The Photographers thread: Show us your stuff!!

[Matt]

I couldn't seem to get a good shot of the moonrise. Always very grainy.

I like the shot, but I think the grain is a bit much too, so I hope you don't mind, but I decided to see what Photoshop could do to reduce the grain. Do you like it?

[Matt]

I like it best framed vertical:



And here it is with a little extra work to brighten it up slightly:

[The Schofield Kid]

And here it is with a little extra work to brighten it up slightly:

Much better. Great job.

[Matt]

That's your photo! You had the eye and knew what you wanted, so you took it. So, don't feel it's manipulated or not yours now.  If you want a full size edit, email me the full size image. This is fine for digital, but if you wanted to print, it won't work well.

As I've written before, this is how I like to use Photoshop -- to make the images look as good as they do when we take them, not really to alter them. When our photography or equipment lets us down, we can go in and make them right.

[Matt]

Also, for any photoshop users who want to know how that was done:

I tried a few things... removing the grain by using the "Filter" -> Noise -> Reduce Noise, then playing around with the strength settings. This is what I needed to remove grain, but it acts as a blur filter. So the waves lost their crispness.  Then I realized I'd need to select JUST the sky, because the grain wasn't noticeable on the water.  With only the sky (and moon) selected, I did this again, and the grain was gone.

The sky was a little flat.  I added a layer on top of this one, and selected "Filter" -> Render -> Clouds.  This adds a 100% pattern on top of the images of a full clouded sky.  I needed to adjust the opacity so it would just give the slightest look of some clouds in the sky, which wound up being only 1% to 3% (I forget now which), but just so slight.  The cloud layer sitting on top of the full image meant I had to erase the clouds from the water.  I used the eraser tool (a large one), and swiped right across the water section.  The horizon was noticeable, so a very tiny blur brush was used to just softly trace the horizon to remove any noticeable line.

At this point, I like to merge the layers (I usually save an unmerged version) and then use the contrast and brightness (or curves) menus to play around until I'm satisfied with the contrast and brightness. No color filters were used on this one.

[Matt]

A little stream in NJ:

[Matt]

Sunset at Union Station, Nashville.

[Matt]

This roo is thinking "Eff off, I'm trying to sleep."

[KC]

A Tennessee kangaroo?

[Matt]

We have 18 Red Kangaroos in an open area at our zoo where the humans have to stay on a path, but the kangaroos are free to hop all around the area. This one decided to take a nap close to the path.  Here's the same roo in color before lifting her head to shoot me her best Clint Eastwood glare. It was striking how much they seemed like dogs -- the way they sat, slept, and even liked human interaction.

[Matt]

For KC, the only person who I've ever known who thought these were cute.... even when they're not wrapped up in blankets. 

[KC]

Awwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!

[-satu-]

Couple of photos from our wedding weekend. 😊 Americanbeauty came all the way from Paris and she gave me permission to put a photo of us here. Not taken by me obviously, but I thought these would be okay for this thread.

[Matt]

These are great photos! Satu, you look gorgeous. And your photographer did a super job - love the way the colors were added into these b/w photos. Or, I guess with digital they do it the other way, and remove the color from everywhere else. In any case, the effect is very pretty.

Is the one with AB your wedding gown?  Did someone stay with you all weekend to change your hair/makeup/wardrobe? 

AB, it's nice to see you here. 

[KC]

Lovely photos, Satu and AB! Satu, I wish you much happiness in your married life!

[The Schofield Kid]

Great photos Satu.

Congrats and all the best.

[-satu-]

The pink dress was the dress for the official part in the city hall, and for the evening dinner. The party was on Saturday, the purple/white dress is my official wedding dress. Lilac flapper dress was in case the weather got warm.

My friend did my hair on both days, and I did my makeup. 

I love these photos too, colorless with a hint of color here and there. Just how I wanted it. The photographer was really good understanding my vision. 

[Aline]

Very lovely pictures!

[Christopher]

We have 18 Red Kangaroos in an open area at our zoo where the humans have to stay on a path, but the kangaroos are free to hop all around the area. This one decided to take a nap close to the path.  Here's the same roo in color before lifting her head to shoot me her best Clint Eastwood glare. It was striking how much they seemed like dogs -- the way they sat, slept, and even liked human interaction.

I was at the Columbus zoo yesterday and they have the same sort of set-up for the kangaroos. There was one lying off to itself like that, but I didn't get a picture.

And great photos, Satu!

[The Schofield Kid]

I took this shot last weekend in Newcastle. Perfect timing as the ship was leaving at sunset.