I promised Lorraine I'd post a couple of photos from my holidays when I got back, so here they are. Look forward to seeing what the artistically talented (I'm certainly not) among you will do with them.

I hope you enjoyed yourself out there, no broken limbs I hope.
Looks like a great place.

A very quick one here (just to try and be first of course).
Mainly used cutout filter and a little cloning to tidy up.

Second one Lucis and diffuse mainly

Peter

nice pictures, gary. thank you.

i'm guessing you had fun :)

Gary, I'm sure it's hard to come home from such a lovely place to ski!

Did some color range selections to layers, dry brush/blurs/saturation increase

Well I'm blown away with everyone's renditions so far, thanks for spending time on them I love them all.

I had a great time thanks. The first couple of days were a bit dreary, the weather was grey and warm, and the snow was a bit thin and patchy with lots of slush. But on Monday night/Tuesday morning there was a 15" snowfall and that transformed everything. A cold snap followed and we had perfect skiing conditions for the rest of the week, fresh powder and clear blue skies.

Didn't take many (if any) pics on the slopes, too busy enjoying myself, these are all in and around Meribel village as are pretty much all my other snaps. In any case I've been to the 3 Vallées before, so I've got as many pics of the mountains and pistes as I'll ever need.

Guess I must have said the right things in my prayers to fall so lucky with the weather (wish I could remember what they were so I could use them again).

Lovely photos Gary...soooo glad the snow arrived for you and you had a really good time...


Peter...very nice....aniso worked well with Lucis on your 2nd one and i really like the cut out effect on the first one...I also have to have an eye op...also terrified....we must paint more and i find doing fractals totally takes my mind off it...although i havent got my date yet!!!

Craig...very nice....did you filter forge it???

CJ......Great on lots of nice details...

I used Dens funky chunky oil brush in Painter...changing the brush size as and when....framed in Photoshop with an action...

Patricia.... :dizzy:

Sorry gary but there just was not enough snow!!!!

Peter...very nice....aniso worked well with Lucis on your 2nd one and i really like the cut out effect on the first one...I also have to have an eye op...also terrified....we must paint more and i find doing fractals totally takes my mind off it...although i havent got my date yet!!!


Patricia
Thank you for both comments. I hope you get your date soon, the waiting gives too much time for thoughts.
Fractals eh , like them but my comp takes ages to render them, I have to keep tightening the elastic band up and sometimes add a little more coal before they get finished.
Very nice pic there, I shall really have to get Painter out again and try again.

Peter

Patricia, Sorry to hear about your eye problems, must be very worrying for you, hope you get your date soon, will be sure to give you a special mention in my prayers.

Peter, where were you at the beginning of last week, could have done with the snow then. Ever thought of hiring yourself out to a ski resort? :D

Love the latest additions, Patricia you always frame yours so beautifully it really sets your beautiful picture off well. Peter the addition of the extra snow really changes the feel of the whole scene.

I've been playing with HDR a little bit and pushing it to some extremes. First I darkened and generally ruined one shot. Next, I over lightened another shot. Third, I used the original shot. Merged in HDR and fooled the program into thinking each was taken with the incorrect exposure. After the merge, I tweaked with levels, hue/sat, and a mess of other stuff. It still isn't how I originally pictured it; but it is close. Please don't be offended if I ruined the quaint little church.

Janet

Patricia, hope things go well for you with your eyes. Keep us posted.

Gary, great photos. I've never been snow skiing, but my son loves it. This native Floridian had to put on socks to keep her feet warm while working on this rendering... LOL

A little painter, a little Photoshop.

hi patricia and thanks :) but no; no filter forge on this one. all Paint Shop Pro. used a charcoal filter, some sharpening and blurring and layers and blend modes and followed the whole up with a smudging. was trying to get get a chalk-like effect.

and i agree with gary, you always have the best frames.

and janet, are you using Photoshop for your hdr stuff or something else? i play around with it in filter forge but Paint Shop Pro has no hdr itself.

and dee dee, i kind of like that heavy texture. makes it look like a snow storm or something.

