Tom Pickering, APSA  


Screw This World by Tom Pickering, APSA

November 2020 - Screw This World

November 2020 - Tom Pickering, APSA

Original

November 2020 - Tom Pickering, APSA

Original 2

November 2020 - Tom Pickering, APSA

Original 3

About the Image(s)

Specs: $30 USB Microscope (internal LED lighting) connected to a Moto G Power Smartphone; Android Tablet to Process

Been working with this cheap electronic microscope for a little while and took a shot of this screw (Original 1). After basic processing in Snapseed, I took it into Mirror Lab (clearly a favorite of mine) and created 2 versions with presets: 1st Glass marble to create the planet (Original 2); then Unwind (Original 3), which I used for the background. Finally, into Polish to blend the two images together. Suggestions?


This round’s discussion is now closed!
9 comments posted




 
I really like what you have done with the screw! When you enlarged it in the main image you lost a bit of sharpness. I'm wondering how it would look if the dome was smaller and the strong lines of the background blended into the dome?   Posted: 11/06/2020 00:23:32
Tom Pickering   Tom Pickering
(Groups 0 & 53)
Yeah, you may be right. I'm really struggling with the process of merging images in the apps I've tried. There doesn't seem to be an effective way for me to isolate a part of the image sharply - the tools are very counter-intuitive for me. Don't know if I'll ever get this right. d:¬{(   Posted: 11/06/2020 01:02:04
 
You CAN do simple layers in Snapseed but I only know the apps for an iPhone so I'm not much help.   Posted: 11/06/2020 04:32:44



 
I love that you included the pics to show the progression. I never would have guessed this started out with a pic of a screw. You may have gotten a bit more sharpness of edge in your result if the original pic was taken on a very slight angle to the edge. I don't really know but it's just a possible idea I might have tried. Really you ended up with a nice image which is a total departure from the original. It is very hard to do some things in the phone apps, don't be to hard on yourself.   Posted: 11/12/2020 09:59:39



Kieu-Hanh Vu   Kieu-Hanh Vu
Very creative image! Without your description, I can never imagine that the final image is taken from a screw. I found that the circle is not quite sharp, and there are some white stripes that are a bit distracting.   Posted: 11/12/2020 15:52:36



Ruth Holt   Ruth Holt
Well, I thought it was a Christmas ball ornament! I'm amazed that it is a screw, and it all started with a microscope. I don't really have any suggestions, but I think you are going to have some great photos down the line using the microscope.   Posted: 11/12/2020 16:14:14



Ruth Holt   Ruth Holt
Tom, sorry you will be leaving this circuit! Hope we will be seeing you around in other things connected with PSA..   Posted: 11/19/2020 15:27:12
Tom Pickering   Tom Pickering
(Groups 0 & 53)
Thanks, Ruth! I'm not leaving DD - it's my baby! I have been made the Director of PSA Study Groups and the PID 2nd Vice Chair, so I'm balancing more hats on my head at the moment. I was having so much trouble making my fat fingers work the apps to do the things I've been doing on the desktop for years - very frustrating for an old nerd like me. d;¬{D   Posted: 11/19/2020 15:44:19



Pat Centeno   Pat Centeno
You are finding your way around the phone apps pretty well nowadays, Tom. As others noted, hard to believe it all started with part of a screw--but once we see the original, it has come a long way and morphed into something of interest. The background looks marble grained to me. Too bad to lose some of the sharpness in the dome area, but overall, it gives a nice impression. I like those colors together. I had never thought of using a microscope with a cell phone. Enjoy your scientific toy!   Posted: 11/19/2020 20:21:35