Inspired by Eland

[pappy]

Like Howie, I have been trying to portray "painterly" type effects on some landscapes without using the built-in filters which are less than satisfactory. This image is nothing special and the original is atrocious and required levels galore to try to attain anything. I copied the background and set the new layer as Luminosity at 65% opacity. To this layer I applied 15% Gausian blur. I added some red and increased the saturation which had the unfortunate effect in the darker parts of the sky and clouds. I also added noise....what is the overall result, garbage?

http://members.shaw.ca/pjobbins/G3/barn.jpg

Regards,
Peter

[Stoneh]

Good Work Peter,

The reds definately gives it the "painterly" effect, the only thing thats a bit distracting is the sky/clouds at the top right corner. They are too bright/contrasty compared to the left side of thepicture imho.

Regards

[pappy]

Thanks Stoneh I will have to work on that, I really appreciate your comments.

Regards,
Peter

[CyberDyneSystems]

I ike this as it doesn't push the "artsy" filter too much... it is more subtle than most other examples I have seen. For the landscape anyways. I think that is part of the problem with the sky ... to my eye,. the entire sky needs to be toned down a lot. The contrast is much more "Filtered" looking than the landscape is.

In fact I would almost like to see a version where the sky is rendered more towards subtle grey tones... much less blue,. to let the subtle earth tones show through more.

[pappy]

Thanks for the suggestion CDS, I will try that. I appreciate your comments, thanks.

http://members.shaw.ca/pjobbins/G3/barn2.jpg

Regards,
Peter

[Conk]

Peter, in the first photo I love the effects. I did find the sky on the right a touch bright and on the left there is red in the sky that looks like overspray for lack of better words.
The second one really cought my unexpected eye as I scrolled down the page. Excellent! Looks like a storm is rolling in. With the shadows of the clouds on the ground you captured it nicely.
One last thing as I look over the image is I kind of wish I could see the barn a bit more clearly. Not too much though as it would stand out too much.

[pappy]

Thanks Colin, I really appreciate your comments and I do like the second one better as well. I will try to lighten the old buildings a little.

Kind Regards,
Peter

[Leighow]

PETER


I agree with what others have said. I think that the blue was a bit too strong. But I am less sure about these transformations than I used to be. Also, I think that to judge them properly we ought to include the original. So in this image:

1: I love the contrast and the shadows -- it looked like a French impressionists painting.. but

2: This is achieved at too high a price. Take the filed of red flowers. I think poppies, but if these were poppies, the sense of shape and structure is lost. I do not think that you would have the same problem with "2 slides".

3: That relates to composition too. My dream would be to have the shot see through the red flowers, uphill through shadows and flowers to what appears to be a barn. I would have liked to try a shot (or crop) that used the top left part of the image to try to get a hill to barn shot. On the other hand that might lose the shadows.

4: Maybe I am saying that the forground ought to begin with red flowers (rather than the bush) and that forground out to be a major element in the composition that then leads us across shadows and filed to the barn

JUst trying to help !

HOWIE

[pappy]

Leighow wrote:
PETER


I agree with what others have said. I think that the blue was a bit too strong. But I am less sure about these transformations than I used to be. Also, I think that to judge them properly we ought to include the original. So in this image:

1: I love the contrast and the shadows -- it looked like a French impressionists painting.. but

2: This is achieved at too high a price. Take the filed of red flowers. I think poppies, but if these were poppies, the sense of shape and structure is lost. I do not think that you would have the same problem with "2 slides".

3: That relates to composition too. My dream would be to have the shot see through the red flowers, uphill through shadows and flowers to what appears to be a barn. I would have liked to try a shot (or crop) that used the top left part of the image to try to get a hill to barn shot. On the other hand that might lose the shadows.

4: Maybe I am saying that the forground ought to begin with red flowers (rather than the bush) and that forground out to be a major element in the composition that then leads us across shadows and filed to the barn

JUst trying to help !

HOWIE




Thanks Howie...the red flowers are not actually flowers they are some sort of weed grass. the difficulty with this pcture was that all was behind barbed wire so it was difficult to pick an angle that worked well and where I stood or could have crouched was rife with thorns.