Thank you, Craig

Peter "I shall really have to get Painter out again and try again." I just got around to updating to Painter IX-5 and the new Auto Painting palette really is fun. Basically it lets you take any brush, set opacity etc. then auto paint as much as you want. Stop, change brushes, auto paint some more.

Fay Sirkis did a video tutorial for the PhotoshopTV guys a couple weeks ago. You can download the QT of this episode at http://www.photoshoptv.com/photoshoptv/011507.html

It will help give you an idea of how the new "Painting Palettes" work. You can view her wonderful portrait work at http://www.faysartstudio.com

Late afternoon at the lodge.

Excellent photos...not easy to shoot snow, especially with shadows.

Steve C.

nice, steve. has a sort of lithograph look to it.

nice, steve. has a sort of lithograph look to it.

Thanks much.

Wish I could hit on the Currier and Ives look. Depending on the image, I keep hitting all around it.

Steve C.

ah! currier and ives. ok, that last one has some elements of it, particularly around that house/cabin/lodge in the background.

Well I'm just Gobsmacked (Yorkshire dialect coming out here) by everyone's work. I really appreciate all the time you're all taking.

Janet, how can you possibly think you ruined the church, I love the new feel, it has a somewhat Gothic atmosphere now somehow. Reminds me of a film I've seen (the atmosphere not the scene), wish I could remember the name of it.

Swampy, the texture really works with this pic, as Craig says, it makes it look like there's a fresh fall of snow happening.

Steve, my favourite so far (all respects to everyone else, but this just hits the buttons for me), love the changes in lighting and atmosphere that you've achieved.

I suppose I'll have to have a play myself, but I'm a bit tied up at the moment, and besides my efforts usually fall well short of what I'd like them to be, so I kinda find all sorts of reasons not to display.

ah! currier and ives. ok, that last one has some elements of it, particularly around that house/cabin/lodge in the background.

Yeah, distant objects seem to work out best.

Steve C.

Well I'm just Gobsmacked (Yorkshire dialect coming out here) by everyone's work. I really appreciate all the time you're all taking.


Steve, my favourite so far (all respects to everyone else, but this just hits the buttons for me), love the changes in lighting and atmosphere that you've achieved.

I suppose I'll have to have a play myself, but I'm a bit tied up at the moment, and besides my efforts usually fall well short of what I'd like them to be, so I kinda find all sorts of reasons not to display.

I really appreciate that Gary. Let me say though that the images are so good that I was ahead of the game going in. Very good work!

(Sorry about the gobsmacking :classic: )

Steve C.

Glad you enjoyed your holiday Gary, lovely photographs

Palms

Steve, your's had a very "Kincade" look. Did you paint with light?

Steve, your's had a very "Kincade" look. Did you paint with light?

Wow! Wish I could sell mine the way he does. :happy:

Thanks...and in answer to your question, I used Light Artist on this one after starting with a layer of Lucis Art.

These are really nice photos. May have to try another.

Steve C.

The church.

Steve C.

I'm enjoying everyone's efforts so much I thought I'd be cheeky and throw another one into the pot. Hope I'm not being too pushy, tell me if I am.

Palms, welcome to the thread, yet another great contribution to it. Thanks, with weather like we got, how could I not enjoy, only problem was having to come away too soon.

palms, i like that one :)

nah, gary; the more the merrier!

It looked all together too calm.

Messed with Paint Engine (only just found it), didn't like the effect, so changed the blend mode to screen, duped then embossed the dupe. This came out.


Peter

Yeah, Gary... you're too pushy... LOLOLOLOL. You're one of the nicest folks I know around here! XXXX

Nice one Peter, it's snowing again.

You're one of the nicest folks I know around here!

My wife would dispute that, but then after 26 years of marriage she knows me too well for my own good.

Hello Gary...

Thank you for your so very nice comments...I love to search out a nice frame for my pics...this one is from a collection of Buds Frames from atn central...

http://www.atncentral.com/download.htm
down towards the bottom of the page...some great actions to play with there!

Love your new pic too...Appreciate your thoughts and prayers...will keep you posted on the eye...its a cataract caused by cigarette embers on a very windy day!

Peter,PalmsJanet,Steve and Swampy, Lovely pics all have their own special touch...well done!!!

