [1]

Hi everybody,
This already looks like a painting and comes with an EXCELLENT composition and wonderful light effects, and I wanted to add to that making it look like an oil painting.
For that I needed more vibrant colours and sharpness and a brush-stroke-like look. NeatImage will do that nicely, as it reduces the noise/grain present and some detail is lost. As the original was not very sharp, this has the effect that it looks a bit like brush strokes.
Also sharpened with Ni and adjusted levels in PS CS.
Regards,
Gabi

Crowned Hornbill (38)
AnimalExplorer

(8610)

Levels + USM

(1719) [2005-12-03 16:49:07]

Hi everybody,
I tried out how it would look with more brilliant colours to bring out the dark glossy feathers and bright red beak more.
Then again, I have no idea how this bird looks naturally, so I am guessing here and it might have ended up compeletely unnatural.
I tend to keep on the conservative side of changes for that reason thopug I sometimes get carried away ...
In PS CS, I adjusted the black point with levels (picked up the black pipette and clicked on the darkest spot in the shadows I found that I thought should come out really black). Then I sharpened with USM using 100% and 0,5 radius.
Hope you find it interesting.
Regards,
Gabi

Ukraine

Title: it is hypnosis!Konica Minolta Dimage Z10

it is hypnosis! (9)
eleana

(2129)

noise reduced - detail lost

(1719) [2005-12-02 17:21:55] [1]

Hi everybody,
I tried out what NeatImage (demoversion is available on the web) could do with this to reduce the noise while maintainig sufficient detail.
I was lucky as NI actually found an area homogenous enough to analyse for noise.
With fine texture such as fur like here that is always a compromise, and sometimes an image looks better with the noise than without but then with reduced detail.
In any case, on standard automated mode, much too much detail is lost.
I was careful with reduction particularly in the "low" area, and reduced the definition of noise until the result seemed acceptable.
The result has less noise especially in the eye, where I disliked it most, but not enough detail in the fur.
Just an experiment, thought this might be interesting.
Regards,
Gabi

Canada

Angel (20)
EOSF1

(22825)

composition etc.

(1719) [2005-12-02 12:27:39] [2]

Your image intrigued me, it has a very high impact, so I started to play around with it, hope you don't mind.
Tried to focus on that angel/dancer motive, so I
- chose a closer composition and stressed the diagonal (portrait format as I had did not work for that after all)
-changed to b+w
-adjusted levels (black point/white poinnt redefined)
- sharpened with USM. Apart from pbvious reasons, this brought out the grain more and this create a nice effect versus the motion in the feathers.
I used PS CS for all of this.
Hope you like this variation of your wonderful shot.
Regards,
Gabi