A Haven for Vee

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Personal Photo Challenge~Water

Nothing has sparked my interest in the Photo Challenge like this month's topic. I took to it, well, like a duck. I began eagerly taking my photos right after the last photo challenge ended.

Would you believe that I am going with those first photos taken a month ago? If you're a regular here, you've already seen many that I considered because a lot of water was included. In the end, I've learned that I have much to learn about photographing water.

I use a Nikon Coolpix P7100, a glorified point and shoot really. I'll spare you the particulars because they don't translate to usual photographer-ese anyway.

~the original~

Here's the mundane little photo (sooc) as it came to me from my camera. It is of the river that flows through my corner; it is the wonderful little river that ran a paper mill and a century of life in a mill town. 

This spot also represents the turning point; my sister and I would go as far as the bridge I was standing on to take this photo and then kayak back down the river. We so loved that little paddle past mossy banks, great ferns growing, and trees hanging low over the water. I always wanted to take a camera for those photo opportunities, but feared a spill and getting the camera wet. (I'm steady once in the kayak, but not so graceful getting in or out.)

~my offering~

Here it is after cropping it and running it through PicMonkey a few times. (It was a cloudy day, but I still don't like the sky showing up white.)


And here it is after running it through Pic Monkey to find the color swatches. Lorrie first told me how to do it just this week. How often I have wanted to build a quilt or a room around a photo. Now I can!

Did you catch that "look here" thing that I did because the photos really aren't that compelling? You did? Foiled again!

Would you have liked this one better?


Other than the clouds reflected in the water, the details are lost...back to the dress rehearsal.

Linking to the incomparable Donna at A Personal Photo Challenge.




Edited to Add: Donna, bless her heart, took my original photo and tried to get some of the details back. I'm so impressed! Here it is with commentary from Donna following.


I was using Jim's computer to prepare a photo for this Wordless Wednesday's post, and thought I would give your photo a whirl.  It was exactly 2 stops underexposed.  Unfortunately, when I opened up the shadows and increased the exposure level, a lot of the colors got stripped out.  I didn't have enough digital information in the file to get it back.  So, when life hands you lemons, you make lemonade.  I turned it into a black and white image!  

There's some funky digital noise in a few places.  You wouldn't notice most of it unless you zoom way, way in.  The most noticeable is some mottling in the sky.  
The uneven sky tones is a classic result of a jpeg file that has been abused in post-processing, LOL.  I tried to remove it as best as I could.  You might not even notice it, but I know where to look.

I also straightened it and made it a wide format, cropping out the bridge structure and some of the sky in the process.  I hated to crop in a standard 3 by 4 format because you have some interesting vegetation on both sides that needed to be kept for the composition.  I wish I could have kept more of the rocks, but I didn't have enough to work with on cloning out the remaining bridge structure on the other side.  In any event, it is a perfect size for a computer background!

Ah, the beauty of post-processing!  I rest my case on why I am a big fan.  As you can see, this is a very lovely photo that you took, Miz Vee! 

Hahahahaha...I left in that bit about "a very lovely photo," but I want you to see what Donna received in her inbox along with the message below. 

Wow, Donna. It's even worse than I remembered. ☺  


You see, Donna's made a believer out of me! (This is a small version. Donna got the largest version.)

36 comments:

  1. Good morning Vee!

    Your photography always amazes me Vee! You've learned so much and your photos are like looking in a window at the perfect scene. You make things come alive in the best fashion.

    Hope you're having a great summer. Your grands are probably getting ready to go back to school!

    Blessings & hugs, Edie Marie

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  2. I love the reflections. Wow ... color swatches! Who knew?!!!!!

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  3. I love the changes you made in the first photo to really make the details sharp and real...like we are there enjoying the view with you. But the big white clouds reflected in the water is the winner to me! I am loving these challenges! I'm learning so much! Sweet hugs!

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  4. I guess I should play in PicMonkey more often because I like how you altered the first photo. I've wondered how people did those colour swatches too, I'll check out your link. The cloud photo has a tranquil beauty of it's own, the reflection of the clouds is awesome.
    Judith

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  5. Did you upgrade and PicMonkey? Every time I visit that site I think next time I come here I'm going to upgrade. I think it's great that you are taking the photo challenges and sharing them. I always say I want to learn more about cameras, but that's all I do just talk about it.

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    1. No upgrades, Diane. i work with what's available.

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  6. I love your photo's, very nice! :)

    Have a great day!

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  7. I love the way the photo turned out after you played with it. The colors are more vibrant. I do love the last photo with the clouds reflecting in the water.

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  8. I love the color swatch "thingies!" Your photos are pretty and that looks like a great place to enjoy the moss and ferns. Hope you enjoy your Saturday, Vee.

