Edit Challenge 2

[Swampy]

Ok, some of you know of the Edit Challenge I posted previously and we came out with a lot of great edits and learned a lot from it. The previous Edit Challenge is here:

http://theswampbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2382

Edit the picture below however you want and post it back up at a reasonable size (480x640 to 600x800 or around there). You can edit either the picture posted here, or, this time, I've also put up a 1280 resolution version of the completely unedited version to allow for greater modifications.

Please do not download this image if you are not going to participate in the edit challenge to save bandwidth here. This file is not huge, but it's almost 1/2 a meg and if 100 people download it, it's going to create some very slow downloads/forum browsing for people. This image will be removed in a few days or so however.
That unmodded image can be downloaded here:
http://theswampbbs.com/ec1large.jpg

I will try and do this once every 7-10 days I would think and if you have an image that you'd like to do, send me a PM.

And now for the image.

[Bill C]

crop.....increased saturation...render/lighting effect to bring more light on the bird...added texture (and, a bit of color to the eye)...vignette with drop shadow. (now that I look at it, I don't like the eye ..oh, well)
Bill

[LiVe]

Ok here is something I just put togther

[StormChaser]

Here's my 2 cents.

Sharpened, Copied the layer, removed color and cleaned up picture and then removed the BW image. Added a photo filter(cooling(80)).

[Serge]

Great thread :righton:

and the original reference one, never saw it before
great work all around, and a good way to learn

[Andre]

Don't ask me to remember what I did...

[Andre]

or this

[Swampy]

Originally posted by Serge
Great thread :righton:

and the original reference one, never saw it before
great work all around, and a good way to learn

Don't make me pull out my GOOD stuff....... ;)

[chaser of light]

Here is my humble attempt.
Crop, desaturate,colour fix and sharpen!

[KeithM]

Next humble edit - crop, sharpen bird, blur backround to improve 'bokeh' :) and slight burn and dodging....

No great artistic leap, just a tidy up really...

Keith.

[Igor]

my $0.02 :)
"AN ICE BIRD"

[bobt]

Nice job, everyone.

But, Igor - :righton:

[Igor]

Thanks Bob.
1/2 hour in PicturePublisher. Standard filters mostly with some manual Dry Smear brush...

[fujifilmnut]

USM/Color/Contrast adjustments with crop.

[sandman]

just a quickie..

[Igor]

Brian, great! I love that backdrop shadow!! :)

[HulaMike]

And Brian surges into the lead!!!

[StormChaser]

Sandman, It's funny, but it looks alot like your entry on the first edit challenge, by all means its great how you do it, I couldn't copy it if I wanted to, that is.
But its still the same, trust me, you can do better than that. I think that the purpose of these challenges is that we explore our experience and knowledge and learn from it.

That's why I try something I've never done and hope to get comments on it.

No luck sofar though.

[Marcel F]

Great Job Brian !!!! :righton:

Marcel

[pauly99]

Brian, You put anything I would attempt to shame. Are you going to post your tutorial or keep it all to yourself? :beerchug:

[Ol'coot]

Great work Sandman, I really like the shadow

[LightWriter6208]

They're all wonderful!!! I really like Brians and Igors...excellent jobs!!!

[es136]

Not much Photoshop talent here, so that’s all you’ll get:(

Eddie

[Swampy]

HEY HEY!!! The lens used, Igor doesn't even own (yet)!!!

[HulaMike]

Rounding the post its Eddie by a nose......

[sandman]

I've got to repond to stormchasers remarks.

Yes it does look like my previous edit in the fact that i've used an frame and altered the perspective to put it on the angle.
and the colour is simular. rest is nothing like it.
The reasons simple . i'm not an artist , inspiration did'nt come to me with this shot , so i fell back on something i knew i could do.
I go to work between 5-6.00am in the morning ,work untill maybe 6 - 7 pm at night , come home and tinker with a shot like this for an hour or so , i've a computer which keeps re-booting itself every 30 minutes , i'm tired, cold and normally hungry. this is not my day job it's a passtime, thats all , i wish i WAS like Tom V and could make magical images , i'm not .
I posted it was a quickie , it was , i cut that bird out 6 times , each time i got to the end the computer crashes and re-booted without me saving it . so a quick mask it is'nt even a good cut out . but at least i've cut it out . then i thought of the picture with the bird looking at himself and feeling proud , put in a gradient background and a bit of rendered lighting ..
I'm a truck driver not a Van Gogh. :D

[HulaMike]

Dispair not Sandman!

