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soulreaver99

macrumors 68040
Aug 15, 2010
3,709
6,419
Southern California
65CD4708-F455-45EF-AB0A-F188CE5E31CE.jpeg

There was no lightning ?
 
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deep diver

macrumors 68030
Jan 17, 2008
2,711
4,521
Philadelphia.
Ah, but if @Hughmac were telling the truth, in that all of his images are honest, and he truly doesn't have an entry, then that makes yours a lie, and therefore a double entry this week no? o_O

I am only one coffee in so far this morning, be gentle this is hurting my brain.

Perhaps. But now we have to consider the veracity of your claim.

We have to be careful here. I see a developing scenario in which we all are given 1st place.
 
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anotherscotsman

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Aug 2, 2014
2,369
16,735
UK
Sorry for the delay in getting back. You Americans have Thanksgiving this weekend - we Scots have St Andrew's day tomorrow. Not an excuse, just a statement in case anyone was interested.

Apologies for brevity but here goes. Remember, these are just the personal opinions of an amateur.

@deep diver : Great to see the use of in-camera techniques and an alternative to your historic buildings series you did a while back with that lens. Very pleasing and restful image.

@Laird Knox : No, I can't believe it's your entry at this stage of the week. A very nice and convincing bit of imagery where the highlights and shadows are convincing.

@koolmagicguy : Reminds me of the Toy Story sky...Is it a beaver or a seal? Who knows.

@OldMacs4Me : Tourist attraction from the windiest city in Alberta! Good idea and rather eye-catching.

@cupcakes2000 : Really nice use of selective motion to give that ghostly presence. Works very well in mono.

@Strider64 : Nice sunset from a drone I presume?

@kenoh : A lie? Captures a mood very well imho. Using photography as an expressive tool rather than a 'photographic' record. Nice shot.

@mollyc : A lie to say your sensor or lens could do with a clean? Seriously though, a lovely beach shot with the breaking waves captured beautifully. The person sets off the scale of the pier nicely.

@Darmok N Jalad : Sorry, but I can't see any lies here I'm afraid. Looks like a good day out though.

@Clix Pix : A nice Slinky? macro - unless you concentrate you can't tell substance from space. Very on-topic and beautifully captured.

@oblomow : very topical pseudo-lie-flat shot until you look more closely. Spot-on topic and very well executed.

@tizeye : Great use of post-processing techniques and works very well for this image. Beautiful.

@akash.nu : another post-processing exercise. Actually works very well for the sandstone (brownstone) church. Nicely spotted.

@redshifted : Probably the most attractive ICM shot I've seen in a long time. Love the colours and textures. Like Kenoh's entry, really captures the feel of the moment.

@Laird Knox (again): Really like this tongue-in-cheek shot. Would have made a great entry but late even by your standards :);)

@soulreaver99 : Sky replacement seems to be the thing these days - nicely executed and very convincing but not an entry unfortunately.

A difficult challenge given the wide potential. Some entries were more on theme (in my opinion) than others but thanks to everyone who made the effort to participate.

1st place : @oblomow - Well executed shot and nicely on topic. Makes you look twice.
2nd place: @Clix Pix - Again, nicely executed and on topic. Makes you look twice (at least).
Joint 3rd places: @redshifted @kenoh @deep diver and @cupcakes2000 - I really liked these entries but they were less of what I had in mind.

Cheers everyone.
 

cupcakes2000

macrumors 601
Apr 13, 2010
4,035
5,425
Sorry for the delay in getting back. You Americans have Thanksgiving this weekend - we Scots have St Andrew's day tomorrow. Not an excuse, just a statement in case anyone was interested.

Apologies for brevity but here goes. Remember, these are just the personal opinions of an amateur.

@deep diver : Great to see the use of in-camera techniques and an alternative to your historic buildings series you did a while back with that lens. Very pleasing and restful image.

