5 replies to this topic

[Merco_61]

First a message from this week's file submitter, deano.

This is the Chapel at the St Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery in a neighboring town, but really, is it's own compound out in the desert. The grounds are open to the pubic and photography is welcome but you must get permission to photograph the priests. i shot at an angle to include the saguaro cactus to give it a southwest flair.

 

Dropbox file:

Dropbox - st anthonys greek monastery, florence.nef - Simplify your life

 

And then the rules:

The exercise is weekly, a new thread with a new raw (preferably) or jpg fine file for each week.

The exercise officially runs until midnight between sunday and monday pst (UTC-8). Even after the official deadline, the exercise is still open for new interpretations.

This is a round-robin exercise, the order of submitting the week’s raw file is based on an alphabetical list of applicants’ user names. If the next submitter on the list is unable to post at his/her turn he/she may ask the thread master to be moved down the list no later than friday morning. Late applications will be added at the bottom of the list.

We will revise this when every applicant has had a go, and perhaps change this model.

 

The submitter for the week must make the file along with any specific text for the post available to the thread master during the weekend preceding the challenge week. The thread master will then copy the file to a Dropbox location for the challenge and make the starting post for the week.

 

The exercise is open to all members, not only the file submitters.

 

Images provided, as well as the images resulting from the exercise remain the sole property of the photographer who took them. Those participating in the editing exercise may not use or display the photo outside the exercise thread.

 

It is allowed to make derivative interpretations on other participants’ work (a collaborative approach). If you base your take on someone else’s work, you must indicate what you started from.

 

The owner of the photo comments on the work done, highlighting what he liked best (both the interpretation itself and the technique used to get there) after the original week is over.

 

As this exercise is a tool for learning and inspiration, multiple entries are not only ok, but encouraged if a participant gets a new idea for how to present or interpret the photo, including artistic interpretations.

 

Participants must share how they have achieved their take on the photo.

 

 

Participants are explicitly not limited as to what software is used for the exercise.

 

 

[Bart]

I really like this image, Dean!

Makes me feel the heat of the desert (as I would imagine it  )

 

I aimed to level the image while keeping the two cactuses intact.

Other than that, I tried to keep the feel and the light of the desert.

 

I'm still most comfortable using DxO Optics for the more challenging images on perspective and lighting.

So I started in DxO Optics, downloading the camera-lens module.

I used the perspective tool and the spot weighted lighting concentrating on the bright white monastery, completed by these settings:

 

 

I used LR to remove the  contrail and some spots.

 

 

 

I brought this into Color Efex and used the recipe Soft Landscape, complemented it with a film emulation for Agfa Vista 200 from DxO FilmPack.

(the film emulations in Color Efex created too much artefacts in the sky - posterization)

 

 

 

Starting with the DxO result, I turned to Silver Efex for a b&w conversion.

I started from the preset High Contrast (harsh). I rarely use this one but I liked the effect on this image.

Further tweaks, including an out of the ordinary toning for me.

 

 

 

gave me this as a result:

 

 

 

Thanks Dean, for lending us your image of this far away place.

 

[Ron]

The B&W conversion... by a mile!

 

--Ron

[Bart]

Thanks Ron! Appreciated!

[Merco_61]

Basic edits in Capture NX-D.

ADL changed to Normal from Off.

Picture control changed to [LS] Landscape from [SD) Standard.

LoCA removal activated

Exposure lowered 2/3 steps.

 

 

 

Over to PS for further editing.

Straightened and cropped

Added a Provia 100F emulation and a polarizer in CEP

 

 

Thank you Dean, for letting us play with this interesting capture.

[deano]

Thanks Bart and Peter for offering your thoughts on my weeks submission.  If you noticed I shot this chapel almost at high noon.  The building is painted stark white as are so many churches in the Arizona desert, the blue accents are a robin egg blue very light.  And at the time of year this photo was taken the saguaros are a pale green, whereas today, after some rains all cactus are a strong vibrant green, some even blooming. Even the rock wall was washed out due to the noon day sun.So, it takes a bit of work to get some coloring in the photo.

 

Bart I like your first one and taking out the contrail is something I didn't think of.  #2 is a bit red for m\y tast.  Loving the B/W as it looks mysterious while maintaining that white washout look .

Peter, your #1 is pretty close to what I have.  #2, looks very good, the Priests would like it. Still maintaining that washed-out white and pale blue accent feel.  The wall has color and the saguaros look alive.

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