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Canon DSLR Challenge | all galleries >> Challenge 103 : SPOTS (Hosted by Nico Conradie) >> Eligible > 10th Place
SPOTS
by Victor Engel
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9/20/2007 Victor Engel

10th Place
SPOTS
by Victor Engel

Canon EOS 5D ,Canon 50mm f/1.8 + Raynox 24X Micro Exp.
ISO 400 1/30 Sec. at f/16 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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elips05-Oct-2007 05:12
Wow, Victor! Thanks so much for the detailed explanation! I was so sure this image was going to win - it was perfect for the challenge. Very creative work indeed! ~Sharon
Canon DSLR Challenge05-Oct-2007 01:35
As promised, here is what it is:

I opened up Notepad and selected a very small font, typed out the word SPOTS making sure it was surrounded by all white. This was displayed on an hp mx705 CRT monitor. Because this was a spots challenge, though, I wanted to make the spots more obvious, and not simply nondescript circles. So I did a bit of PP.

First, I used lens correction to correct for pincushion distortion and correct rotation. Then, I adjusted levels to fully saturate the pixels that were supposed to be saturated. Next, I duplicated the layer and applied a gaussian blur. I set blend mode to Exclusion. I added a levels layer to bring levels back up because it was kind of dark after the exclusion layer. At this point, the picture looks like circles filled in with complementary colors, roughly. On top of this I added another layer, this time curves, with a very steep ramp up to max. Blend mode set to difference. This turned the filled in circles to bulls-eye shapes. Finally, another levels layer to lighten the image again. The original color of the dots is preserved around the letters. The steps just described basically just add a black ring in the middle. For the top part, the colors change because the increased brightness resulted in cross-talk between pixels.

All steps were applied globally to the entire picture.
-- Victor
Guest 01-Oct-2007 20:03
I give up.
Canon DSLR Challenge26-Sep-2007 22:32
A clue then -- at least one guess is very close. Other clues have already been posted in the form of EXIF/technical data. -- Victor
Alan Mars26-Sep-2007 21:56
It's definitley not a Light Bright... Not the old fashioned kind at least.
Canon DSLR Challenge26-Sep-2007 21:26
Pease give us a clue at least Mr. Engel! Jim H2
Canon DSLR Challenge24-Sep-2007 19:26
I definitely see the word "SPOTS" across the bottom. - Pops
Charlie Beck24-Sep-2007 19:16
My wife also thought it looked like a "Lite Brite." So I am sticking with that guess.
Canon DSLR Challenge23-Sep-2007 18:16
Maybe close-up of television screen pixels? Interesting looking for sure! Markjay
Canon DSLR Challenge23-Sep-2007 04:37
Good one!!! Hmmm beats me. iphone?
-Cat
Canon DSLR Challenge22-Sep-2007 22:52
Very intriguing image. --Melanie
Guest 22-Sep-2007 20:08
This is very interesting I can't wait to find out what it is.
jnconradie22-Sep-2007 13:16
Wow, Victor, I have looked at these "spots" from every angle, including upside-down (!), but I just cannot think of anything that would look this - even when magnified. What thought was especially interesting is how some of the circles appear to have depth, but others not. Optical illusion, or real? Excellent work. Regards jnconradie
Canon DSLR Challenge21-Sep-2007 21:25
I had to look up OLED, so, no. I am contemplating a redo of that LED experiment, though. I'm still curious about the source of the interesting pattern. -- Victor
Canon DSLR Challenge21-Sep-2007 20:39
Withhold information?? I just have to take a guess at the "what" then: An OLED display? The circles effect reminds me of your earlier LED shots. Great picture.. very 70ties.
-k2
elips21-Sep-2007 19:15
Brilliant, Victor! And perfect for the topic! ~Sharon
Canon DSLR Challenge21-Sep-2007 18:28
Jim,

I'm going to withhold information about what and how until after the challenge finishes. But I will comment on the Raynox lenses. I've really liked them over the years, but I need to get a new clip. This picture, however, made me realize that some testing is in order. You can't tell here, but I had to do a pincushion distortion adjustment. Normally, I use the lens for shooting bugs, so I don't notice the distortion. Also, I started using the lenses with my 10D and am only now starting to use them with my 5D, so there are some edge of field issues that did not come into play with the 10D. Overall, I'm very pleased with them, and they've done what I wanted of them.

-- Victor
Canon DSLR Challenge21-Sep-2007 14:49
Yeah. I've got to know what kind of a display this is. The circular "pixels" are interesting. It's as if the display can select what combination of center point, and surrounding rings can be illuminated. I'm stumped. I've never seen a CRT like this nor an LCD. And by the way, I'm looking seriously at the Raynox set. How do you like those things? What an interesting entry! Jim H.
Charlie Beck21-Sep-2007 13:39
My guess is that it is a "Lite Brite" toy from the 1960's. Whatever it is, it is well captured. Regards, Charlie.
Canon DSLR Challenge21-Sep-2007 08:46
Excellently intriguing image. This would have been great for the UFO challenge too. So far I'm thinking, it's a close-up of something with the word 'spots' on it. The word spots got on it via an imprecise A/D process, like a scan or camera. The something is naturally black that uses weird round 'pixel' type things to hold an image. I'm going to guess it's one of these new technology displays, like a PLED, very close up and that the word spots was very very small when captured. Thanks for a most entertaining and fabulously captured image. -Najinsky