i was a bit bored...

[jamaican_sole]

i was a bit bored tonight so i decided to mess around with a couple of the images on my hard disk. here's a before and after.

before:
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj26/jamaican_sole/ORIGINAL.jpg

after:
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj26/jamaican_sole/FLICKR.jpg

i am very new to photography in general, but i can honestly say that i am starting to realize the limitations of the kit lense. i will soon be in the market for some sharper glass. OH YEAH! any and all input is appreciated.

[chauncey]

You need to get your basics down in CS3 before playing with the filters.

Horizon isn't straight, and figure out a way to fix the hot spot.

[Jim G]

I like what I think you're going for but I think it'd work better if the horizon was straight - it's a little too noticeably off.

[Paul Tinworth]

You need to get your basics down in CS3 before playing with the filters.

Horizon isn't straight, and figure out a way to fix the hot spot.

You're just a big bucket full of joy, aren't you?

I think you're off to a good start, Anwar. I like the PP, but I'd be interested to see this a more 'dutch' angle (just to be different), as well as a lighter interlace. Keep it up! :)

[rammy]

Put a time code in the corner so it looks like a security camera type of shot, which is what you are going for? :-)

[jamaican_sole]

You need to get your basics down in CS3 before playing with the filters.

Horizon isn't straight, and figure out a way to fix the hot spot.

well i am pretty new to this, but i didn't use any filters at all. i desaturated the colors quite a bit, tons of contrast, upped the black level, added some vignetting and the tv scanlines came from a bucket fill with the opacity turned down. i will try to take note of the horizon in the future as well. is there a filter in cs3 that could have done this for me?

[chauncey]

I do offer my apologies sir, I was waaay to quick out of the gate, plus the fact that I suffer from hoof in mouth disease.

Are you going for what rammy suggested?

There are tons of filters>artistic.

[Chet]

Are there 2 people in this shot? I see another set of sneakers. I think you make a couple of adjustments on this one and you have a story.

[Flo]

playin

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/emmaloudawg/new%20flowers/park.jpg

[jamaican_sole]

I do offer my apologies sir, I was waaay to quick out of the gate, plus the fact that I suffer from hoof in mouth disease.

Are you going for what rammy suggested?

There are tons of filters>artistic.


you have nothing to apologize for, you didn't offend me in any way, you were simply offering constructive criticism. i was indeed going for the look that rammy suggested, i just didn't think to add the time and date stamp (good idea i might add!). about the extra pair of shoes. there is only one person in the shot, so that's all they are, an extra pair of shoes. is there a way to fix the tilted horizon, or should i go with a tighter crop similar to Flo's approach?

[jamaican_sole]

playin

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/emmaloudawg/new%20flowers/park.jpg

wait a minute! now that i look at it again the horizon is now level! how did you pull that off Flo?

[LeuceDeuce]

Flo actually did fix the horizon along with the tighter crop. The tighter crop comes from rotating the image and wanting to maintain a rectangular final print.

Fixing the horizon is actually quite easy. If I rotate in CS3 then I use the crop tool set to a fixed ratio (you can set this on the crop toolbar). Then if you select anywhere along the side of your crop outline you can free rotate your image until it looks good.

Try to be aware of the horizon as much as possible when you take the shot since rotating does crop as a side-effect.

Edit: This is as much of the original file I could keep while fixing the horizon line:

[chauncey]

In CS3. center top, above image is an analysis pull down, open and choose ruler, use it to follow the horizon, then go to image pull down and choose rotate image, then choose arbitary. That will straighten horizon, then crop.

[Flo]

I have an easier way.lol.download Picasa.it has a straighten bar:p

[LeuceDeuce]

Yeah Paintshop Pro has the straightening tool as well.

My personal favorite is Lightroom. You can rotate with the crop tool, and it overlays a grid to make it easy to see if you're straight or not.

[chauncey]

You mean there's a whole host of ways to do it?:)

[jamaican_sole]

okay here is another attempt. i really didn't have a chance to finish it because i have to take the mrs. out for dinner and a movie, but you can see the direction i was heading in. for sosme strange reason the tilted horizon and the bright lights don't seem to bother me with this pic, but that's just me. tell me what you think.


http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj26/jamaican_sole/try.jpg

[Flo]

I just am not a big fan of the lines..the canvas or whatever effect.....:confused: Why are there another pair of shoes?

[LeuceDeuce]

I think the tilted horizon doesn't bother you as much because it makes your subject stand up straight :)

[leninglass]

The last attempt looks a lot better. TV scan lines? hmmm.. i don't think it is used well for stuff like this

[jamaican_sole]

Why are there another pair of shoes?

:lol: i don't remember why. these pics were taken some time ago at a basketball court, and for the life of me, i cant rember why those shoes, were there.

[Reeforbust]

Try shooting high down on the subject. He's gotta cross his arms (thinking of Beastie boys) so he has an "I don't care" attitude.....
Maybe stand on the bench or up on a trash can(carefully!!) Then when you do your post processing it will look a little more like a security camera took the pic!?



Wow, i just totally rambled.... Keep shootin!

[jamaican_sole]

thanx for the advice reef, i will take it to heart next the opportunity i get ;)