@Laird Knox : No, I can't believe it's your entry at this stage of the week. A very nice and convincing bit of imagery where the highlights and shadows are convincing.

@koolmagicguy : Reminds me of the Toy Story sky...Is it a beaver or a seal? Who knows.

@OldMacs4Me : Tourist attraction from the windiest city in Alberta! Good idea and rather eye-catching.

@cupcakes2000 : Really nice use of selective motion to give that ghostly presence. Works very well in mono.

@Strider64 : Nice sunset from a drone I presume?

@kenoh : A lie? Captures a mood very well imho. Using photography as an expressive tool rather than a 'photographic' record. Nice shot.

@mollyc : A lie to say your sensor or lens could do with a clean? Seriously though, a lovely beach shot with the breaking waves captured beautifully. The person sets off the scale of the pier nicely.

@Darmok N Jalad : Sorry, but I can't see any lies here I'm afraid. Looks like a good day out though.

@Clix Pix : A nice Slinky? macro - unless you concentrate you can't tell substance from space. Very on-topic and beautifully captured.

@oblomow : very topical pseudo-lie-flat shot until you look more closely. Spot-on topic and very well executed.

@tizeye : Great use of post-processing techniques and works very well for this image. Beautiful.

@akash.nu : another post-processing exercise. Actually works very well for the sandstone (brownstone) church. Nicely spotted.

@redshifted : Probably the most attractive ICM shot I've seen in a long time. Love the colours and textures. Like Kenoh's entry, really captures the feel of the moment.

@Laird Knox (again): Really like this tongue-in-cheek shot. Would have made a great entry but late even by your standards :);)

@soulreaver99 : Sky replacement seems to be the thing these days - nicely executed and very convincing but not an entry unfortunately.

A difficult challenge given the wide potential. Some entries were more on theme (in my opinion) than others but thanks to everyone who made the effort to participate.

1st place : @oblomow - Well executed shot and nicely on topic. Makes you look twice.
2nd place: @Clix Pix - Again, nicely executed and on topic. Makes you look twice (at least).
Joint 3rd places: @redshifted @kenoh @deep diver and @cupcakes2000 - I really liked these entries but they were less of what I had in mind.

Cheers everyone.
Thanks for joint 3rd! To put my picture in context, it’s a self portrait, shot on a bright afternoon but with a strong ND filter to enable the ghostly look. I supplemented that by making it black and white and appear like a spooky forest. The light I’m holding is actually a carrier bag full of remotely activated strobes. It’s part of a series, the first photos are of me fishing, then ‘catching’ the light, then ‘inspecting’ the light, ending in this shot, where the ‘light’ has taken hold of me. Or something!! The first few had the same black and white feel, but without motion. The motion comes after I hold the bag, hopefully signifying some sort of alien or spooky presence. The final shot (this one) was by far the best and actually works on its own.

I figured it’s not quite fitting to the brief, but I don’t generally shoot according to that style - although I like it. I thought this was suitable as a loose fitting idea.

Some brilliant shots in the comp this week. Well done to all, especially the winners. Looking forward to the next one.
 

deep diver

macrumors 68030
Jan 17, 2008
2,711
4,521
Philadelphia.
Congrats to oblomow, Clix Pix, and the group of 3rds.

I took this image shortly after I got the lens. I was just playing with some of the aperture plates. Using a red filter seemed like the obvious choice with that plate.

Kudos to anotherscotsman for taking on such a difficult topic to judge.
 
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tizeye

macrumors 68040
Jul 17, 2013
3,241
35,935
Orlando, FL
@tizeye : Great use of post-processing techniques and works very well for this image. Beautiful.



1st place : @oblomow - Well executed shot and nicely on topic. Makes you look twice.
2nd place: @Clix Pix - Again, nicely executed and on topic. Makes you look twice (at least).
Joint 3rd places: @redshifted @kenoh @deep diver and @cupcakes2000 - I really liked these entries but they were less of what I had in mind.

