Ian Ledgard, GMPSA/b, EFIAP/p, AWPF, GPU-Cr5
November 2023 - Car spares
Original
About the Image(s)
The original is a shot of a scrap yard established on the site of an abandoned coal mine in North Wales. Just the brick building survived and it is now surrounded mainly by screap car but also a delapidated canal barge.
Normal ACR adjustments were followed by cropping. Then in Topaz studio 2 I chose the abstract presets and settled on Swirly storokes at 60% opacity. Still in Topaz I then added the grain filter. Moving back to Photoshop I created a layer mask and rubbed away the Topaz effect around the lettering on the brick wall.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
9 comments posted
(Groups 20 & 81)
Your post processing has made the image a lot more interesting and colourful. Has a painterly effect. Posted: 11/05/2023 16:09:53
I like your choice of the Swirly filter - it ages the building nicely, and does not mess up the vegetation and other objects. However for me, the Car Spares title and story are a bit iffy - no cars visible. The barge looks like it is passing by in a canal of sorts and is more of the story as I see it. Posted: 11/07/2023 08:54:49
Titles are always a problem, especailly when I need to avoid duplication when entering exhibitions where PSA rules apply. As titles are not usually read out at judging it is the image on which the jury make their decision. Perhaps Boatyard might be more apprpriate but I have used this before. Posted: 11/10/2023 13:25:15
I think titles are mostly undervalued. I agree that in some judging environments, titles are not seen or referred to. From my experience, having an appropriate title adds to the enjoyment of viewers and judges. The value add of a title that tells the viewer what the maker wants you to see in the image. It's very helpful where it's not clear or well defined. I also believe we should make it as easy as possible for someone to appreciate the image and the story - and titles help that. Some people enjoy exploring and trying to figure it out, but most people really don't want to do this extra work. My 2 cents worth. Posted: 11/10/2023 15:50:03
I do like what I assume you did in ACR. The use of the filters adds a nice effect. Posted: 11/11/2023 12:54:44
I like the image. Very interesting. But to me I feel the large bright color of the barge is just too strong and draws your eye away from the rest of the image. In my revision I covered the boat with foliage, wall, and some of the building. I also cropped some off the right side. Posted: 11/17/2023 09:30:51
Thanks for your edit but I feel that covering the boat remove much of the interest in the image. We all see things differently. There are two things I will bo following all the helpful comments. 1. New title. 2. Clone over the words 'Car spares' Posted: 11/17/2023 13:17:00
Ian, thank you for your reply. Photography is an art form. And I am glad that in a study group we can agree that we can disagree. Posted: 11/18/2023 05:17:03
I like the effect. Good treatment. When I first looked at the image I thought the fence was reflections in the canal water. In a way it is a bit of an odd picture with a barge on the top of a corrugated iron fence (this is not a criticism). Judges may say what am I looking at! I hope it does well. Posted: 11/17/2023 10:02:55