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  9. Hey, Miz Vee! Your enthusiasm over this month's theme has tickled me. I love it! You're finding out that there is some thinking that goes into photography and that is the biggest lesson of all!

    You did a wonderful job framing up both of these scenes. I can tell that you are concentrating on your compositions! Your editing on the first image shows the value of how post-processing can enhance and give the scene more vibrance. You'll have to go back with your sister for another photo shoot when the sun and sky are working in your favor!

    And the second image is a sky and water combination with terrific reflections in water. The sky was loving you that day!

    Keep up the good work, sweetie, and I'll keep encouraging you! And thank you for the PicMonkey tip. I'll have to check that out. I've tried out other swatch programs on the web, but I didn't know that PicMonkey has added the feature too.

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  10. That's it. I am just going to have to make the time to explore Pic Monkey. I like what you've been able to do and I like the colour swatch idea too!

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  11. Makes me want to drop a kayak in and head on down the river. I love all of these but that last one is my fav.

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  12. Although I really love the last picture with the sky reflecting on the water, I believe that I like your first one more. It is so inviting, calling me to drift down the stream on a raft, Huck Finn style. (I don't like the idea of climbing in and out of a kayak...too much possibility of disaster and/or humiliation...so I'm taking the raft.)

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  13. I liked the first one, reminded me of lazy dazy summer days. Blessings

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  14. These are good, but I agree there could be some way to bring back the background on the last one AND keep the cloud reflection. I like the reflection though! Your artsy work on P.M. looks great! I need to try that color thing.

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  15. I could picture you and your sister having fun in the kayak.....like Anne of Green Gables. Getting in and out...not so graceful here either, but once in the boat...good to go:) I liked the calm that the first photo holds....but really do like the clouds in the last one too.

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  16. Lo the river shot. It reminds me of canoeing. I am going to take a look at the color thingy.

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  17. You photography posts are so often filled with things I've never heard of! Good grief! Pic Monkey? Oh, I love the idea of the color swatches.....

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  18. Beautiful photos Vee! I'll have to learn how to do that color swatch thing... Love the cloud reflections in that last shot...

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  19. Thanks for sharing the link to the link to the link! :) It was fun to play around with one of my photos!

    Love your river!

    Deanna

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    1. Yes! Don't you love a game of Leap Frog? =D

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  20. I really like the river shot... it reminds me of a river painting I have in my house by a local artist.

    It's fun to try out new things... that PicMonkey swatch thing sounds intriquing.

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  21. I love the river and stories you wove around it. Stories enhance photos, in my mind. Beautiful images and colors.
    Thanks, too, for the link to my blog where the links go on and on!

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  22. Hi Vee! I am no photographer, but these shots are gorgeous! The water looks so peaceful, and that sky!

    Beautiful!
    Ceil

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  23. I think your river picture is beautiful and I actually like the untouched one best.

    Love the clouds reflected in the water.

    Ken and I are going to try kayaking one day. I think it would be so peaceful.

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  24. You did a great job, I can't even maneuver PicMonkey, so you are leaps and bounds ahead of me.

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  25. Wow Vee you are getting good. I love your last photo best.
    Peggy

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  26. I love the all! What a great place to be!
    Love PicMonkey but haven't been there in a while...I'll check out the swatch edit!
    hughugs

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  27. Your photos make me want to go swimming in that beautiful cool water. Your photos are great. We had an hour of light rain last night. Now the heat is coming back.

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  28. Okay..... both of your photos are beautiful, only in a different way!! Beautiful river and greenery........touched or untouched!

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  29. I wish I had the time to play with more photo editing programs--all I ever use is Picasa, and it is getting stale.

    I think your second photo would be perfect is your cropped out some of the edges and sky. The reflection of the clouds in the water is wonderful!

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  30. Oh, thank you so much for including my little edit and explanation, Vee! I wanted you to know that you ARE a very good photographer. You've got an eye for it. And now you also know why editing is so powerful and complimentary to our photographic work!

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  31. Donna's editing is wonderful! I don't understand the tech language she uses --that is a lot to learn--but I agree the cropping and using B&W made such a difference in the original photo, Vee!

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  32. Amazing! We're learning so much from this challenge! I'm glad you shared the updates. Donna has been so sweet to help us all and give us tips and advice. Now if I can just remember them! lol Sweet hugs!

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  33. That is cool - what's been done with your picture - WoW!

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  34. Hi Vee, well how nice, not only enjoying your watery photos, but also getting many more great photography tips from our fabulous Donna! You did great girl - next time I just know you'll really wow us.

    Happy day - Mary

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