So, there I was – the new year started with a bang and I was on fire. I was finding subjects in good light and making great images. I was in a good groove editing pictures like mad. Every new technique I tried was working. And then, I had to take care of something and wasn’t planning to take pictures. I took my cameras anyway, and it happened. I got an awesome shot.
I was very excited. It looked great in the camera. It looked great on the computer at home. I applied my newfound editing skill and made what I thought was a great image. Chest puffed and very proud of myself, I took my image to get it printed. When I showed it to my friends at the printer, I asked what they thought. They answered and, thankfully, told me the truth about my image. They agreed that it was a great image with tremendous potential. I learned about the potential in great detail. Not crushed but somewhat deflated, I tried to absorb every detail. I had a few other images, and we went through them, too. I found myself drinking from the proverbial fire hose of photo editing information (nice segue, right?).
I know I didn’t absorb it all, and I’m not going to try to recite everything I learned here, with one major exception: pictures showing motion are supposed to go left to right. Motion ‘right to left’ is unsettling. (Of course, this explains a lot about Mustang people – the running horse logo in the grill of my car is running right to left. Go figure.) I went home and tried again, starting with rotating the image, and I came up with this image.
I have received further feedback on this image – all of it positive and all of it aimed at helping me make a better image. And that brings me to the Overdrive (another nice segue, eh?) portion of this post. I am kicking my study of Photoshop and Photoshop Elements into overdrive to improve my editing skills sooner. I found a couple great books so I don’t have to bother my friends with questions all the time, and I’m going places in these software packages that I’ve never been. Time will tell if I am making progress.
Meanwhile, my photo challenge this week is ‘Find a Line.’ At first glance, that sounds very easy. Lines are all around us – sometimes in places we don’t always recognize. The challenge is further complicated by the caveat that the image be very simple. No lines with extra stuff – just a line. I have an image – not quite ready, and I’m keeping my eyes open for other lines. I’ll share my image next week.
But, here’s a few more of my successes from this week. It’s a mix between Eagles and Hawks, with one ‘guest shot’ of a Goose. Please also take a look in the Birds page. I’ve added a few pictures there. Enjoy – Photorogr
Your getting pretty good at taking pix
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Thanks, Tom. I’m having a lot of fun, too!
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Roger
The symmetry of the magpie is worth the shot, to me. Keep up the good work!
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Thanks Rick! I have anther image with the Magpie a little closer to the Eagle, but I liked this composition better.
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