Deep in Thought

[nldunne]

Here is an image done on our ALASKA CRUISE. I think I used it before - but not this way.

I found an image with a similar shaped subject. I used a ruler to see how much space was on each side of the subject to the edge. In this image, I tried to do the same - measure the distance from outside of the arm (elbow area)to the edge of the frame on both sides.

Cropped to reproduction by William Mulready "Bathers Surprised 1852

[Rodeoshooter]

Norm,

With the level of your skill in art why don't you just allow yourself the freedom to just let the image flow. I keep seeing you write about how you used a ruler. Trust yourself to do what is right. No one is worried about how exact the space is in an image. The painters of old that you admire, often felt the painting spoke to them as they progressed through the work.

I would like you to just let go and see what happens when you do your work on the fly. You are good enough to trust yourself.

Originally Posted by nldunne

Here is an image done on our ALASKA CRUISE. I think I used it before - but not this way.

I found an image with a similar shaped subject. I used a ruler to see how much space was on each side of the subject to the edge. In this image, I tried to do the same - measure the distance from outside of the arm (elbow area)to the edge of the frame on both sides.

Cropped to reproduction by William Mulready "Bathers Surprised 1852

[nldunne]

My thanks for the vote of confidence. I will give it a try and see what comes from it.

We often try to stand/sit back from the screen and - as you say - let the image 'SPEAK TO US'. Letting an image SPEAK TO US is one thing I strongly echo from your note.

I was thankful for the opportunity to learn that in the galleries overseas before I tried it here. As such, now it makes it easier and comfortable for us to move back from the screen a few feet and view the image - as I work on it - and for what it is saying to us - and not to be so nit-picky about every little error in the image.

This image - I did do it somewhat more critical than needed - mainly to see what the finished image looked like this way - and also, maybe some beginner on here can learn something from it.

Also, this image - I have to admit - SPOKE TO BOTH OF US in a way that is stronger than some of my older croppings I did.

Have a good week. Thanks again.

[Ellbee99]

Interesting, Norm. Anne looks soooo sad though.

[Jandybean]

I like the b/w best. Very nice. It is hard sometimes to not be so critical of photos, but I agree, just go for it!

[nldunne]

My thanks for the kind words, Lori. This image was done this way on purpose - to portray MELANCHOLY.

Jandy
I only wanted to try this to see the dilfference between a structured image and the one at the top of page 2 (HOME LIGHT STUDY) of Anne and I where I "went for it". Also, I am letting images - mine or others - SPEAK TO ME - from a distance from my screen - rather picking out every nit pickin' error in the image - I can enjoy an image far more this way.

[Rodeoshooter]

Norm,

I have 35-40 wall portraits that I have hanging at one time or another. They are 30 x 40 inches all canvas and framed. Before I choose a photo to go to a wall portrait I take the image that I think is a candidate for the wall portrait and put it away for about a month. Then I go back and look at it again to see if I still feel the same way about it. If I do then I prepare it for the lab and send it.

I never choose a sample wall portrait without going though this process. No matter how much I like the image, I always do this with it. I look at different croppings but most often go with what I had envisioned when I first created the image in the camera.

I like this process because I lose the "day of impact" and the emotion of the day when I do this. If that same emotion comes up when I look at the image again in a month, then I know it is a special image, not just my excitement of the day image.

Give it a shot. Frame in camera and do everything as if there was no way to make corrections ever again. I cringe when I hear a photographer say "I can fix it in PS". Ed will tell you if you do it right to begin with you won't have any work to do on the image in the lab. I have always done the retouching to an image, but everything else on my images was straight out of the camera. Shoot smart work less!

Here is my version of the BW. What do you think?

Originally Posted by nldunne

My thanks for the vote of confidence. I will give it a try and see what comes from it.

We often try to stand/sit back from the screen and - as you say - let the image 'SPEAK TO US'. Letting an image SPEAK TO US is one thing I strongly echo from your note.

I was thankful for the opportunity to learn that in the galleries overseas before I tried it here. As such, now it makes it easier and comfortable for us to move back from the screen a few feet and view the image - as I work on it - and for what it is saying to us - and not to be so nit-picky about every little error in the image.

This image - I did do it somewhat more critical than needed - mainly to see what the finished image looked like this way - and also, maybe some beginner on here can learn something from it.

Also, this image - I have to admit - SPOKE TO BOTH OF US in a way that is stronger than some of my older croppings I did.

Have a good week. Thanks again.

[Maggie_B]

Aw Norm...she does look really sad..what did you do? Just kidding you buddy.

Have you tried a tighter crop? Her shoes are kinda distracting to me.

Mag

[nldunne]

Al

I will try to work in cam as much as possible. I used to do that in my film days - I had no other way of doing things back then. All I try to do on here now is - cropping and resizing - if at all possible. Only if I travel will I do other things. My PICTURE IT is so small a program I cannot do much - and I love it abundantly for that reason.

I have to echo your idea that doing all your correction work on the P C is a very sloppy and poor habit - no matter how one feels about it. I tried it at first to see what I thought - but now - like you - the less I do on here the better I like it. I am not having my tools be my baby sitter or bale me out of trouble. If I travel - and do not have time in some cases - I may do a tad more than I would at home - but that is IT!

The b/'w image looks like a standart 2 X 3 ratio image or something similar. Often as not, I will use that ratio for my final prints - so I do not lose image material on the photo paper. Your image did come out well.

Mag

I think I will go back to my standard 2 X 3 ratio cropping again. Right now I am thinking that it takes less work to do that - than to mess around with other shapes. Also, maybe the shoes could come out if I go in tighter on Anne.

[Dratom]

I think you did well on the colors in #2 image. Any thing else I would add has been mentioned.