Cheers everyone.

Congrats to @oblomow and others. Great application of a unique subject.

Below is the actual photo of mine and a little background.

As some of you are aware, I am writing a book of things to do in Central Florida other than the theme parks (and less than $20 admission). It is getting close to publishing as written, now inserting photos and slightly delayed with my bicycle accident as I have 3 or 4 daytrip loops to get some more (or refresh existing) photos for a few entries. Placing as an illustration in the book would be construed as a commercial use, plus having a link to a website for free full resolution viewing with the option for purchase is obviously commercial - speculative commercial rather than the more traditional hired/pre-sold commercial like event and weddings. Problem is, four locations of 107 locations have "free unlimited personal use" photo policy, but if commercial have to purchase a permit. Reading their own rules, a painting isn't defined as commercial under any circumstance...just can't create an obstruction in the on-site setup impacting other visitors. There is no differentiation between a canvas painting digitized for giclée reproduction or straight digital painting. So was an easy decision...turn it into a canvas. Personally, I like the National Park Service regulations where commercial is if bringing in crew, special lighting or other equipment, models, impacting public, or requiring special access to areas not open to the general public. Personal by John Q Photographer that captures an award winning sellable photo, such as an eagle in flight, it is "congratulations" with no commercial license required.

Original. The second one is more photographic rather than painterly as I brought the brush down to give a lot of detail to the bird and draw attention to the subject with far less detail on the foreground and background.
Circle B Bar - 1500px-11.JPG
Circle B Bar - 1500px-1.JPG
Circle Bar B painting 1.jpg
 

Clix Pix

macrumors Core
Thank you for second position on the podium! (Whew, big sigh of relief!). Congratulations to Oblomow -- that image really is genius!!! The first time I looked at it, I didn't see anything amiss, but then the next time I took a look, I said, "uh, wait a minute!!" and did the classic double take.

My image is indeed that of a Slinky. and the setup was the main subject standing on a slightly curved brushed-silver dish, with a dark Replica Surfaces board as backdrop plus providing a means of blocking out extraneous light from the rest of the dining area/living room (image was shot on the dining room table, my "studio"). One lie is that the Slinky is actually silver metal, not the color seen here, and the dish beneath it is also silver. I turned off the room lights and didn't use normal photographic lighting and gels for this shot. Instead, the colors come from the multicolored strand of small LED "fairy" lights that I strung from the backdrop and over/around the general area. Some areas in the scene were thrown into shadow, while other areas on the Slinky and the dish beneath it picked up and reflected the different lights and their colors, depending upon how I positioned myself and the camera/lens. It was a lot of fun shooting this, and then later looking at the results in the computer.
 
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akash.nu

macrumors G4
May 26, 2016
10,870
16,998
Nicely done. Congratulations to all the winners. Looking forward to the next one.
 

OldMacs4Me

macrumors 68020
May 4, 2018
2,327
29,971
Wild Rose And Wind Belt
Fun topic and some interesting images. Overall very well done.

Thought maybe I was being a bit too subtle.
Lie 1: The ball is obviously anchored at 22°
Lie 2: It always reads calm, which for Lethbridge at least, is a lie most of the time.
Lie 3: Image on the right is reversed. The tell is the reflection of the ball and chain in the other image.
 

deep diver

macrumors 68030
Jan 17, 2008
2,711
4,521
Philadelphia.
Congrats to @oblomow and others. Great application of a unique subject.

Below is the actual photo of mine and a little background.