I am a life long fine artist by nature and trade. I've exhibited work nationally (US) have work in major public installations. But I quit all that maybe 20 years ago. Why? The artistic ego that was a part of the package.

You're a truck driver who shoots pretty good images. That says a lot to me brother. Personally I like talented non professional arty types. They're doing their thing out of pure love for the media or technology they've chosen. Too often fine art trained boobs (like myself) fall into the aesthetic of the day and that changes frequently. Creativity comes from the masses really in ways that cannot be predicted.

Anyway, I'm rambling. Too much wine tonight. <g> Suffice it to say that maybe your work isn't on a par with Dianne Arbus but who cares? It's real and honest and you're trying to do good work in your spare time.

StormChaser and Brian, lets not get all involved in silliness here. Lets just all acknowledge that there is a wide range of talent and skill displayed here daily and that we all come from different backgrounds and interest levels. Its all good!

[Swampy]

Hey Brian - For what it's worth. There is some similarity from that last one I posted, but, truthfully, the other one is kindergarden work and this one is Senior High school work (a senior with some talent even). You've come a long way in 4 or 5 months and I personally congratulate you on the work that you do with what I know of your computer problems. I know it's frustrating work, but it just shows you how much you like this stuff and are still willing to learn more and better ways to do things.

I disagree with Stormchaser's opinion if you haven't guessed and I'm ACTUALLY siding with YOU! Oh my! I better quit now before I tell you I love you.

[HulaMike]

Just to keep it fair, SC has a right to his opinion. Isn't that what this forum is all about? Personal attacks, however, are not. I'm not suggesting his was but we're close bruddas n sistas! Let's not go there. DPReview is full of personal vendettas and slime. I don't want to see that here.

[Swampy]

You're right Mike, and I certainly don't want to seem like I'm ragging on anyone for sure. That's the last thing I want here. I'll kick people off here first or take the whole thing down before I'll allow ragging. :)

SC does have a right to his opinion, and I don't recall him trashing 2 of Brian's other posts, but for god's sake, please use smiley's or something, or if you have a real gripe with someone, do it in PM and stop when the other person says stop and stay clear of each other! :)

why can't we all just get along... :cheers:

20 bucks on Brian if they settle this personally though. ;)

[HulaMike]

:rofl:

[Igor]

This proves once again how delicate we must be with the e-comments.
I'd like to repeat, if a person posted his/her photo/artwork, this already means he/she has put a bit of his talent, even soul into it. Even if you don't like it, it's better to say nothing than loose friendly atmosphere we have at this great place.

Anthonie and Brian, you're two great men, let's not ruin our little "S2home".

[HulaMike]

True to an extent Igor but as Kim, Linda, myself and others have said here in the past; what is achieved without direct and well intentioned criticism? Comments like, "That's Pretty", or "I like it" don't help anyone impove. They're just comments designed to schmooze the poster's ego, not the recipient's. If all one wants is 'attaboys' for anything posted maybe they should go elsewhere or not post images at all.

I'd rather see a mateur discussion forum where well reasoned criticism is sought and received. But there are limits in terms of good taste. No one should ever be destructive or vindictive in their comments.

[sandman]

I've done an edit to loose my closing remarks , Anthonie won't have a clue what these last few threads have been about , so i'll apologise publicly for over reacting . put it down to a bad night .

maybe i should read my own footer

Brian

lets just get on with this thread ..

[Igor]

Brian :righton:

[Igor]

Mike, maybe I'm an "attaboy", but I will continue posting comments like "great shot" and "I like it" if the shot is really great to my perception and I do like it. Everyone has his own range of what he likes, mine may be wider.

Thanks goodness we have here a few members with "narrower" range, so the images posted here will never degrade.

Some may just disappear, tho'

[StormChaser]

Apologies all around !!!

Never meant to stab anyone and I think it's wise for me to use the smileys. Somehow things get lost in translation, Dutch is still a funny language and we do have some crazy ways of saying things and somehow its different in english.

Anyway back to the issue, I'll promise to use the smileys, so everybody wil know my good intentions or not.

I love this forum and wouldn't want to trash it in anyway. I better get out and take some shots, the sun is shining and no rain. A miracle !

O, and Brian:cheers:

[sandman]

No problems Anthonie i overreacted pure and simple.
i accept that things do get lost in translation , and i'd had a bad night , my fault not yours.