Thank you all for your kind and encouraging words on my pic and eye!!!

Craig if you want to play with HDR here are some links to freebie programs...

http://www.hdrsoft.com/download.html
http://fdrtools.com/fdrtools_basic_e.php
http://www.easyhdr.com/?basic=yes

I did this on in Painter, thought it needed more...so used the cut out filter and smudged here and there and framed with the very same action in Photoshop!!!

Patricia.... :dizzy:

Patricia, wonderful picture. The cutout/Painter combination works nicely.

Nice one Patricia.

Kinda reminds me of the "Painting by numbers" kits I did as a kid, except mine never came out that good, and were never worth framing. Still they kept me occupied for hours, and I still remember them with fondness.

Thanks for the links.

Pavel...Thank you very much for your kind comments...i too liked the cut out effect...havent explored all the possibilities of that one...yet!!!

Gary ...Thank you...yes i also did the paint with numbers and really enjoyed them...It was a lovely photo to start with!!!

Patricia.... :dizzy:

patricia,

thanks for the links :)

i've been using filter forge for HDR. i can actually make my own lighting environments with it. in fact, i used one of your snowy pictures as an environment. i called it 'pat's snow 1' :)

Another Meribel.

Steve C.

steve, i like that one too. you've got a bit of the currier and ives in that one as well.

steve, i like that one too. you've got a bit of the currier and ives in that one as well.

Appreciate that.

Might get that look yet.

Steve C.

Yeah Steve, that's another one that pushes the buttons for me. I think the 1st one is still my favourite though.

Nice one Steve - inspired me to have another shot at this one.

Peter

and another interesting one, peter. i'm not sure i like the distortion on your trees, but the rest looks good. and i like the slightly lowered saturation as well. it works on this image.

a sunny day at the ski lodge....

Another good one Peter.

Craig, that looks exactly like what I saw after a few too many vin-chauds and vodka-caramels one day aprés-ski.

gary, :)

it wasnt quite what i really wanted to do with the 'snow melting'. what i wanted was to create something like if the emulsion of the print was melting and all running down and clumping up, but i couldnt quite figure out how to get that look. so, i settled for a warp.

Nice one Steve - inspired me to have another shot at this one.

Peter

You've done it again. That's another winner.

Steve C.

Yeah Steve, that's another one that pushes the buttons for me. I think the 1st one is still my favourite though.

You can work on some photos all day and still not get anything interesting. Then there are these.

Thanks much.

Steve C.

Those are geautiful photos, Gary. I'm enjoying looking at them as well as the others' artistic interpretations.

Lorraine

Another attempt this time with the ahb and emboss,

Palms

Do we call you Salvador no, Craig? Or is that too much "cider" at the ski lodge rendition? LOL

Wow Gary; nice captures. Had a difficult time decide which way I would go, but finally decided on a thick watercolor (not quite Gouche though). Hope you all like it. Here (http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/6210/meribelim1.jpg)'s the complete rendering; attached is a lower quality crop. :)

Do we call you Salvador no, Craig? Or is that too much "cider" at the ski lodge rendition? LOL




And he said I distorted the trees too much, that takes the biscuit :lol:


BTW thanks Steve


Peter

And he said I distorted the trees too much, that takes the biscuit :lol:
Peter

:lmao: :lmao: You said it, Peter!!

Peter,Craig,Steve,Palms andLyle....Very nice renditions of Garys photos...

Painted in Painter,poster edges and framed with an action in Photoshop...

Patricia.... :dizzy:

Thanks everyone for all the new works, I really appreciate all your efforts.

I'm running out of superlatives, so haven't got anything original to add, only to say that I love them all.

If the original photos are OK, it's entirely down to the subject matter, and the quality of Canon cameras, and nothing to do with the ham fisted buffoon who took them. I merely pointed, framed and squeezed them off.

If the original photos are OK, it's entirely down to the subject matter, and the quality of Canon cameras, and nothing to do with the ham fisted buffoon who took them. I merely pointed, framed and squeezed them off.
__________________

But that buffoon needed eyes to see, a brain to interpret what was seen, and a talent for knowing when to press the button.