As some of you are aware, I am writing a book of things to do in Central Florida other than the theme parks (and less than $20 admission). It is getting close to publishing as written, now inserting photos and slightly delayed with my bicycle accident as I have 3 or 4 daytrip loops to get some more (or refresh existing) photos for a few entries. Placing as an illustration in the book would be construed as a commercial use, plus having a link to a website for free full resolution viewing with the option for purchase is obviously commercial - speculative commercial rather than the more traditional hired/pre-sold commercial like event and weddings. Problem is, four locations of 107 locations have "free unlimited personal use" photo policy, but if commercial have to purchase a permit. Reading their own rules, a painting isn't defined as commercial under any circumstance...just can't create an obstruction in the on-site setup impacting other visitors. There is no differentiation between a canvas painting digitized for giclée reproduction or straight digital painting. So was an easy decision...turn it into a canvas. Personally, I like the National Park Service regulations where commercial is if bringing in crew, special lighting or other equipment, models, impacting public, or requiring special access to areas not open to the general public. Personal by John Q Photographer that captures an award winning sellable photo, such as an eagle in flight, it is "congratulations" with no commercial license required.

Original. The second one is more photographic rather than painterly as I brought the brush down to give a lot of detail to the bird and draw attention to the subject with far less detail on the foreground and background.
View attachment 1682829 View attachment 1682828 View attachment 1682830

Those rules are mind numbing.
 

Laird Knox

macrumors 68000
Jun 18, 2010
1,958
1,346
@Laird Knox (again): Really like this tongue-in-cheek shot. Would have made a great entry but late even by your standards :);)

I posted that in response to the "I have nothing" post. It really doesn't fit the contest unless you count the star trails. Those were stacked from several images but really something you could do in a single shot. Otherwise, Nothing, Arizona is a real place.

@Laird Knox : No, I can't believe it's your entry at this stage of the week. A very nice and convincing bit of imagery where the highlights and shadows are convincing.

Thanks for judging this week's contest. This image was borderline for the theme. It is a two shot composite but not what you might expect.

1606766641740.png


The image was shot in an actual mine. The background looks like a composite but it is real. The edge between the floor and wall looks fake because it is actually a 15 foot drop into a larger room. The light on walls is natural sunlight coming into the open stope mine. The light on the model is from two Einstein strobes and a speed flash.

The fake is the light on the apples. I used a handheld light with golden color to paint the basket, crate, and pickaxe. I wanted them to have more of a mystical glow.

Here is the unedited image:

1606766912762.png


You can see the key light. There was a fill light at the camera's location. The speed light is around the corner to right acting sort of as a hair light.

Most of the editing was on the model. The assignment was to create a pinup style image. I wanted the really intense primary colors. I spent a lot of time smoothing out wrinkles on the skirt. The model wore it on the drive to the shoot (45+ minute drive). I can't complain though - she make the outfit just for the shoot.

The fake was the lighting on the apples. I opened the shutter without the strobes then ran over and painted the area with the flashlight. I did this a few times until I got a descent exposure. Then the model stepped in and we did a few shots.

Someday I would like to reedit this. The axe fades a bit too much into the darkness. I wanted to highlight the apples but I also wanted to reference the dwarves in the image. I also think the skin tones are a bit too blue in the final image. Even so, it was a fun shoot.
 

mollyc

macrumors G3
Aug 18, 2016
8,065
50,748
My image was heavily cloned to remove all the extraneous people. I didn't mind them when I took the image (well I kind of did, but didn't have any other option). When I got home to sort through all the photos, I really liked the one boy running toward the pier with his board. I also happened to notice the moon that evening (we were sitting on a restaurant deck when I took these). Unfortunately the moon was not over the pier, but straight in front of me. So I took an image of it too and composited the moon into the final image.

I don't normally composite like that (and even less rarely have the vision to capture both images within minutes of each other) but for some reason it all lined up that evening. I actually can't think of any other image I purposely composited, but I'm likely forgetting one or two (not counting head swaps, which are usually inevitable for group photos). I do often do a lot of cloning though, especially for beach images.

FB_August_13_2019_001-2.jpg


FB_August_13_2019_001-3.jpg


I also added in a bokeh overlay to my final image. I wouldn't do that if I were to re-edit it, but the editing was already done, so I just went with it for the competition.

FB_August_13_2019_001-4.jpg
 
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