Brian

[Swampy]

So no personal meet for settling this???

Man. :D

[smunky]

Oh mike:
"Personally I like talented non professional arty types."
No wonder you like me? :)

Oh boy Brian, youre lucky to have some of these guys thinking about telling you how much they "luv" you.

PS: If theres a meet, I'll hold up the cards in the ring.

[Igor]

And I'll supply lenses :)

[deMille]

And I'll watch! (The card holder, that is.) Who cares about the confrontation!

[Igor]

I'm sure both "confrontators" would do the same ! :D

[HulaMike]

Maybe that's the way we should wage war. Combatants watching beautiful babes holding cards.....

[sandman]

lets forget all this and get back on track

something different

[Igor]

Mike, don't read this :)
Brian, great job!! Very fancy!

[LightWriter6208]

Brian...that was awesome!!

[HulaMike]

Originally posted by Igor
Mike, don't read this :)
Brian, great job!! Very fancy!

:D I like it a lot too Igor. He doesn't need any help on this one at all. Not much to say except, nice!

[HulaMike]

Originally posted by sandman
lets forget all this and get back on track

something different

You're starting to amaze us Brian...... I'm beginning to think your true talent is editing and graphic design.

[sandman]

Thanks Mike and everyone .
But i'm a trucker always have been , just playing around here , trying out different ideas.
If i had to make a living out of this , i'd either go broke or insane .
believe me 2 hours of this is enough for me . i know my limitations , but i do try to get better each time , and i know by your responces that i'm doing that ..cheers.

Brian

[Linda G]

Wow.

Coming in on this late, but I say to all who read my 'atta boys' or critiques:

I had a great first photography teacher who taught us how to critique.

#1 rule...if someone shows you an image, it's because there is some element there that they like. Find it.

#2 after you've found it, and I'm not saying you have to like it too, suggest ways it could have been made better as it was exposed, or suggest ways to improve it in the chemical or digital dark room.

#3 remember people have an emotional investment in the image they've shared with you and give your critiques in a manner that are positive, not distructive.

#4 using those thoughts, don't hold back. <g> maybe add smileys!

BACK ON TRACK

It is so interesting to see the different things different people see in the same image. What talent here!

[Igor]

Linda, great rools, but one thing remains unclear to me: HOW can you find that "element" if you don't like it yourself?
Ask the person?

[Linda G]

Igor,

There are different tastes, and as such, you won't always like wha someone else does, but you can usually see what it is they do. (I taste coconut and know what people like, I happen to hate the stuff.)

If you can't see anything anyone would like, time to either be quiet or state you have very different tastes.:righton:

[Igor]

I see...
BTW always wondered why this guy :righton: is blue colored?? Most are yellow :) Is he gonna turn like those two "deep blue" guys ? :D

[Bujo]

Here is my hand in PS with this CHALLENGE

[StormChaser]

Love the unsharpen on the background.

[Igor]

Anthonie, I'm still learning too. One of the lessons: smiles don't work sometimes! :)

[StormChaser]

Looked at it again and your absolutely right Igor.

[jhawk1000]

I often wonder who in the H*ll sets all the rules in photography. I am on several wildlife forums and the critiques there get very heated at times. The so called "nits" are always raised and to tell the truth, I generally do not agree with the "nits" and often see it as an attempt to enter the conversation without ammunition. Sort of "Some have something to say and others have to say something".
I agree with those who say that the person posting the shot saw something that pleased her/him and no amount of critiquing the image will convince the shooter that the image has no value. I am often amazed that two people see the same thing and have two different interpretations on how to change the image. Multiply that by hundreds and anarchy often reigns. If you doubt that, just go and look at the critiques on Photosig and see the comments that range from "nice shot" to an attack on the photographer on one image. On some types of shots, I can say, like Igor, that I like it or I don't like it but to tell someone who saw something in the presentation that it does not work is not my style. It might not work for me but I am far from the international arbiter of taste and style.
It often amuses me to see the omnipresent "rule of thirds" touted when the rule does not fit. The catch light in the eyes is another rule that might be nice sometimes but not always. My rule is that if I like it, I like it and might offer a suggestion on how I would like it better but to offer it as a "rule" seems to reduce photography to a formula.

Mel

[HulaMike]

Mel,

Couldn't agree with you more even if I'm one of the nits.

There are no rules in photogrphy aesthetically but having a good eye for composition is generally considered to be a minimum criteria.