Peter

hehehe, dee dee, peter, cj :) just an old hypocrite here :)

But that buffoon needed eyes to see, a brain to interpret what was seen, and a talent for knowing when to press the button.

Peter

OK, I'll concede that, but for every "good" pic I take, there's generally a dozen or so that don't bear looking at. :depressed

Anyway, I use a "point and snap" camera when I'm skiing, anything else is just too bulky to carry.

I've got an SLR, but it mostly sits in the cupboard these days (and as it's a film camera it's likely to stay there), but if I ever find the time (highly unlikely as things stand) I'd like to upgrade to a Digital SLR and see where that takes me.

OK, I'll concede that, but for every "good" pic I take, there's generally a dozen or so that don't bear looking at. :depressed

Anyway, I use a "point and snap" camera when I'm skiing, anything else is just too bulky to carry.

I've got an SLR, but it mostly sits in the cupboard these days (and as it's a film camera it's likely to stay there), but if I ever find the time (highly unlikely as things stand) I'd like to upgrade to a Digital SLR and see where that takes me.

Have heard many times that for every photo published in National Geographic, several rolls of film are shot. Probably the same with digital. Although being able to see what you just shot could cut down on this ratio a bit I suppose.

Steve C.

Have heard many times that for every photo published in National Geographic, several rolls of film are shot. Probably the same with digital. Although being able to see what you just shot could cut down on this ratio a bit I suppose.

Steve C.

Probably very true, I don't suppose there's anyone out there that gets them all right, but they probably don't get them quite as wrong as some of mine sometimes seem to be :dizzy: .

As for being able to see what you've shot, my camera's a few years old now, so the "preview" screen is pretty small and it's hard to get more than an impression of what you've actually taken. I usually just keep everything and look at them on my computer screen to see whether I can do anything with them before consigning them to the bin or not.

Man, I just hate throwing shots in the trash. Two reasons.

1. The advancement of Photoshop where they just keep adding recovery tools and the ability to salvage a shot. Just consider Highlight/Shadow adjustment or some things you can correct in Camera Raw (especially the Beta's new ability to open JPEG or TIFF in CRW).

2. You may have captured one or two good things you could use in another photo via cloning. This is especially true on a single photo shoot.. Good eyes in this picture, but she's got no smile... Good smile in that picture, but her eyes were shut. Now you have to reconsider and think in terms of CS3's ability to align and blend layers.

I don't throw anything away. CDs are cheap and I always backup my shoots to CD first thing.

I'm with you there, and truth to tell I consign very few shots to the bin. I've got piles of discs full of "junk" photos just waiting to see if they might be useful (strong squirrelling tendencies run in my family :D ).

Of course finding that particular shot when I need it is another thing altogether, that's where me and the squirrel part company, a squirrel tends to remember where it puts its nuts (else they starve), whereas I can never find anything I've put away for safe keeping.

I had a little play with this and what fun it turned out to be.

It's ready for your next postcard..... LOL

TwoLaidBack

Welcome to the thread TwoLaidBack with your beautiful rendition of the picture.

Much appreciated, how about some details, I'm always intrigued by what techniques the various posters have used to get their final result.

Hi Gary, Thanks for the warm welcome. As for the proccess used to acheive this effect I'm sorry I didn't keep notes on all the steps used. See I'm a fly by the seat of muh paints type guy when it comes to doing my artwork. :rambo:
I just download the image and start working,undoing redoing till I get the look I'm going for or at least something I like. The one thing I can tell you is that this one was all done using Paint Shop Pro v8, NO plugins or other software.

See I had a little extra time on my hands late last night so I set down with about five different images from here and worked them all up in a couple of different version. I'm affraid I'm not going to have time today but maybe late tonight I can set down and rework this one so that I can post the steps for other here using Paint Shop Pro or Photoshop.

Again thanks for the warm welcome,
TwoLaidBack

I'm a fly by the seat of muh paints type guy when it comes to doing my artwork.

I understand perfectly, I'm often that way myself, each piece is a journey into the unknown. Still, if you work out what you did I'm sure everyone will be glad to know, if not we'll just enjoy your work.