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ctfchallenge | all galleries >> Challenge 77: Triangles and Diagonals >> Challenge 77: Eligible > Pointed Light *
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23-MAR-2005 Shu

Pointed Light *

Canon EOS 20D
1/200s f/5.6 at 38.0mm iso200 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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ctfchallenge28-Mar-2005 18:03
OK, Shu, I've give it another try if you will. I've been doing photography as a volunteer with a nonprofit, and one of the nuns who run it is as befuddled about layers as we are--and she actually builds computers! She's talking about paying someone to come in and teach the two of us about layers and some other PS fundamentals for the calendars we're working on. If I learn anything there, I'll be sure to pass it on to you. In the meantime, back to Nugar's tutorial.

Richard, if you're reading this, welcome back. We were beginning to worry about you.

Mary Anne
RH Photography28-Mar-2005 13:22
Excellent lighting Shu!
Canon DSLR Challenge28-Mar-2005 02:48
Nugar, wonderful man, you are trying soooo hard to help the layer impaired and I do appreciate your effort. I have thought of them layers) in that way but that's as far as it goes. From then on I'm faced with anxiety and confusion......leaving my mind blocked. It's really terrible! I know that I learn from doing and better understand something when I see it done, rather than reading instruction. I'm thinking seriously of taking a couple of private lessons from someone who can teach with patience. It would be worth a couple of hundred bucks. And, Nugar, I will pull out your layer tutorial soon and, remembering your gentle urging, will try again. Shu

Mary Anne--If you make any headway on understanding layers, please let me know. Maybe you can shed some light on the "mystery!" At least I had a good laugh over our new tag "layer impaired." LOL Shu
Nugar27-Mar-2005 15:37
Mary Anne, Shu, using the basis of the desaturation tutorial, you can do a lot of things. It not necesary to understand layers 100%. In fact, we need to make a conceptual separation between what layers are and what we can do with them! There are things that I can't even dream of doing with layers, yet people like Fred Miranda have managed to automate. I can't do at this time what Fred can, but that doesn't stop me from using the limited layer knowledge that I may have!

The only tip in visualizing layers that I have is thinking that you're seeing your image not in your PC screen as if it was a poster, but seeing it as if it was flat on a table. And then think of it like a layered cake. Each layer has an image, each layer can be made 100% opaque, 100% transparent or anything in between. You can place several copies of each other on top of each other and erase portions, change light, a thousand things, but you don't need to learn them all, only what you need at the moment.

You guys can, I'm 100% sure of that!
ctfchallenge27-Mar-2005 03:48
Layers impaired!!! How funny!! Now I have a name for myself. I guess we do pretty well with our "handicap," huh, Mary Anne? I have eight of the best PS books and just got Photoshop CS and still I wonder why so much is written in Greek. LOL Shu
ctfchallenge27-Mar-2005 03:30
Nugar thinks that I understand layers just because I've been able to duplicate a layer for selective desaturation. However, I've never been able to combine two different images, nor have I been able to follow Fly's instructions for converting to b & w and using gradients or Alexeig's description of how he gets his wonderful colors. I can't even convert to b & w and then add a light sepia tone, even though I suggested to Brian that he do that with one of his entries to this challenge. What we (or at least I) need is a special layers tutorial for the layers impaired...in PSE-2, please. For a long time, I thought there was a defect in my software, but I've finally admitted that it's just me.

Mary Anne
ctfchallenge26-Mar-2005 15:06
I tried to reshoot this, as suggested, but the lighting was never the same......Shu
Canon DSLR Challenge26-Mar-2005 01:37
Nugar--I once printed all pages of your tutorial and I'm embarrassed to admit I was not able to follow along.....!!! What do you do with people like me???? (So frustrating.) If you have any clues on how to understand layers, please email me at shupiz@cox.net. I really would appreciate any helpful comments you may have. And Mary Anne, it helps to know I'm not alone but just think how many doors would open if we could use layers! Maybe Nugar could conduct some classes (we could meet half way). LOL!!! Shu
Nugar26-Mar-2005 00:51
But Mary Anne, I've seen you do layers!!
ctfchallenge25-Mar-2005 23:06
I'm with you, Shu...figuring out layers seems to be beyond my comprehension, despite Nugar's wonderful tutorial.

BTW, I think this is a striking image even if it could benefit from a bit of sharpening. Sometimes we can make ourselves crazy with the technical aspects...but you have the eye for composition, and that's just as important, maybe even more so.

Mary Anne
Nugar25-Mar-2005 21:36
Shu, take a look at this tutorial. It may help you with layers:http://www.pbase.com/ctfchallenge/z_layers_and_desaturation_tutorial

Although it is focused towards desaturation, explains layers stpe by step and also the eraser tool is used. Layers understodd in under 30mins (maybe less, YMMV)
Guest 24-Mar-2005 01:15
Great composition!
Shu24-Mar-2005 00:10
Thanks Thimble-- I occasionally have a problem with sharpness and because I do almost everything with images visually, I know very little about the technical end of PS and the digital camera. I know this sounds strange, but I have never been very good at understanding instructions I read but if I'm shown by example, I seem to catch on quicker. I have considered taking courses, but would not be able to keep up with the class. As I age, it probably won't get much better and I am often frustrated about much of the info I need in order to perfect my images. I still do not understand layers in spite of several good books on the subject, so the sharpening technique you suggest may not be possible to achieve at this time. I probably have not received higher scores due to several of these stumbling blocks, but I will continue to try to learn some of the these important points in order to produce a top-notch image. (Like so many of you.)

Thanks again. I will read over your comments and see if I can change the image for the better. As far as shooting the image again, that light was fleeting and after I caught it out of the corner of my eye, I grabbed the camera. The light crossing the white stone
is an important element too. I may never see it that way again. It just goes to show that knowing your stuff is a great asset when attempting to catch that deciding moment.

Shu
ctfchallenge23-Mar-2005 19:40
I also failed to mention(because I did'nt check your exif info) ,increase the aperture to f/11 upwards that will give you the depth you need from the top edge of the bowl to the base.
thubleau
ctfchallenge23-Mar-2005 19:36
Just a tip that might help.
I noticed the bowl is a little soft and with an image like this it is great to get everything as tack sharp as possible to add impact.
Try sitting the camera on a tripod take two shots but with one focused on the bowl and the other on the stones to try and eliminate some of the softness.
Overlay the pics and use the rubber to remove the "soft bowl".
It may also mean if the softness is coming from the edge of the lens you may have to move back a bit and then crop in to get your size.
thubleau