Don's Old Daily Dabblings

[Dave_W]

Re: Don's Daily Dabblings

I agree totally. I couldn't sleep so I got up and was playing on the computer again. The face is a problem. I will have to go through and learn the program in depth. This was about 10 minutes after installing the program. I did a faceless shot and I was blown away with how good it looked. Thanks.

I have learned something today and it is only 7am..I can quit now.

Nice photos, sir!

On the subject of Nik software and workflow, I would first use Viveza to adjust all the individual aspects of the image before taking it into ColorEfex. When I first started with Nik I avoided Viveza, not sure why, but now it's my favorite go-to program when dealing with color images. So you may already be very familiar with Viveza and I'm not telling you anything you don't already know but if you've not spent a lot of time in Viveza, give it another try. It's an incredibly powerful program when it comes to fine tuning your color images.

 

[TedG954]

Re: Don's Daily Dabblings

So I guess your "Besides, isn't that the definition of insane......... doing the same thing over again and expecting a different result? I ain't that crazy" Is not going to be in affect anymore?

​

That only counts when you marry the same one again....... it's in the Marriage Manual Rules of Conduct.

The introduction is written by Tiger Woods, in collaboration with Jesse James.

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

Re: Don's Daily Dabblings

Buzzards circling. Guess I am worse off than I thought.
​

 

[BackdoorArts]

Re: Don's Daily Dabblings

I'm with Dave in that it took me a while to warm to Viveza. If all I want is a little structure I'll go there. I tend to do most of my brightness, contrast and saturation adjustments in Lightroom and only adjust them in Viveza using control points in problem areas (as you would use brushes in Lightroom, but CP's are nice in that they're content aware).

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

Re: Don's Daily Dabblings

I'm with Dave in that it took me a while to warm to Viveza. If all I want is a little structure I'll go there. I tend to do most of my brightness, contrast and saturation adjustments in Lightroom and only adjust them in Viveza using control points in problem areas (as you would use brushes in Lightroom, but CP's are nice in that they're content aware).

I don't have Viveza. Guess I will have to look into it. I don't use Light Room either. I use Photo Shop CS5 I am used to it and can move through it pretty fast. I especially like content aware fill and clone. Those two remove many sins.

 

[BackdoorArts]

Re: Don's Daily Dabblings

My recommendation is to try everything to see if it's worth buying the Complete Collection, which includes all of these. The Photoshop edition is more expensive, but it allows you to store the Nik settings in a Smart Object so you can go back and tweak. There are plenty of 15% off coupon codes out there if you ever want to go that route.

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

Re: Don's Daily Dabblings

Trying a little Post on a recent picture of me. No matter what I do I am still old.

Used Color Efex Pro 4 to sharpen the background with Negative control points to not change the face.
Used Portrait Professional to clean up the face. Since the sun was in my eyes they were just slits. Opened them up a little by brightening them some and did the same with the mouth. Lightened the shadows on the face some too.

Still can't make a silk purse......

Here is the original with no editing.

Just wanting to see if I am on the right track with more extreme Post Processing

 

[TedG954]

Re: Don's Daily Dabblings

I'd stick with the original unedited copy. There's nothing wrong with it. I like it.

 

[Marilynne]

Re: Don's Daily Dabblings

I'd stick with the original unedited copy. There's nothing wrong with it. I like it.

I agree with Ted.

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

Re: Don's Daily Dabblings

Bikers at Hank Williams Grave

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

Re: Don's Daily Dabblings

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

Re: Don's Daily Dabblings

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

Re: Don's Daily Dabblings

Wanted to see if I could light a tree with my SB-700. Bradford Peat tree in full bloom. Leaves should start coming in in about two weeks or so. When they are in full bloom they are quite a sight.

 

[Rick M]

Re: Don's Daily Dabblings

That looks almost infa-red.

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

Re: Don's Daily Dabblings

That looks almost infa-red.

These trees just explode in white flowers this time of the year. People plant them in long rows along drives. They also tend to stay in a very certain shape so most of them match. They then turn green for the summer and look good. nice shade. Then you get a beautiful shade of red for two to three weeks in the fall.

 

[BackdoorArts]

Re: Don's Daily Dabblings

It'll be more glorious in a day or two, for sure. As a photo I would like to see the full tree, trunk and all, with less stark lighting. I realize you were just checking the flash's capacity to light the tree, but for something like this I'd set the flash manually and use a longer, timed exposure on a tripod that allows the flash to fill in details while the long exposure adds background.

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

Re: Don's Daily Dabblings

It'll be more glorious in a day or two, for sure. As a photo I would like to see the full tree, trunk and all, with less stark lighting. I realize you were just checking the flash's capacity to light the tree, but for something like this I'd set the flash manually and use a longer, timed exposure on a tripod that allows the flash to fill in details while the long exposure adds background.

The reason I don't shoot this tree in full daylight is that the background does not lend itself to photography (Ugly) power lines and kudzu. You will see a couple of closeup shots but that is generally it. I will have to go and try a different angle and see if I can get something I like.

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

Re: Don's Daily Dabblings

Been playing with muted colors lately to see how I like it. Here is one that I think works better with muted color. Not full B&W but close.

 

[BackdoorArts]

Re: Don's Daily Dabblings

I love what muted colors can do, but truthfully I like the full color photo better, mainly because of the reds. Then again, that's just comparing the two. If I saw either by itself with no knowledge of the other I'd like it as is.

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

Re: Don's Daily Dabblings

I love what muted colors can do, but truthfully I like the full color photo better, mainly because of the reds. Then again, that's just comparing the two. If I saw either by itself with no knowledge of the other I'd like it as is.

I like both on their own. I tried full B&W but did not like that. I am just trying to expand by shooting styles. Playing.