I agree with all of your ideas with respect to composition, the bush in front is less than ideal. I did clone out a dead small tree on the left side. This really is more practice than anything else and the ideas and criticisms I am receiving are excellent and very much appreciated.

I am too embarrased to show the original, pitiful! ;)

http://members.shaw.ca/pjobbins/G3/original.jpg

No laughing now....not too much anyway...

Kind Regards,
Peter

[Leighow]

PETER

Frankly I think that the original shot was fine -- but lmited by the G series camera. I guess that the sky is the limit.

HOWIE

[eland]

Hi Peter,
I seem to be entering this discussion rather late, but have only just
seen your welcome post.

What most of the other people have said may have some validity,
but I view this exercise from a totally different perspective.

You are trying something new, and I don't give a darn whether it has worked or not.

That at this stage is not the point.
You (we) are trying to learn new techniques and we are going to have lots of near misses.

Your image is certainly not a flop.
In this new field we are at the stage of doing five finger exercises on the piano.
No one listens to a kid or adult learning scales and says
Nah. Rubbish. No melody, no feeling, no shape.

Our Forum consists of lovely people but most are very conservative
and treat each image as a finished product.
History has shown that human nature does resist change,
and many new methods are scoffed at and even ridiculed
until they become accepted.

With new and experimental techniques this should not be so.
To try new things one sadly needs a thick skin.

I am reminded of the saying:

"If one idiot does it, it's madness.
If enough idiots do it, it's fashion. "

Keep it up Peter. I'm with you all the way.
I'll also post some experimental stuff very soon.
Maybe one day we'll win some converts and might even prompt
Adobe to give us some decent effects to work with.

Looking ahead I'd like to see enough people interested
in Altered Creations for Pekka to think seriously of giving us
our own forum.

Howie's modification is fun. You are on the right track Howie.

Klaus, Tenerife, has also just tried, and he has been howled down.
I've made similar comments to these above on his Dolphin image.

It's fun Peter and very creative.
I hope you will persevere.

Kindest regards
eland

[pappy]

Thank you very much for your kind words and encouragement, Hal. I am enjoying the efforts to make something out of a poor image but also to make it 'different' as you say. I look forward to seeing new images from you. I hadn't thought about doing half of these things until your post of the "factory sunset". I've been so busy getting rid of noise (which is great for most images) that it didn't occur to me to actually add it to others in certain circumstances.

I agree with you about Klaus' work, I think it is all tremendous and he is very experimental. I will have to look at the image you are talking about.

Once again thank you for your comments they are most welcome and appreciated.

Kind Regards,
Peter

[tenerife]

Hi pappy, i agree with eland - he found the right words for your work...
Try it, go new ways, experimental, i think thats the way we can go with the digital photography - and dont work that other people are be happy- no do it just for your own fun.
1 picture - 5 photographers -10 different minds.

i work a lot with experimental portraits - but i dont present them at the web - becorse of copian the idea.

Print you photos - 3 different styles - 3 different works from 1 photo - in a short time you have your own Galery at home.
Many people dont like the manipilation with PS, i love it.

And i can see you too...

Thanks for sharing.

Recards from Tenerife
Klaus

[TimNYC24]

pappy, I really like what you did with your photo ! You gave it a nice artistic touch. Very well done!
Print it with a canvas effect and you have a winner:)

[pappy]

tenerife wrote:
Hi pappy, i agree with eland - he found the right words for your work...
Try it, go new ways, experimental, i think thats the way we can go with the digital photography - and dont work that other people are be happy- no do it just for your own fun.
1 picture - 5 photographers -10 different minds.

i work a lot with experimental portraits - but i dont present them at the web - becorse of copian the idea.

Print you photos - 3 different styles - 3 different works from 1 photo - in a short time you have your own Galery at home.
Many people dont like the manipilation with PS, i love it.

And i can see you too...

Thanks for sharing.

Recards from Tenerife
Klaus

Thank you Klaus for your comments and encouragement, I have a long way to go to reach your standard.

Regards,
Peter

[pappy]

TimNYC24 wrote:
pappy, I really like what you did with your photo ! You gave it a nice artistic touch. Very well done!
Print it with a canvas effect and you have a winner:)

Thanks Tim, I appreciate your kind comments.

Regards,
Peter