Girl on the Amazon

[Blacknight]

Originally posted by jeaniesa
I notice what looks like two vertical "lines", one is about a 1/2" from the right and the other is just to the left of the girl. I've seen this sort of thing from the texture filter before, but you didn't mention that (and it doesn't look like you added texture.) Is it the result of the big "A"?)

Yes, it is. I was SO concentrating on not losing the girl (due to enlarging and saturating) as well as trying to balance between jpeg artifacts and saturated colors that I forgot to go back over the pic and clone out those lines. They appear only MOST of the time, and not all, oddly enough. I hope they fix that in the next version, but who knows.

Often I don't take the time to comment on the work that others have done. Sometimes I don't even look - off to do whatever - especiially during the nice weather here. Doesn't mean I don't care, or that I don't appreciate (and learn from!) the work of others. It just means I'm in and out - looking at the new challenges and skimming the posts, then off again. I have even been skimping on my descriptions of what I do (mostly anisotropic anyway, so no big loss there!). Will try to slow down a bit and "talk". It would be SO nice to have a chatroom here...*HEY JANITOR DOUG* like some other places have. Anyway, I thought I'd take a moment to try and explain. Seems there have been some hard feelings around of late (which I guess I missed - darn!) and I wouldn't want to add to that!

[CJ Swartz]

Such an intriguing image! Don't have time right now to comment on such wonderful renditions done already -- will do later.


I worked with Color Ranges, Film Grain, Dry Brush, Glowing Edges, layer masks with some Color Burn and varying layer blends.

[roger_ele]

Jeanie and Bill => Thanks!

I added oarnge into the water highlights, blue into the water shadows then lightened and darkened in little areas ...

blushing and smiling => Roger

[jeaniesa]

Originally posted by roger_ele
I added oarnge into the water highlights, blue into the water shadows then lightened and darkened in little areas ...

AH-HA!!! So that's why I couldn't duplicate what you did. I tried and tried, but I just couldn't pull any "yellowish" highlights out of that picture no matter what! It never occured to me that you added them! Duh!

I assume you added the orange highlights to add to the late afternoon light effect? Very effective!



Jeanie

[roger_ele]

Jeanie - Yes, oarnge for setting sun and blue for water. But also because the colors contrast well next to each other (complimentary colors on the color wheel?). I had the oarnge darker but it looked garrish, so I lightened it until it just gave a glow and gave the blue depth.

Thanks, Roger

[e.b.west]

I've been going back and forth wondering whether or not to post this. What do you think?

[CJ Swartz]

e.b. -- you should always feel free to post! Even if you end up getting constructive criticism, it should be helpful.

I must admit that there's something that bothers me about it -- it's like the effect on the water makes it look like the boat is sinking -- is that your intention? The girl's expression seems more distraught, but not enough for that situation -- IF the boat is sinking . Her face appears to me to have been affected by the technique applied to the water - on her right side (facing). The oar was also chopped off at the bottom -- this girl is gonna have a hard time getting out this situation!

That said, I like the sense of movement to the water - how did you achieve that particular look? My "twirls" and the like don't look as realistic as I'd like.

[e.b.west]

Thanks for the critique. That's what I want to hear.

Boy, you sure saw a lot more in that than I did. Actually, when I look at it again, I see what you mean by the boat sinking. I wasn't trying to show that, I was just doing it too fast and didn't have time to do anything about it. I was also trying to leave the girl a little sharper than the rest by erasing some of the smudging. There again, I didn't spend enough time with it.

As for the water, I just used a soft brush with the smudge tool and twirled it a little. Borrowing from Steve(Trimoon) I then used USM at about 500, radius 5 and threshhold 0. Varying the amount gives you more or less subtle brush strokes. I also masked the girl so it wouldn't overdo her.

All in all, this may have not been the best picture to try all of that on.

E.B.

[Bill M]

C.J.- That's a great look. Like many techniques, it can distort the facies, so if you just squeeked a little teeny bit of the face back in, it would be perfect. Thanks for sharing.

E.B.- I have GIVEN UP the blur thing. It's just never clicked with me at all. I think I'm too ham fisted!

Bill

[CJ Swartz]

e.b. -- different eyes see different things -- not necessarily what's really there, but what the viewer sees. We're all learning here, and I have a lot to learn about critiquing my own work and that of others. We could spend forever on one piece and still end up with someone wondering why we did such and such , so don't let my questions impede your work. I truly enjoy the photographic work you have submitted to RPro, and you definitely have an eye for composition, lighting, and color. Note: Be sure to see BillM's recommendation for my submission.

BillM -- you make a good point about my version -- needing to keep more of the natural look of the girl's face. I remember wondering about that also, but wasn't sure how to bring it back at the time, and had grown fond of what I was doing. (who needs to see her face, I'm enjoying the colors and textures!? )

Bill - thanks again for the use of your image! What a wonderful trip you must have had.

[jeaniesa]

who needs to see her face, I'm enjoying the colors and textures!?

You crack me up CJ!

Jeanie

[GOLDCOIN]

A lot of humor going on here at the end......CJ Agree with Jeaniesa, Your cute comment about "No need to see her face!!


That;s great, cause I wonder if "hair" is included......Not this one but the next. You will see what I mean.

There are both with MikeF new action.... Angelo.

[GOLDCOIN]

With this actions you need to paint.....however, there is no easer

Thus her hair just kept growing, in an effort to correct paint slips.... So CJ just notice the texture and deep blue water......

here she is......

[CJ Swartz]

Goldcoin,

Ooooooh -- deep blue waters!
Ooooooh -- interesting texture!

Ooooooh -- Hair...

[tyeise]

I'm not sure I'm awake yet.

Tyeise