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Canon Image Challenge | all galleries >> Challenges From The Past >> 2017 Challenges >> CIC 161 Winter Morning >> Eligible > 5th Place (TIE): Frozen Fish
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15-JAN-2017 Dave

5th Place (TIE): Frozen Fish

Not really. They're still moving a little.

I had hoped to get more of a blue sky reflection.
Unfortunately the surface of our pond just isn't that smooth.

Apple iPhone 6
1/30s f/2.2 at 4.2mm iso125 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
comment
Canon Image Challenge27-Jan-2017 11:30
This has been a good learning experience. I have a new tool (DPP) that allows me to follow the path Paul blazed, and I Jim and Traveler to thank as well.

Dave
Canon Image Challenge27-Jan-2017 04:16
Now this is real good.

Jim
Canon Image Challenge19-Jan-2017 06:19
Fine with me also, but be forewarned, Paul tends to claim copyright protections in such instances!

(just kidding)

Traveller
Canon Image Challenge18-Jan-2017 05:23
No problem with me.
It might generate some more fun discussion.
I tend to learn when I consider the opinion's of others.

Jim
Canon Image Challenge18-Jan-2017 03:36
I'm thinking of copying the very worthwhile discussion below and posting it in the Challenge #161 thread for more people to see. Any objections?

Dave
Canon Image Challenge17-Jan-2017 14:40
Dave -- I find this discussion very interesting and a lot of fun. It mirrors a lot what is currently happening in my camera club in AZ among a lot of people with time on their hands and varying degrees of experience. We range all the way from photojournalists who only clone out dust spots to artists who are almost seeking a perfect painting.

Most of us have settled into processes that lead to a result of "this is how it looked to me in my mind's eye", often meaning "improved reality". I have found it amazing how the brain can work and actually not see imperfections in a scene, imperfections that the camera can capture. A lot of post processing for me is to just remove those imperfections, which can include adding vibrance and saturation, and removing some extra element like Traveller's stray cup that I looked right through and never saw. And what I find fun is that that stray cup actually may not bother some people (they actually might like it) while it upsets others.

Jim
Canon Image Challenge17-Jan-2017 07:19
I understand Dave's position in this, His dilemma truly is a wrestling in the soul...and his goal is take and see one true thing and share this vision of "truth," with others.

We have played with that vision, that actual accomplishment...which is real.

However, I am perfectly free to prefer (and just what does that mean?!?), your second cut and wack at this image...it is both less and more than Dave's original.

Nice post processing talent's on your part, Sir...

And Dave should be complimented that we care a considerable amount about his picture.

If it were dross...no one would take the trouble to work on it.

No harm, no foul (at first I spelled this "fowl," which was fun also...but confusing....;>}}})

Best Wishes, Traveller
Canon Image Challenge17-Jan-2017 03:59
My intention and I suspect Travellers also wasn't to offend you and hopefully you weren't since we, (mostly me) attempted to take your entry a different direction than you intended. It'll never happen again by me anyway. Paul
Guest 17-Jan-2017 01:49
This is interesting. While I cannot deny the artistic addition post processing can provide in the right hands, to me the art is conceiving/spotting the shot and rendering something faithful to the physical.

I shot this from several different angles, and picked this one to submit. The Temperature Failing to Launch shot found me walking around the back yard with a freshly-cleaned thermometer looking for inspiration. To retain some vestige of respect, I'll keep to myself how long that took.

I have Picassa (and now also a free Adobe editor) because I didn't want to commit funds, even if available, to something I wouldn't use regularly. I have been limiting myself to cropping, sometimes straightening and compressing using (gasp) Microsoft Picture Manager, which I believe was an accessory bundled with Office. I occasionally also used the (too easy?) Autocorrect function. Maybe what I really should focus on is time management.

Dave
Canon Image Challenge16-Jan-2017 23:44
Oh BTW, if you want it to be art, let me add Topaz Impressions. Then it will be art!!! Paul
Guest 16-Jan-2017 23:44
I must be going blind. What stick?

