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Canon DSLR Challenge | all galleries >> CSLR CHALLENGE 89: Blue (hosted by Nico Conradie) >> ELIGIBLE > 10th Place The Battle by Larry
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10-MAR-2007 Larry

10th Place The Battle by Larry

Canon EOS 20D
1/500s f/6.3 at 70.0mm iso200 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Canon DSLR Challenge20-Mar-2007 18:34
One of my favs larry! The subject lends itself to this treatment and you did a terrific job on the cyanotype. I have a few re-enactment type photos I'd like to try this on but I'll be lucky if I get as nice a result. CJ
Canon DSLR Challenge19-Mar-2007 13:17
I like the composition, toning, grain---the works!! shu
Guest 18-Mar-2007 17:28
A page from history! -Cat
Guest 14-Mar-2007 23:44
Larry, I really like this toning. It's a great shot and it was fun to finally experiment with something I've wanted to do for a long time. Thanks for the inspiration. -Michael
Canon DSLR Challenge14-Mar-2007 19:21
Michael, thanks for your guidance regarding cyanotype toning. After seeing your solution and looking at John Dugdale pictures, I can see that I was way off! This type of toning is new to me and I'm enjoying the learning process. I have made some adjustments that get me closer to what a cyanotype picture should look like. ~ Larry
Guest 14-Mar-2007 06:02
Larry, I really like the results of the work you've put into this image. I think the burning helps to bring focus right down to the main subject and the grain is a nice addition. It does have a nicely antique feel to it. How did you add the grain? I ask because it's very pleasing to my eye and I have a hard time coming up with eye-pleasing grain.

I hope you won't mind indulging me because I've been extremely interested in "digital cyanotype". I did a lot of cyanotype in college (some 30 years ago, those were the only chemicals we could play with during free labs since they wouldn't readily kill us) and I became very fond of the process. Your work here has inspired me to get off my duff and experiment. I have only one of my old cyanotype prints stored and I got it out to look at the color. Also, one of my favorite photographers, John Dugdale (legally blind), works in cyanotype (examples of his work at http://www.edelmangallery.com/dugdale.htm ).

I think the color you've arrived at for this image is a bit too cyan. For me, cyanotypes are characterized by a deeper blue tone and generally an overall darker feel. I grabbed a copy of your image and experimented with it. I arrived at a solution that I think is closer to a classic cyanotype. The results can be seen at http://www.pbase.com/image/75635106 . (I'll remove this image when the challenge is over.) I desaturated your image, then Layer>New Adjustment Layer>Color Balance, set the sliders so that Color Levels were -80, 0, +80. Then I flattened the image, duplicated the background layer, set the blending mode of the duplicated layer to "Multiply" and changed the opacity of the layer to 50%. To my eye, this is somewhat closer to classic cyanotypes and also brings out a bit more grain.

I'm not suggesting that you change this image. It's merely that you've inspired me to play with a digital version of a classic technique that I've wanted to do for over a year. Thanks for indulging me and I may now have to produce my own "digital cyanotype" for this challenge. -Michael
Canon DSLR Challenge14-Mar-2007 05:44
How absolutely totally profoundly stupid of me. :-) :-) I will try to switch my brain on before commenting again! Regards jnconradie
Canon DSLR Challenge13-Mar-2007 21:09
I tried a sepia and prefer it over the cyanotype, but the sepia would not work for this challenge. ~ Larry
jnconradie13-Mar-2007 21:04
Very impressive. Did you try a sepia/brown version as well? I am sure you did and preferred this one? Compliments. jnconradie
Canon DSLR Challenge13-Mar-2007 20:47
Thanks, Craig, Nico and Michael. Michael, I appreciate your feedback and decided I like the results of your suggestions better than the original. This look better supports the time in history this reenactment was meant to portray. ~ Larry
jnconradie13-Mar-2007 08:21
I can only say "ditto" to the previous comments and compliments. Intense! Yes, I think Michael's "old look" idea might give a really interesting outcome. Excellent action shot! Regards jnconradie
Guest 13-Mar-2007 05:28
A really atmospheric action piece. Do you take part in Civil War re-inactments? You were up against a really tough sky here and I think you'd get more feeling of depth if the corners of the image were burned down a bit. You could even take this to b&w with a cyanotype toning for an aged feeling...it's a very strong image. -Michael
Guest 12-Mar-2007 00:12
Wow. Great catch of both the horse's and the rider's expressions.