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Linda Imagefree
{K:72276} 10/14/2006
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Wow thank you, so nice of you to take the time to write that out for me. I added to my "Tips From Rocky" sheet.
Definitely an image to be PROUD of, wonderful!!!
Big hugs to you...Lin
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Rocky Berlier
{K:2009} 10/14/2006
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Hey Lin,
Thanks for taking a second look at this and for making me feel proud of it.
The signature is easy... once you have it captured via a scanner. Here's the steps for it:
1) Scan your signature. I used a black Sharpie on some white xerox paper and made the signature about 10 times the size I normally write it. I also made this an artistic "nom de plume" signature which is very different from my real-world signature.
2) Open it in Photoshop and go to Select>Color Range... then select Shadows from the popup menu. Click "Okay." this will select only the black part.
3) Go to the Paths Palette and click on the "Make Work Path From Selection" icon at the bottom of the palette (it looks like a circle with two handles coming off of it).
4) Go to Edit>Define Custom Shape and enter a name for this shape (like My Signature). Now you have a Custom Shape of your sig that you can use anywhere.
5) To place it on your images,
a) Select a Foreground color that you want the sig to be,
b) Create a new layer,
c) Select the Custom Shape Tool and find your sig at the bottom of the shape list. Make sure you have the options (in the Options Bar) for this shape set to Fill Pixels and Defined Proportions.
d) Click and drag where you want the signature to be. It can be moved with the Move Tool.
Once you have the signature on your image, you can add Layer Styles such as a drop shadow, gradient overlay, stroke, etc...
I have my signature set-up as an Action that I just click once and it places it in the image with the Foreground color I've chosen.
Let me know if you understand all this. I would be happy to give further details of individual steps.
Hugalicious Hugs ~R
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Linda Imagefree
{K:72276} 10/14/2006
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I just had to have another look at this awesome sky Rocky...so beautiful. I like your signature too...tell me how you do that. Hugs..Lin
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Linda Imagefree
{K:72276} 9/2/2006
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And thank you for yours, it's been fun passing comments back and forth, and I appreciate all the the information you've shared with me. How long will you be gone? I'll be looking forward to seeing you when you get back..When will Rocky leave the building? Gigantic hugs right back atcha!! :)
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Rocky Berlier
{K:2009} 9/2/2006
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That is just about the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. I'm really glad to have made a friend or two here, Linda. You make it really fun. Thanks for your friendship. {{{GIGANTO HUGS}}} ~Roc
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Linda Imagefree
{K:72276} 9/2/2006
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Well I think you're an awesome photographer and a wonderful addition to this site!! Big hugs..:)
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Rocky Berlier
{K:2009} 9/2/2006
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I love Hugo's work and his comments really make me think. I think you hit the nail on the head, Linda. The sky was just dramatic enough to out weigh the fuzzy landscape (which is why I included it in the class project). In hindsight, I never would have had my f/stop that wide open had I been more aware. I have my camera mostly on manual settings and for those instantaneous shots, very often something gets forgotten. I tend to be more of a calculated photographer than a spontaneous one. This one was like taking a test, I just freeze when there's answers I'm supposed to know!
For this I was mostly focused on just getting the shot (and then praying that I had the right settings). Gosh, I'll never make it as a photojournalist, huh? (shrug). Good thing I don't get paid for this... except in cyber-hugs. :) Here's one more for you. {{{{BIG HUG}}}} ~R
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Rocky Berlier
{K:2009} 9/2/2006
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Oh yes, I love this lens. It's my absolute favorite.
I'll look at Kelby's book. I've been meaning to anyway. Scott is funny and very knowledgeable (lethal combination).
I love your philosphical take on when to walk away from correcting an image. It's my take as well. If you have to correct an image too much it's pretty pointless.
Still, I will give this a little try at improving the sharpness. It certainly couldn't hurt, right?