Next time I shoot the pond (which can be seen in the background of the thermometer shot) I'll ask the fish to disperse in a more visually-appealing pattern.

Dave
Canon Image Challenge16-Jan-2017 23:42
OK. another edit, less blue and Mr. T's stick removal (wah wah wah) ;-) and the original showing the items removed outlined.

Since you were using Picassa, a free editor, I just figured you were not wanting to spend any money on a editor when you already had one that works... kind of anyway.

http://www.pbase.com/cichallenge/image/164846791
http://www.pbase.com/cichallenge/image/164846792
Paul
Canon Image Challenge16-Jan-2017 22:19
Paul, I like your edit a lot....I would however also remove the center stick...I know this is cheating, but thus is how art is made.

As to Dave's concern as to time....he is right, but once you have a system down, (it is the learning the program that takes time), you can rip through the shots that you want to keep and work on pretty quickly.

I used to disdain PostProcessing myself...but I was wrong, a lot of it I still don't like, but a lot of it is just essential now...I burn and dodge, Ansel Adams-like, with nary a worry.

Good Luck, Traveller
Canon Image Challenge16-Jan-2017 20:48
Thanks, Paul. I like the blue (maybe more than I might apply myself?) but am struggling to find what the brush changed. I wish the weather were conducive to taking a laptop computer or tablet outside to compare colors with the actual scene.

The cost of editing software isn't an obstacle. Rather, it's choosing one (I'm still planning to start with Canon DPP) and then the time required to use them (I recognize I tend to fall into the trap of spending way too long tinkering with things).

Dave
Canon Image Challenge16-Jan-2017 19:31
Here have a look at a 2 minute edit I did ni PSE 14. Elements is cheape. I have a older version ( PS Elements10) I'd give you if we weren't violating any copyright laws. Paul
http://www.pbase.com/image/164845424
Canon Image Challenge16-Jan-2017 18:34
Following up, I have an old Nikon 52mm polarizing filter of my father's that I've been meaning to try, even just holding it in front of my iPhone's lens (less worried about scratching that than one of my camera's). Yucky out today, so motivation out-of-alignment with opportunity.

Dave
Canon Image Challenge16-Jan-2017 15:17
No heater. Instead something called a pond breather. I can post a photo and link if anyone is interested. The fish are moving a bit. So far this is a normal winter for them. Hopefully they'll all survive and enjoy a meal sometime in April when the water temperature increases sufficiently.

Not sure what the "artifacts" are. Please point them out for me. The raised/rough ice at the top is around the breather. That tends to happen when there are freeze/thaw cycles.

I'm also not sure whether the hole in the ice is. It's solid (but I still won't walk on it). The reflections along the bottom seem stronger (particularly at left).

I am still limited in my post-processing software. Someday, maybe. Perhaps there's something in Picassa that will help? I don't recall a brush there, or anything labelled "healing".

Thanks for your compliments.
Dave
Canon Image Challenge16-Jan-2017 14:17
Nicely seen and captured. I see only two smaller objects that bother me. Clone or heal would work.
I like how the leaves frame the fish. Maybe a little vignetting would soften the corners and highlight the hole in the ice.

Jim
Canon Image Challenge16-Jan-2017 12:46
I noted those distractions myself and they can be brushed out in seconds using the healing brush, no reshoot needed. You can also add a cooling filter to give it a more bluelight appearance without overdoing it. Paul
Canon Image Challenge16-Jan-2017 11:27
I seriously like this...as Art....however it looks like you have three large artifacts above the ice...it would be nice if you could shoot this again without these...distractions? (which you could brush away)....or remove them in post processing maybe?

I would not bring this up except I think this has the potential to be an extraordinary image (if you get time...;>}).

Best Wishes, Traveller
Canon Image Challenge16-Jan-2017 05:10
Do you put a pond heater in there to raise the water temp up or is it best to let them go dormant? Paul