Like I mentioned to Igor, its fine to say, "I like a shot" or "I hate a shot" but where does that leave us, the reader? Are we somehow supposed to have a crystal ball into which we can glean the poster's meaning and where he's coming from? Sorry, but I don't have a ball. I am capable of reading comments and criticism however, and this leads me into an understanding of where the "I like it" comment came from. If a poster has no record of commenting in depth, how can we judge the value of his comments? Without specific comment we're forced to evaluate the general statement based on our personal value system which may or may not apply.

There is always a thought process that goes into making a photograph or any visual image on some level. It might be instinctive, it might be academic; but its there nonetheless. I for one would just like to hear the thought process from both the photographer and those who comment on the photograph.

And I'm talking about a root, gut level response to the image, not some regurgitated, mechanical art school idiology. Rule of thirds? What the hell is that anyway? You intuitively understand composition or you don't. Visual art is a viseral thing and you feel it, know it, if you have it. It can't be taught and it can't be learned. Only mechanics can be taught.

[Bujo]

It's all in the eye of the beholder anyway...and those who follow a written formula...well get formula stuff. Those who can manipulate the formula and live outside of it, do something different and, well, they die penniless. I just like the creative part of everything...sometimes there is a great story behind it and that's what makes the image or object important.
For example...I have an old man as a neighbor and he had a garage sale once, when I first moved in. I saw this old watch and it was really crappy looking...like anyone would buy it even at a garage sale. I passed it up. The next day I stopped by to see how things were going and I didn't see the watch. "Sold that watch ehhh?" I said. He responded yes and proceeded to tell me the story of how he had broke the face crystal and had replaced it with the window of a Japanese Zero that had been shot down on the island he was stationed on in WW II. It was a really crappy looking watch...but the story is what I should have bought...I wish I wouldn't have passed it up now...even though it was junk...the story was golden.
Some people just don't know what they are talking about...some people just talk and others DO.

Bujo

[jhawk1000]

If a poster has no record of commenting in depth, how can we judge the value of his comments?

We judge his/her comments by what the comments say and if the comment is "I like it" that is a fair comment. Being trained in law and not in photography or visual arts, I often do not know why I like things but it makes my opinion that "I like it" no less valid than one which says I like it but then goes on to give the critiquers opinion as gospel. My point is: No matter how much one is trained, no matter how great their God-given compositional skills are, no matter how great they think their skills are, my opinion is just as valuable as another even if it is brief. In my house, Linda has the eye and I have the ability to carry long lenses :) and we often disagree on what constitutes a great picture but we do agree that we both see greatness differently. I could care less about the grainy, out of focus, motion blurred avant garde photography but that is me and I would not comment on it since I do not like it. She often eschews the tack sharp for the motion blurred and will often not like the technical superior shots because they do not move her. Who is wrong? Who is the final judge? What gives a person the certainty that their way is the only way? Critiques in my opinion are based upon rules---they might be stated rules or personal rules and should not deter the photographer from his or her vision of the image. On several wildlife forums, it appears to me that the rules often impede what photography is all about---the capture of a moment in time. I have seen brutal critiques of a once in a lifetime capture of rarely seen animals because it was not technically proficient while I marvel at seeing things that few ever see in person.
Just my opinion but just as valid as an opinion as anyone elses. If my opinion does not count because of rules, then I think photography becomes by rote.

Mel

[HulaMike]

Aloha Mel,

No one's opinion is wrong, that's the point of a dialogue; to exchange opinions, feelings. But I see your point. Not everyone needs or wants to discuss things in depth. To each his own. But if someone likes to discuss things in depth, which is their perogative; why does this bother you? Just ignor it.

I'm speaking collectively of course.

[puntisaks]

To take she by Olympus 3.3mp. low light edit by 1 hr include photo & find sky.

[Bujo]

I love the blood on the arm...what a great touch...good job.
It made me laugh when I saw it. Ahh...what fun.

[Swampy]

I think we have a winner! Great job Puntisaks!

[sandman]

very , very, nice

Brian

[puntisaks]

THANK YOU EVERYBODY THAT made after work hard with 3 layout for Bed Product That make me foget the bad bed Lay out.Thank for the topic.Thank for your comment.

[Swampy]

This one appears to be done too. Great edits guys, but, Puntisaks appears to have done the best edit.... Stay tuned for the next edit challenge, and remember, if you have something for the next one, let me know and I'll tell you what we need for it.