Thanks again for your input and wisdom. Really appreciate it, Hugo! ~ Warmest regards, Rocky
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Linda Imagefree
{K:72276} 9/2/2006
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Well when you have a sky as spectacular as this who cares about the landscape being a little soft...It's gorgeous, what an amazing sky and a nice thread...Hugo always livens things up a bit...actually I think it's very poetic this way...nice mood, wonderful colors in that very dramatic sky...I agree that photography can be a pleasant surprise or sometimes a rotten disappointment, I'd call this a pleasant surprise...beautiful work Rocky...big hugs...:)
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Hugo de Wolf
{K:185110} 9/2/2006
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Excellent lens, though... the 12-24 f/4 is absolutely one of my favourite lenses...
As to sharpening in PS, Kelby's photoshop book for digital photography might also provide some interesting reading.
No matter how great the shot is, I would probably not bother, though - I never managed to create a satisfactory result for printing... In stead of investing a lot of time, I tend to take my losses and work on photos that are within salvation.
Hard to tell from an internet photo, though... And trying it never hurt anybody - the knowledge might come in handy sooner or later...:)
Cheers,
hugo
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Rocky Berlier
{K:2009} 9/2/2006
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"The chances of planning a reshoot with a similar spectacular sky would be more problematic." LOL! Ha! You aren't kidding!
Yeah, that darn LCD LIES!!!! Especially with my 12-24mm lens. I'm getting better at using the histogram to know how my image is exposed. Of course, that wouldn't help an image that's a little out of focus like this one.
I should try the Lab sharpening method of Dan Margulis on this and maybe a sharpening mask to isolate the landscape from the clouds. I just thought it was beyond hope and there wasn't any point in trying to fight with it.
The aperature was f/4 at 1/4 sec. (ISO 100). Yeah, that was bad and obviously the source of the problem. Still maybe I can improve it a little with Photoshop. Thanks for all your great comments and ideas Hugo. ~ Warm regards, Rocky
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Hugo de Wolf
{K:185110} 9/2/2006
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Hi Rocky,
Thanks for your reply; always cool to hear the background behind a photo. I quite agree - the first proofing on screen (or on negative / slides) can be quite confronting. The LCD on the back of the camera is pretty useless, heh?
I don't think that cropping off the silhouettes would do the photo any good - it's the reference with the horizon that makes it as impressive as it is.
Sharpening isn't the option either, unless you sharpen using Lab channels. Still, it wouldn't solve the problem entirely, I think.
I'm curious what aperture / shutterspeed you used. I'd say using the hyperfocus distance would've solved it. As the objects on the horizon seem quite far away, getting everything in focus doesn't seem too much of an ordeal. The chances of planning a reshoot with a similar spectacular sky would be more problematic.
Cheers,
Hugo
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Rocky Berlier
{K:2009} 9/2/2006
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Your kind words mean a lot to me. Thank you Greg. I think your landscape work is masterful. ~ Warm regards, Rocky
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Rocky Berlier
{K:2009} 9/2/2006
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You are spot on, Hugo (good eye). This is the only thing that really bothers me about this image. I had the camera set to auto-focus (which I usually don't) and it focused on the clouds in the center of the picture but made the landscape a bit "soft." I didn't really notice this until I saw the image later on my computer. Photography is always a shock or pleasant surprise, isn't it? I couldn't really do anything about the out-of-focus part of the image except crop it out and that would lose the sense of size as well as "anchor" the image. So, I left it in. I guess I could try and sharpen it with Photoshop.
Do you have any suggestions that could fix this?
Thank you so much Hugo for the kind words and taking the time to look at my work. I really admire and respect your work and it is an honor for me to have you comment on mine. ~ Warmest regards, Rocky
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Hugo de Wolf
{K:185110} 9/2/2006
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Hi Rocky,
Outstanding tones, and a very dramatic atmosphere. A bit soft in the silhouettes of the trees, though. It's mainly because that's the only bit of the photo I see whilst typing the comment. Scrolling up, my attention is absorbed by the sky, which is definitely spectacular. Very well captured. Quite impressive.
Cheers,
hugo
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greg collins
{K:12273} 9/2/2006
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Such a powerfull sky - all that energy and colour. Nice work.
Greg
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Rocky Berlier
{K:2009} 9/2/2006
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You said it, Keith! Thanks for taking a peek at my work. ~ Warm regards, Rocky
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Keith M. Bailey
{K:500} 9/2/2006
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ain't monsoon season great for photographers?
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